Blame the owner, not the dog

 

http://www.theheraldbulletin.com/peopleandplaces/local_story_144180916.html?start:int=0

 

MALEAH STRINGER: Blame the owner, not the dog

I'm going to take a chance and step into the nasty swirling debate over "dangerous dogs." Those of you who keep up with state news are aware of the pit bull attacks in Indianapolis in the last weeks. And we are seeing the disfigured face of the little girl who was so viciously attacked by a pit bull last year. I still contend it is not the dogs who are the problem; it is the people who own them. These attacks could have been prevented if the owners of the dogs in these attacks had been responsible pet owners.

 

Mayor Bart Peterson disappointed many responsible pet owners across the state by saying he was in favor of banning certain breeds of dogs from being owned in Indianapolis, the pit bull in particular. He believes dangerous, vicious dogs and dog fighting are getting out of control (and he's right) and believes banning breed specific dogs is one way to stop it. Huge fines and jail time for the PEOPLE who engage in animal abuse, which helps create dangerous dogs who they let run loose in their communities, and illegal dog fighting might be the best places to start to tackle this problem. After all, dog fighting is a felony across the country, so use the law to prosecute the owners of dangerous dogs and those who engage in dog fighting.

There are generally three sides to the dangerous breed debate. On one side we have responsible pet owners who have what are deemed in most circles as "dangerous" breeds. These dogs and their affectionate demeanor challenge the typical stereotype for these dogs; they are non-aggressive, loving pets. These people do not want a ban a specific breed.

Then you have the people who hear the words pit bull and want to kill every pit bull on the face of the earth believing that the extinction of that particular breed will solve our dangerous dogs and dog fighting issues. If it wasn't pit bulls it would simply be another muscular type dog. Again the particular breed of dogs isn't the problem; it is the behavior that is the problem.

Finally and where I believe the solution lies: we have the people who engage in the worst form of animal abuse — dog fighting and breeding of dangerous dogs with the sole purpose of engaging in dog fighting. It is this third group that we need to address and punish — the people need to be punished not the dogs. Unfortunately, vicious dogs that cannot be rehabilitated will need to be humanely put down.

Perhaps it might also be helpful to stop glorifying the people who engage in animal cruelty and the ILLEGAL blood sport of dog fighting. Prominent rappers and a particular NFL Atlanta Falcon quarterback have been reported to allegedly have ties to dog fighting. This in and of itself sends a terrible message to the youth of America by promoting animal cruelty.

Indianapolis, I believe, is taking a step in the right direction concerning "dangerous dog: legislation. They are creating a law that is "identifying behavior and not breed as the potential danger to communities."

Stacy Coleman, president of Indy Pit Crew, a non-profit group that advocates for the responsible pet ownership of pit bulls says, "With the proposed changes, irresponsible owners are targeted, not the dogs. There is no breed specific language, which is important since all breeds of dogs can be dangerous. The changes clearly place the responsibility where it needs to be, on the people who have chosen to abuse, abandon or neglect their dogs to the point they become a risk to public safety. If a person makes a choice to get a dog, they MUST be held responsible for that dog's care and behavior.

"Any dog that has aggressively, bitten, attacked, endangered or has inflicted serious injury on a person on public or private property is the primary definition of a "dangerous" dog. Additionally, any dog that has more than once severely injured or killed a domestic animal while being off the owner's property or has knowingly been used primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting or is a dog trained for dog fighting could be deemed dangerous."

It's been found that less than 2 percent of all dogs properly identified in dog attacks have turned out to be pit bulls. But, in 90 percent of the dog attack cases, the attacking dog was not neutered/spayed and/or was abused by owners. One more reason to spay/neuter your dog, and yet another reason to take animal abuse seriously. Animal abuse can create dangerous dogs and dangerous dogs maim and kill people.

Indianapolis is also forming the Central Indiana Canine Crime Stoppers program. This is the first Crime Stopper program designed specifically to target the crime of dog fighting. In this program citizens can anonymously report suspected dog fighting activity and receive a cash reward of up to $1000 for information which leads to a felony arrest using the hotline.

So, what's the rest of the state going to do concerning vicious abused dogs and dog fighting?

*Information courtesy of Nuvo and Department of Public Safety, City of Indianapolis Animal Care and Control Division.

Maleah Stringer, president of the Animal Protection League, is an animal massage therapist specializing in esoteric healing. She can be reached at maleahstringer@aol.com.

Pet Rescue offers pit bull good citizen evaluation

http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/people/ci_6020901

Pet Rescue offers pit bull good citizen evaluation

Special to the DN

Article Last Updated: 05/30/2007 10:56:24 AM PDT

CORNING - Second Chance Pet Rescue has a Pit Bull Ambassador program at the animal shelter in Corning. They know that "pit" bull terriers have a bad rap and want to make a difference in how this breed is viewed in the public eye.

All the pit bulls adopted out of the shelter in Corning must be certified for the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen test. Second Chance would like to extend this certification to 30 pit bulls in Tehama County.

The Canine Good Citizen test assures that your pit bull is under control and is a good "citizen" in the community. There are 10 items that must be passed to achieve the AKC Canine Good Citizen certification. These are:

. Accept a friendly stranger

Sit politely for petting

Appearance and grooming

Out for a walk

Walk through a crowd

Sit and down on command/staying in place

Come when called

Reaction to another dog

Reactions to distractions

Supervised separation

The test will be performed by AKC evaluator Deborah Eaglebarger

and will be free to the first 30 pit bull owners.

"Do you want your dog to pass these items but need guidance in achieving them?" Eaglebarger asked. "We will help you with that."

Depending on initial evaluation, Eaglebarger will ascertain what additional training or preparation your pit bull needs to pass the test. If the needs are excessive, a nominal fee, up to $20, will be charged for preparation. In most cases, the fee may be waived for this training.

"Pit bulls are such a fabulous family pet. They are just not a dog's dog and thus the bad rap," Eaglebarger said. "I've attended some great trainings on pit bulls and their characteristics and want to do what I can to dispel the myths that pit bulls currently carry with them."

But not every pit bull has a sound temperament and not every home is pit bull savvy. Extensive literature is available at the Corning Animal Shelter for people who want to know more about pit bulls and what kind of dog they really are.

"We want to eradicate the myths that are associated with pit bulls, but we are quick to point out an unsound pit bull," Eaglebarger said. "Unsound and incorrect temperament pit bulls should not be allowed in the community. It's a tough call, but one unsound dog can turn a whole community against the entire breed."

The test itself takes about 15 minutes. For those homes where insurance is an issue, having an AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate can help.

Anyone interested in having their pit bull evaluated and take part in the AKC Canine Good Citizen test can reach Debbie Eaglebarger at Second Chance Pet Rescue at 824-1985.

Classes aim to blunt pit bulls' bad-boy reputation

http://www.projo.com/news/content/WB_wwpitbull_05-30-07_3H5QTI7.34c6d01.html

Classes aim to blunt pit bulls' bad-boy reputation

01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, May 30, 2007

By Talia Buford

Journal Staff Writer

WEST WARWICK — On Saturday, 14 pit bulls graduated from "Out of the pits and into the Ritz," an obedience program started by Susan Parker, a member of the Little Rhody Bully Breed Club, to help change the reputation of the breed.

Ginger, one of 14 pit bulls "graduated" from an obedience training program Saturday in West Warwick, awaits a treat. The owners received certificates of completion of the Canine Good Citizen program, one of many throughout the country sanctioned by the American Kennel Club.

The Providence Journal / John Freidah

"When people see a pit bull, they think they're killers," Parker said. "That they'll eat animals. That they'll eat your children. But these dogs are very active, loyal, smart, admirable, tenacious and strong."

Saturday's graduation, cosponsored by the club and Parker's Dynamic Dog Trainer Service, was held in the park behind the West Warwick Animal Shelter, on Hay Street.

Parker has been turning dogs into good citizens for three years, and has graduated about 25 dogs from the program, she said. Through her work with both family pets and dogs from shelters around the West Bay area, she said she has never had to flunk a dog. Her clients include a high school teacher, chemist, and medical secretary — a far cry from the hard-core image the dog gives off, Parker said.

"A lot of people look at the breed for status," Parker said. "You have to be conscious of who you are giving the dog to. When people come into the shelter looking for a certain breed, we steer them away from the [pit bull breeds]."

The pit bull is not a formal breed, but rather a catch-all term for a series of purebred or mixed-heritage bull terrier breeds. The American Staffordshire terrier and the Staffordshire bull terrier, the most common breeds, are generally muscular and are easily stimulated, according to the American Kennel Club.

The club says the bull terrier's "indomitable courage, high intelligence and tenacity.  . . coupled with its affect for its friends, and children in particular, its off-duty quietness and trustworthy stability, makes it a foremost all-purpose dog."

Indeed, the animals can make good family pets, said Mary R. Burch, director of the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen Program.

"It requires an owner that understands what this breed is about," she said. "They have high prey drives and may need fences, but they are wonderful family dogs and can participate in all activities. And because of their strength and size, they need an owner who is consistent when it comes to training."

Going through the Canine Good Citizen Program helps owners do just that, Burch said. The program is a 10-step class where a certified trainer teaches responsible ownership and basic training and good manners to dogs. The certification means that each of Parker's students can meet friendly strangers, tolerate petting, walk through a crowd and perform a number of other tasks that show they are under control.

"We believe that there aren't really any bad dogs," Burch said. "What you have is a problem with owners who need to be more responsible and who need more training on how to communicate and recognize when there's a problem and they need help."

The program, which began in 1989, nationally has certified 500,000 dogs as good citizens, Burch said. Owners of any number of breeds with bad reputations — Rottweilers, chows, Dobermans and bull breeds — have also been able to obtain homeowners insurance as long as the dog receives the good-citizen certification, Burch said.

"They're telling the the data shows it makes a difference," she said. "The best parallel is to driver's education. If you train teens, they are less likely to have an incident. If you give breeds and owners training, you are less likely to have an incident."

But even with programs such as these, incidents do occur.

Earlier this month, a 3-year-old girl was bitten in the face by a family dog — a pit-bull mix— while she played at her aunt's Cranston home. The toddler was taken to Rhode Island Hospital where she required stitches to the cheek and lip and above one eye.

The dog, a 3-year old named Tyson, was taken to the city animal shelter. The owner said she would not take the dog back, even if officials determine the dog is not a threat if properly supervised.

Parker said it's all about knowing your dog, and training it properly.

"I'd trust my dog as golden around my granddaughter," she said.

Like Parker, Burch said that with proper training and supervision, any dog can be obedient.

"Some people like to write off pit-bull breeds," she said. "They look at the aggression in the breed, but in terms of responsible dog ownership, it can be a great family pet if the breeder makes sure it's in the right home, under the right conditions and is trained properly to prevent problems."

More information about Canine Good Citizen programs can be obtained from the AKC's Web site — www. akc.org — and from pet stores. Parker's course, lasting six to eight weeks, costs $165, but she provides training for shelter animals for free.

"We believe that there aren't really any bad dogs. What you have is a problem with owners who need to be more responsible and who need more training…"

Mary R. Burch, director
>American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen Program

West Warwick

tbuford@projo.com

Mass. show of support for pit bulls

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/05/15/

mass_show_of_support_for_pit_bulls/

Mass. show of support for pit bulls
Specialists put burden on breeders, owners

By Lisa Wangsness, Globe Staff | May 15, 2007

Pit bull supporters vastly outnumbered opponents at a State House
hearing yesterday on whether the Legislature should consider a
statewide ban on the breed.

About 150 dog owners, trainers, and animal advocates, many sporting T-
shirts and jackets emblazoned with images of pit bulls, made for a
sometimes raucous crowd, grousing at what they saw as antagonistic
questioning from members of the committee considering the ban after a
series of highly publicized attacks on children and others.

Most of the veterinarians and animal behavior specialists who
testified said a pit bull ban would not protect people from attacks.
Instead of focusing on the breed, they said, the state should hold
breeders and owners more accountable for vicious dogs.

Dr. Nicholas H. Dodman, director of the animal behavior clinic at
Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, also said
that pit bulls were difficult to identify and therefore difficult for
a law to target and that other big, strong dogs can be as dangerous
as pit bulls if improperly cared for or bred.

"I think breed-specific legislation is odious," he said. "It's
fraught with all kinds of problems."

No legislation banning pit bulls has been filed, but Representative
Vincent A. Pedone, House chairman of the Joint Committee on
Municipalities and Regional Government, has expressed interest in the
idea and scheduled the hearing to explore ways to control vicious dogs.

Yesterday he repeatedly asked witnesses whether they would prefer to
be bitten by a German shepherd or a pit bull, and he grilled those
with veterinary exper tise on the pit bull's infamous temperament.

Such questioning infuriated people who sat for hours waiting for
their chance to shower the committee with pit bull testimonials.
Julie Rembrandt Seeley, corresponding secretary of the Massachusetts
Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners, left the hearing
without testifying after 3 1/2 hours, saying she was convinced that
Pedone was "basically on a pit bull witch hunt.' "

After the hearing, however, Pedone said that a statewide ban would be
difficult to enforce, but that "everything was still being looked
at," including restrictions for specific breeds. "The committee is
going to continue to look at different ideas relative to how we can
update our dog laws and possible breed-specific legislation," said
the Worcester Democrat.

Two children were attacked by pit bulls in separate incidents last
week in Boston.

One of them was Zayre Morant, 7, of Dorchester, who lost a chunk of
his right arm when a neighbor's dog mauled him. The dog was put to
sleep, said April Shearrion, 32, the boy's mother, but she said that
Zayre's arm is infected and that he is in pain.

"I think they should ban them not only in Massachusetts, but in the
US, period," she said. "Some family's going to experience worse than
what I've experienced."

While some have also debated the issue, no Legislature has placed
statewide restrictions on pit bulls, according to Marcy Setter of
Milford, who runs a website, understand-a-bull.com, which tracks such
legislation. Some municipalities have bans, includ ing Denver and
Prince George's County, Md., near Washington, D.C., according to the
website. Many municipalities in Massachusetts and across the country
have adopted restrictions on pit bull ownership.

Since 2004, Boston has required pit bull owners to muzzle their dogs
in public, to spay or neuter them, display warning signs on their
property, and if they rent, to obtain a permission letter from their
landlords, according to the city's website.

In April, Canton approved a new bylaw that prohibits households from
owning multiple pit bulls, said Paul R. DeRensis, the town counsel.

Dodman said butchers once used pit bulls to restrain large bulls
about to be slaughtered: The dogs would attach themselves to the
bulls' noses "like a living nose ring," he said. Later, he said, they
were bred to fight in pits. The term pit bull now encompasses a
number of different breeds, he said. A relative of the pit bull, the
Boston terrier, is the state's official dog.

Pit bulls are strong, powerful animals with a high pain threshold,
Dodman said, and when they bite, they often clamp their jaws and
refuse to let go. He told the committee that fatal pit bull attacks
are relatively rare, and that pit bulls tend to be more aggressive
toward other dogs than toward people. Most attacks on humans, he
said, are the result of careless breeding that produces antisocial
dogs or of owners encour aging their dogs to be aggressive. Most dogs
that bite are males that are not neutered.

"When you count all the things that maleness brings with it --
roaming and mounting and aggression and leg-lifting, urine marking --
there's nothing, really, that a family needs," he said.

Rather than ban pit bulls, Dodman suggested later that the panel
consider other tactics to curb problem dogs, including requir ing
owners to take a test on dog care before they buy a dog and getting
rid of puppy mills and unscrupulous breeders.

Lisa Wangsness can be reached at lwangsness@globe.com.

Free spay/neuter for pitbulls in Charlottesville VA

If anyone knows of a pit bull needing spay/neuter in or near Charlottesville, VA, the local SPCA is having free spay/neuter for pits (and low cost for other breeds) on June 11th and 12th.

WHERE: Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA
at 3355 Berkmar Drive

WHO: Available to low-income qualifying* Pet Owners and All Pitbull** owners

HOW: By Appointment ONLY (50 spaces available), call TODAY: 973-5959 ext. 249
* Yearly maximum income levels: single (no children) $20,000; married persons (no children) $30,000; married/single persons with children $40,000 - proof of income required
** All dogs must be under 75lbs.

LOW COST SPAY NEUTER
$20 PER PET
PITBULLS FIXED FOR FREE!

Michael Graham's Blog--Today Featuring Pit Bulls

A good read!

http://www.thenaturaltruth.blogspot.com/

VICTORY: President Bush signs animal fighting bill into law!

Today President Bush signed the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act into law. This is the culmination of an almost six-year campaign by The Humane Society of the United States and our allies to enact meaningful federal penalties for animal fighting.

The law takes effect immediately. It provides felony penalties for interstate commerce, import and export related to animal fighting activities, including commerce in cockfighting weapons. It will make it much harder for criminals who engage in dogfighting and cockfighting to continue their operations. Each violation of the federal law may bring up to three years in jail and up to a $250,000 fine for perpetrators

We are fortunate to have had steadfast Congressional leadership on this issue. But this campaign would not have been a success without your tireless efforts. Thank you again to each of you who sent emails, made phone calls, wrote letters and visited your federal legislators on Capitol Hill and in their home districts.

This victory reminds us to never to give up, and that there are rewards for compassionate action and perseverance. Please share this with others and let them know that you had a part in making it happen


Wayne Pacelle
President & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States
Copyright © 2007 The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). All Rights Reserved.
The Humane Society of the United States 2100 L Street, NW Washington, DC 20037