Comments on: Do you BAN Dogs?

By: Robin Uselmann

Robin Uselmann — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:47:21 +0000

No ban should be put on any breed of dog. People are so stupid it’s not even funny! It’s not the dog, it is the owner of the dog who make the dog the way they are.

Being from L.A., I have seen it too many times. A dog is going to react to the way it has been treated and raised. I’m sorry, but I have not seen a pit bull who has been treated good and raised with love be bad. People who are dog haters are the people who are banning pit bulls. Any dog will bite or attack if backed into a corner, or being mistreated. Just like a tarantula, push one into a corner and it will strike. Same with a dog!!!

If BC bans pit bulls, then they are very stupid and have no common sense! It isn’t the dog to blame; it is the person! I don’t care what type of dog it is. I love them and I’m not afraid of them. Besides, people should not let their little kids go up to strange dogs that they don’t know. Even if you know the dog, you shouldn’t just let your kids play with them without anyone watching.

Don’t blame the dog, blame the owner!

By: Jo Flournoy

Jo Flournoy — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:11:12 +0000

no ban on dogs!!! I have 8 dogs and one of them is a pit bull…he can be mean at times but he is a sweetheart anyway because he knows he has to!! looks like I got him just in time as he had lots of fight and wanting to kill in him and I have had to work a lot with him on it but he is good dog now!It isn`t the dog that is to blame for his actions…it`s what he is taught!!! I love all dogs!!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:59:47 +0000

I have 2 PitBulls, 5 years and 2 years and both are the sweetest dogs I have ever had. I adopted both as adults and the previous owners did a wonderful job of training and socializing them. They have never bite anyone or showed any aggression to anyone that visits my home. I agree that training and socialization is important. I don’t agree on a breed ban. I believe the local cities should actually just enfore the laws they probably already have on the books regardng restraint and licensing. Believe me if someone receives enough dog at large tickets at 70 plus dollars each they will start being more careful with keeping the animals put up. My sympathies to anyone harmed or knows someone hurt by a PitBull on this post. I keep my babies in the house and they are always leashed when out of the house for their protection and mine as I am aware not everyone loves them as much as I do.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 02:55:48 +0000

I think it is very sad that people take advantage of innocent dogs for their own gain. And you have those people who get dogs and just throw them in the backyard and ignore them. I have neighbors like that now. Who knows how they will turn out. They have food, water and limited shelter, that’s all the law requires from owners. Maybe that is what needs to be changed. Dog owners should be held accountable for how they treat their dogs. And they should put people away for a very long time who intentionally raise dogs to be mean or to be fighters. Banning is not the answer, making laws that have serious consequences for the dog owners actions. Not just their slap on the wrist laws they have now. And they need to enforce it. Now the dogs are the only ones to be punished as well as the victims.

A few years back, there was a pit mix female put in the backyard of a neighbor’s. It was left with little shelter, occasional water and food. No attention, no contact with people, usually chained to my fence. She played with my dogs along the fence and she was really sweet when I petted her and gave her food and water when her bowls were empty. She went into season and got out one day. The male dog across the street that always ran loose was after her. Unfortunately, the little boy that lived at that house tried to separate them. Both dogs attacked him. We chased the dogs off, his dog went up into the carport and the little female went back into her backyard. When the authorities came to the location of the attack, they took the little female and left the male. She was so scared but she came to me and went with them without a fuss. She never growled at them or tried to bite them, she was the same sweet dog I knew before. I knew they were going to kill her. Her owners never even bothered to acknowledge her existence. She lived alone and she died alone. They are the ones that should have been punished, but they weren’t. The little boy recovered and his dog continued to run the streets. So the little boy, the little female and the landlord of the house she lived at were the ones who paid the price. No one bothered to go after the owners, to punish them. The laws need to be changed!

By: irene

irene — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 19:40:22 +0000

Breed Specific Legislation is a sign of ignorance. People/legislators who support BSL laws NEED TO BE EDUCATED on the breeds, generally pit bulls, that are being targeted. They need to know that pit bulls are not vicious by nature. People who own & train them to attack are the ones who are vicious & should be put in jail.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:30:47 +0000

I saw a dog bandanna that I think fits perfectly. It said, “Punish the deed not the breed.” You can’t generalize certain breeds, just like you can’t generalize certain human races. Every living being has their own personality. However, I do think that chaining dogs should be outlawed. Dogs left on the end of a chain suffer from boredom, and many other problems, including aggression. When all you can do all day long is watch people and kids go zooming past you – you begin to see them as prey or at least something to chase. So then when you get loose – you chase. (I have found a good charity out of N. Carolina “Coalition to Unchain Dogs.” They educate people who keep their dogs chained 24/7 as to what that does to the dog, and then they build a fence for the dogs.)

By: Reba Harris

Reba Harris — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 05:07:38 +0000

Breed bans represent canine raceism. I have owned and loved pit bulls and american staff terriers for many many years and know them to be wonderful companion animals. My dogs are always the best behaved dogs in the neighborhood. Good dogs are the product of responsible owners. Owners of the bully breeds should litigate cities that attempt to ban their breed. If the dogs and owners have done no wrong, they should not suffer the discrimination of breed bans.

By: E. Settanni

E. Settanni — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 02:01:36 +0000

Everyone in my neighborhood that owns a pit freezes like a deer in headlights when they are out walking their dog and they encounter another person with their dog. Their body language shows they have no confidence in their ability to control their dogs. My next door neighbor has a pit and has said on many occasions she trusts her around people but not other dogs. That’s a great pet to have and a nuisance to other dog owners.In NY if you own a home and have a breed of dog that is on a list that insurance companies keep and don’t disclose that info to them when they write your policy you can wind up on the hook for 100% of the liability if you dog attacks someone. The breeds on that list are Pits, Shepherds, Akita, Bull Mastiff, Dobermans and a few others that I can’t recall off hand. I know for a fact that the itty bitty breeds aren’t on that list. I have never heard of a Pomeranian, or Maltese mauling someone to death! The damage inflicted by large breeds is catastrophic in comparison to what a little one can do. Getting bit is never pleasant but I would rather be bitten by a Yorkie than a Pit Bull if it had to happen at all and anyone that says different is being less than honest. If you banned the stupid people it would do away with a sizable precentage of the population!

By: Arizona

Arizona — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:30:36 +0000

If you look at the statistics on pit bull attacks and if someone you love has been a victim of a pit bull attack….. what would your opinion be? The statistics on that breeds attacks and many fatal are pretty high in numbers. I have three children age 2, 16, and 25. Since 1983 I felt I would never let my child around a pit bull. My child means more to me than any dog. If there is the SLIGHTEST chance a dog could hurt your children, Why take a chance? DUH!! Should be a no brainer for any parent. Unfortunately not everyone has the same thoughts and many children have been attacked.

By: james blank

james blank — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 17:54:19 +0000

I am against bans on breeds,this will not replace being responsible and knowing your animal.

By: TRISTAN

TRISTAN — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 15:57:25 +0000

I have a 112 lb anatolian shepherd who is aggressive towards other dogs as well as people he deems to be a threat. When I first rescued Benjie, the vet told me to I had to be either 6′tall and weigh 250lbs, or euthanize him.
I refused to do that. That was 9 years ago.
In the intervening time, I have learned so many things from Benjie. I have learned to compensate for his fear aggression. When company comes, he puts himself in his room, barking all the way there We get to walk early enough in summer to see the fireflies. In winter we are the first ones in the snow before it has been trampled on.
IThis dog who would not have been given a chance saved my life when an intruder tried to brake in to my home.
The people who are suppose to be the guardians to their non human companions are to blame for the travesty that happened to those pit bulls. With a little training this tragedy could have been avoided.

By: D. Stewart

D. Stewart — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 01:07:34 +0000

Years ago I bred and raised Pit Bulls, NEVER had one bite anyone. I now raise toy Chihuahua’s and they have never growled at or biten anyone. I raise my dogs with a kind heart and a tender touch and it shows. I’m with you Doc go after the people that raise the bad dogs. Happy Birthday to you! ! ! I too can remember thinking 40 was old but @ 53 life is still a blast! ! ! HAVE YOU HUGGED YOU DOG TODAY? yes I have all 7 seven of them ) Love your news letters.

By: Teri

Teri — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 15:01:53 +0000

I feel that all dogs are born GOOD dogs, its the people that turn them around. Think about it, if you were tied up on a short chain, fed when someone remembers, and kicked when someone felt like kicking you…..wouldn’t you turn nasty?!?! I know I would!!!

I took a wolf from a man, here in the lower mainland because he was hitting and kicking it, then drove over it with his truck (he got out to go pee). The first night I had him in my home he grabbed me by the throat three times. I calmly told him it was wrong, and he put his head down as if in apology. He was approx 1 1/2 yrs when I “got” him and at 12 yrs old he went to Rainbow Bridge. Having him in my life was amazing, he was one of the best “family members” a person could ever hope to have in their lives.

I agree that banning stupidity and ignorance is the way, not so called “vicious breeds”. Some people shouldn’t have pets. That is my 2 cents worth.

P.S. Happy Belated Birthday!!!

By: yvonne

yvonne — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:57:33 +0000

I dont think its all in how we raise them,sometimes you just cant take away what their breed is to do,some dogs are hunters….you cant take that away from them even though they may not be trained to hunt…its there ,in the breed.you cant take the hunting skills away and you cant take the aggression away from a dog that it s in the breed,all breeds are in such a catorgery and the pitts do not like other dogs as well as the akitas,you may not allow a pitt to be aggressive but theres gonna be a trial day when the pitt gets a chance to get to another dog then he will.I have westies ….and they are diggers.ive never allowed them to do this and will correct them but they too are terriers and thats their job.each breed carrys out a certain job whether we allow it or not,my westies are strong hunters,they go crazy when they see cats ,squirrells ,but loves people and other dogs,always.I couldnt take that away from them no matter how good of a trainer you are.thats why its very important to do a breed research before getting a dog,if you want a agressive fellow one that will protect the family and one thats known to not get along well w/other dogs then you should get a pitt.I dont want the breed cause they are bred to fight,they will always be a fighting group.their just in that catagory.its in them and no one can take that instinct away.no matter the training.there will be that time that they will be tested or tempted and will succeed.the main problem w/that breed is over population ,there are more pitts in the dog section for sale than any other breed.too many people are over breeding them,I do think there should be strong laws against that,we should only be allowed to breed them IF your a registered breeded,otherwise all pitt owners SHOULD have them spayed or neutered,that would really help the problem.

By: Richard van Stratum

Richard van Stratum — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:37:04 +0000

I reckon when your dog attacks another human because you the owner have made it agressive and not taken precautions, the dog should be assessed and rehabilitated and the owner jailed for life. At least then the people owning dogs will be way more responsible… anyway thats never going to happen.

Either way it’s always the dog that gets put down and the owner just gets a ban? How does that work if it’s the owners fault? More punishment for the human, 99% of dogs are happy playful things when they enter this world and like humans they’re influenced by their surroundings, normally human ones. Lets be honest, most wild dogs are better socially trained than the dogs some maniacs are allowed to have.

Right I’m getting off my soapbox. Never ban breeds, ban the human, change the laws so the real problem is addressed.