Victories in 2008

Having a dog who looks like a pit bull (or any maligned breed) can be tough in this day and age. It's hard to get insurance, some cities will kill your dog on sight, and you are ostracized and condemned by family, friends, coworkers and the community at large. Why even bother? Well, anyone with a pit bull as a companion knows the answer - because the dogs matter, they deserve better and we can all continue the good fight in improving their chances at a good life.

It's easy to fall prey to negative thinking, but I think it's important to remember the positive things that happened for pit bulls and other maligned breeds this year. And remember, these changes and victories occurred because people did something. Remember that.
Without further ado, here are some of the victories for 2008.

Sports Illustrated puts a pit bull on the cover of their magazine, highlighting how the dogs rescued from Michael Vick's property are doing. The article is superb and sorta makes up for the 1987 cover depicting an aggressive-looking pit bull dog and the line "Beware of this dog".

A huge victory for dogs in the Netherlands, which reversed its 15 year ban of pit bulls after bite statistics yielded no improved safety for the general public because of the ban.

The state of Massachusetts introduced a bill to ban breed bans.

The list of communities that said no to BSL or reversed BSL(this list may not be all inclusive):

1. Perryville, MO
2. Gurnee, IL
3. West Liberty, IA
4. Joplin City, MO
5. Brighton, CO
6. HB 2553, PA
7. Farmington Hills, MI
8. Rantoul, IL
9. Grand Island, NE
10. Wyandotte, MI
11. Marion County, WV
12. Spencer, IA
13. Ravenna, OH
    
14. Madisonville, TX (reversed BSL)
15. Mosinee, WI
16. Minnesota
17. Plymouth, MI
18. Wayne County
19. Whitehall, OH
20. Reading, PA (Court case reversed BSL)
21. Forsyth County, NC
22. Edwardsville, KS
23. Burnham, IN
24. Waterloo, IA
25. Tennessee
26. Baltimore County, MD
27. West Allis, WI (mayor vetoes pit bull ban)

In addition to the adoption of non breed specific dangerous dog ordinances, stop_bsl has a great list of articles portraying pit bulls and other breeds in a positive light.

Keep up the good work in 2009!

Does this article make any sense?

The title of thise article is "Pit Bull attack injures woman" but it doesn't actually state that one particular dog was responsible.

There were four dogs on the property, including a Labrador Retriever. The woman was intoxicated and couldn't even explain why or how she was attacked.


How on earth can we go from: "Woman is intoxicated and can't even explain how/why one of four dogs attacked her" to "Pit bull attack injures woman"?
A woman found dazed and bloodied in a New Lisbon home Thursday suffered multiple dog bites and was hospitalized.

The woman was intoxicated, confused and alone in the home and was not able to provide much information about when she was attacked or why, troopers said.

http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_357040030.html

The Daily Star accepts letters to the editor: letters@thedailystar.com, keep it to 300 words or less, include your contact info and phone number.

Kay County: Pit bulls saved or euthanized

The end result for many large-scale confiscations of pit bulls is death. Not because the dogs are inherently evil or dangerous. Not because there aren't rescues willing to take some of the dogs. It is because of a perpetuated myth that pit bulls from fight busts or large neglect cases are a liability, that the only "good" thing for these abused dogs is to kill them. What a tragedy that the stereotype is perpetrated by shelters and humane societies that should know better.

Enter the Kay County sheriff's department who received a tip from a couple of hunters in early December that there were a lot of neglected pit
bulls on a rural property. When the sheriff's department showed up, more
Photo from BadRap
than 100 dogs were found in various stages of neglect and starvation. None of the dogs were at a normal weight, some had even paced a trench around their chain's maximum length, no doubt a sign of utter frustration and boredom. Several puppies were also discovered.

Instead of following the traditional route of mass-killings (the automatic killing of dogs should not be considered "euthanasia"), Kay County reached out to the animal protection movement and asked for help. The Oklahoma Alliance for Animals, Best Friends and BadRap responded. And so did the public. When the Kay County Sheriff's department asked for help with donations, food and care for the dogs - thousands of dollars poured, enough food for a month was trucked in, and people showed up in support of these dogs. Amazing. The "owner" of the dogs has been charged with 70 counts of animal cruelty.

BadRap sent two representatives out to Oklahoma to evaluate the dogs. While there isn't final word from BadRap on how many dogs were euthanized or saved, we know that some are on their way to California for a new lease on life. It is one thing to euthanize because the dog is too shut down or too aggressive to pass behavioral tests or because there just aren't enough rescues to take in 100+ dogs, it is a whole other ball game to kill a dog because he looks a certain way. Since when did head size and the musculature of animal take precedence over their behavior?

It's great some of these dogs have a second chance. And, like the dogs adopted and saved from Vick's property, these dogs will continue to be ambassadors for pit bulls. They will show their community that a dog from a fight bust or from a cruelty case can be a model canine representative. They will show people that pit bulls are dogs, that they deserve as much of a chance at a good life as any other pup.

See BadRap's slideshow here

Lucas County dog killer gets "award"

A hate-mongering group has awarded Tom "I kill adoptable dogs" Skeldon of Lucas County, Ohio with "Dog Warden of the Year'. No matter that dogsbite.org has only been around for a year. No matter that it was founded by a woman with a serious grudge against anyone with a dog who looks like a pit bull. And no matter that the so-called dog-bite victim advocacy group is really just a front for discriminatory legislation, fear-mongering and hate.

The Lucas County Dog Warden killed 1,354 dogs in 2007 for looking like a pit bull. An additional 1,210 dogs were killed as well. Only 400 animals were adopted and, theoretically, another thousand were returned to their owners or farmed out to rescue organizations. I don't know about you but is a65% kill rate award worthy? Is the fact that dog bites have increased in Lucas County award worthy?

In one article, Tom Skeldon claims that things have gotten better since, well, since 1979. Yes, 30 years ago, things were worse for dogs in Lucas County. But how much worse? The euthanasia rate was about 76%. Flash forward 30 years and the kill rate is 65% - an 11% decrease in 30 years is not something I'd report as an improvement.

Fact is Tom Skeldon is a dog-murderer. No one should receive accolades for that.

The Toledo Blade accepts letters to the editor. letters@theblade.com is the email; keep it to 300 words or less, be respectful, include your full name, address and phone number for verification purposes.

Kay County: Trying to help confiscated pit bulls

I generally avoid posting stories of pit bull confiscations because they invariably end poorly for the dogs. Houston showed us how poorly to handle a dog fight bust by killing nearly 200 pit bulls confiscated from a fight bust. Instead of treating dogs as individuals who are victims of a crime, many police and shelter agencies treat these dogs as criminals. It's likely none of these dogs were given one lick of a chance.

Enter Kay County, Oklahoma and the confiscation of more than 100 neglected pit bulls. These are not being marked as "fighting dogs" (that alone improves their chance for adoption) but as neglected dogs who need a chance.

The photo line says it all about the dog pictured: "One of more than 100 Pit Bulls found neglected near Newkirk looks for attention."

No mention of dangerously out of control evil baby-eating machines - just dogs in a state of disrepair from prolonged neglect and starvation. Officials even went so far as to attempt reviving a dead puppy from a little found alone and starving inside a building.

And the dogs? There is no mention of killing them. In fact, a point is made to state that the sheriff's department is in touch with Best Friends* and is also looking for volunteers to help take care of the dogs. Volunteers to help take care of the dogs! As in possibly interact with over 100 pit bulls!! Bless their hearts.

If you're in Oklahoma or just want to do a good thing for these dogs, donate to the care of these dogs. It's so important to let Kay County know that people across the country care and care a lot about pit bulls. If you cannot donate to Kay County, try donating to your local shelter; be it money or your time or toys or blankets. Every little bit to improve the lives of shelter animals is a wonderful way to put your compassion into action.

The sheriff's department is seeking donations of money, dog food and buckets for water. Donations may be sent to the Kay County Sheriff's Office, 110 S. Maple, Newkirk, OK 74647.

They are also looking for volunteers to take care of the dogs.

Kelley may be reached at the sheriff's office. (580) 362-2517.

News article

*Regardless of your opinion on Best Friends, that Kay County is even reaching to save these dogs speaks volumes.

Arkansas City: A case of the stupid

Arkansas City banned seven breeds of dogs. When a man who has had dog issues threatened to buy a Presa Canario - Arkansas City banned that breed too. Fascinating.

Mayor Mell Kuhn said he realizes that often the real problem with dogs is the owner and not the dog, but he said he feels the city should be proactive and protect the citizens of the city.

If Mayor Kuhn actually realized the problem was with owners, he would not have encouraged a vote to ban seven breeds of dogs.

And is there truly a vicious dog problem in Arkansas City?

Niles said she hears about one vicious-dog case a week. City officials hope to cut down on that number.

It is difficult to cut down on the number one but perhaps dogs with three legs who act aggressive can be considered 3/4 a vicious dog case. Just kidding.

For a town with 12,000 people a vicious dog case a week is hardly anything to panic about. The fact is that a "vicious dog case" could range from dog ate my baby to dog stared at me funny.

I still maintain that most regions in this country do not have a biting dog problem and that while generic "breedless" dangerous dog laws are great...there really isn't a need for them, imo.

A nice article out of Colorado on pit bulls (except for mentioning that oft-quoted CDC 'study' that everyone misses the end point of - that breed bans are ineffective).

I feel for the directors and employees of city/county governments forced to enforce a law that mandates death for dogs who look a certain way and discrimination for people who own certain dogs.

Doug Kelley, director of animal services in Denver says it best: He said the ban has lessened the number of attacks by pit bulls, certainly, but he has no evidence that the ban has decreased the total number of dog bites or attacks in the city. He also said the ban gives people "a false sense of security."

Pit bulls still bite in Denver. Other dogs still bite in Denver. Dog bites haven't gone down (in Aurora and other BSL-ridden areas, they've gone up). People aren't safer.

But were they unsafe as it pertains to dogs to begin with? I still submit that dog bites aren't a public safety problem that the overwhelming majority of dogs don't bite, that the overwhelming majority of people are not bitten or mauled by dogs. But that isn't much of a story - the dog that just sits there and wags her tail, the dog who plays with a tennis ball, the dog who licks the face of the neighborhood children. Those stories don't sell but they happen far more frequently than the stories of children being mauled or adults being bitten.

Lab puppy who killed infant starved

In July of this year, a young infant was fatally mauled by a young Lab puppy.

The dog, age 10-12 weeks, was left alone with the 2-month-old infant. The attack was so severe that the infant's genitals, portions of his leg and butt were eaten.

The necropsy just released shows what may have been obvious to many - a starving, malnourished puppy was left alone with a potentially tasty morsel. The dog had no food in his stomach, was underweight and no one in the house knew the last time the dog had been fed.

What is so interesting about this case is that the necropsy follow-up is actually published. In so many other bites or fatalities where the breed in question is not a Lab, readers never learn that the dogs may have been chained, neglected, underfed, fed poison, abused or mistreated. Instead, they are left thinking "family pets" (in the cases of resident dogs attacking) turn on owners b/c they are a certain breed.

That is silly, of course, as this case shows. The puppy did not attack because he is a Lab or genetically unsound. He attacked because he was systematically starved through neglect and left alone with another creature who probably smelled edible. Any dog treated in such a way may succumb to hunger pains. And this is why breed bans or restrictions are so silly: They don't address the people problem.

Media Mis Reports

Police: 2 Pit Bulls Attack 8-Year-Old, Grandmother
Two Attacked by Pit Bull This Afternoon South of Forney
Pit bulls maul child, woman in Mesquite

http://www.khou.com/news/state/stories/khou081007_jj_dog_mauling.ec277acb.html <--- This video labels it a pit bull attack. The reporter talks about trying to find the loose "pit bulls". The original report goes like this: Girl is riding on bicycle when three dogs, two pit bulls and a mixed breed border collie came out of nowhere and attacked the girl, causing enough harm to require the child be flown to the hospital. When the grandmother of the victim came out, she was attacked as well. A passer-by was able to get the dogs away from the two. According to several reports, the dogs "left the scene of the crime" (seriously, one report says that).

The actual story is as such:

Girl is on her bike IN the same backyard as the three dogs owned by her grandmother. She is alone with them when, at some point, the dogs attack the child. Grandmother hears the attack and goes out to help and dogs redirect on to her. Dogs manage to escape and run away after being beaten off by a passer-by. Dogs are captured by animal control easily when they come back to the house.

The dogs? One pointer. One large mixed breed. And one mixed breed pit bull.

Fascinating, really.

Dog's 75% pit bull!

In Ontario, no new pit bulls are allowed. Current pit bulls must be muzzled in public.

Here's a story in which a woman took her dog to a dog park. At some point, a fight ensued and the dog killed another. Ron Pierce of Pierce Animal Control made a wild guess and claimed the dog was part pit bull...though not "full-blooded" because the snout was too narrow. He states the dog is 75% pit bull.

Wait, what?

Dogs aren't "full-blooded" or "part-blooded" - it's not like their supply of blood is evenly divided into neat parts dependent on "breed". A phenotype can never give you the right to say stuff like, "that white person with the red hair is no doubt 65% Irish" or "that brindled colored dog is most definitely 45% boxer". I mean, that is just purely outlandish and silly.

That an animal control agent with no real experience judging the phenotypes of purebred animals is allowed to ascertain whether a dog is "purebred" or "mixed" and even how much of a "mix" a dog is is a perfect example of governmental abuse of power. It shows how dangerous BSL is and how utterly unfair it is - it would now be the responsibility of the owner to prove that her dog is not a pit bull. That isn't right.