| ~BREED SPECIFIC LEGISLATION~ |
Breed specific legislation (BSL) is being passed in different states and counties. It is usually aimed at the larger breeds of dog. All owners should be concerned with BSL. What is BSL? BSL is legislation that targets specific breeds of dog because they are supposedly inherently "aggressive" or dangerous and therefore deserving of prejudicial treatment. There are basically two types... Type 1--Bans Bans make it illegal to own, house, harbor, import, train, or breed any of the dogs listed in the legislation in a particular location. Type 2--Ownership regulation Regulation doesn't outright ban a breed, but rather makes it extremely difficult to own certain breeds, usually large dogs. Requirements such as liability insurance, mandatory spay/neuter, higher licensing costs, and muzzling in public are typical. . |
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| Please don't take me away. (borrowed from rott-n-chatter) |
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http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_2755858 Denver's recent moves to eradicate "pit bull" dogs as pets is a mistake in trying to regulate dangerous dogs. The Humane Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal protection organization, opposes bans placed on a specific breed because they are ineffective and difficult to enforce. Moreover, they fail to address the larger problems of abuse, aggression training or irresponsible dog ownership. Many communities struggle with issues related to dangerous dogs. Some have responded by implementing breed-specific legislation, yet time and again such laws have failed to solve problems with dangerous dogs. Lawmakers who take the time to educate themselves and understand the issue quickly recognize that a truly effective law must address dangerous dogs regardless of breed. Dogs are animals that live in groups by nature. Like humans, they need to know where they fit in. Genetic makeup, early and ongoing socialization and training, the treatment and housing of the animal, and a person's response to a display of aggression by a dog are all factors that determine whether a dog will bite. Dogs that are spayed or neutered are less likely to bite. Dogs kept chained for long periods of time are more likely to bite. Consequently, animal-control laws that mandate spaying and neutering for adopted animals, ban chaining of dogs and promote responsible pet care will be more successful in decreasing dog bites than banning any particular breed. Additional strategies include education on how to prevent dog bites using a curriculum developed by the Human Society's youth education division that teaches children how to stay safe around dogs. While breed is one factor that contributes to a dog's temperament, that alone cannot predict whether a dog may pose a danger to the community. A September 2000 study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association details dog bite-related fatalities in the United States from 1979 through 1998. According to the study - conducted by a group of veterinarians, medical doctors and psychology and public health experts - at least 25 different breeds or crossbreeds of dogs had been involved in fatalities. Breeds cited range from the oft-maligned pit bulls and rottweilers to St. Bernards. The study's main conclusion was that breed-specific legislation doesn't work for several reasons, including the inherent problems in trying to determine a dog's breed, the fact that fatal attacks represent a very small portion of bite-related injuries, and that non-breed-specific legislation already exists and offers promise for prevention of dog bites. Unfortunately, the "problem dog" at any given time is often the most popular breed among individuals who tend to be irresponsible, if not abusive, in the control and keeping of their animals. Two decades ago, it was the Doberman pinscher that was vilified, whereas pit bulls and rottweilers (the most recent breeds targeted) were of little concern in terms of danger towards humans. Few people had heard of the Presa Canario breed until two of these dogs attacked and killed Diane Whipple in California in 2001. That breed is now being sought by individuals who desire the new "killer dog." Simply put, if you ban one breed, individuals will just move on to another one. Banning a breed only speeds up the timetable. If the goal is to offer communities better protection from dangerous dogs, there are far better ways to do it. They include comprehensive "dog bite" legislation, better consumer education and enforcement of responsible pet-keeping laws. Legislation aimed at holding dog owners responsible rather than punishing the dog is the most effective way to reduce the number of dog bites and attacks. Well-enforced, non-breed-specific laws offer an effective and fair solution to the problem of dangerous dogs in all communities. Stephanie Shain is director of outreach for companion animals at the Humane Society of the United States. |
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| Breedism is just another form of Racism |
| Animal rights groups that don't believe you should have any pets at all.. These groups are the opposite of animal welfare.. Animal Welfare Vs Animal Rights Animal Welfare Activists' Beliefs: We seek to improve the treatment and well-being of animals. We support the humane treatment of animals that ensures comfort and freedom from unnecessary pain and suffering. We have the right to "own" animals -- they are our property. We believe animal owners should provide loving care for the lifetime of their animals. Animal Rights Activists' Beliefs are: They seek to end the use and ownership of animals. They believe that any use of an animal is exploitation so, not only must we stop using animals for food and clothing, but pet ownership must be outlawed as well. They want to obtain legal rights for animals as they believe that animals and humans are equal. They use false and unsubstantiated allegations of animal abuse to raise funds, attract media attention and bring supporters into the movement. (The Inhumane Crusade, Daniel T. Oliver) The Twelve Steps of the Animal Rights Agenda ("The Politics of Animal Liberation," by Kim Bartlett, Editor of Animals' Agenda, November 1987.) Abolish by law all animal research. Abolish by law all other types of animal testing. Encourage vegetarianism for ethical, ecological, and health reasons. Phase out intensive confinement livestock production. Eliminate use of herbicides, pesticides, etc. Transfer animal law enforcement of Department of Agriculture to another agency. Eliminate commercial trapping and fur ranching. Prohibit hunting, trapping and fishing for sport. Urge U.S. action to prevent destruction of rainforests and end international trade in wildlife and goods produced from exotic and/or endangered fauna or flora. Discourage any further breeding of companion animals, including pedigreed or purebred dogs and cats. Promote spay and neuter of all pets by government subsidized clinics. End the use of animals in entertainment and sports, with reappraisal of zoos and aquariums. Prohibit genetic manipulation of species. Quotes From The Animal Rights Movement Ingrid Newkirk: National Director of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) "For one thing we would no longer allow breeding. People could not create different breeds. If people had companion animals in their homes, these animals would have to be refugees from the animal shelter and the streets … But as the surplus of cats and dogs declined, eventually companion animals would be phased out and we would return to a more symbiotic relationship - enjoyment at a distance." Ingrid Newkirk: National Director of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) "Pet ownership is an absolutely abysmal situation brought about by human manipulation." Wayne Pacelle: (Vice-President of the Humane Society of the United States, former Executive Director of Fund for Animals) "One generation and out. We have no problems with the extinction of domestic animals. They are creations of human selective breeding." Gary Francione and Tom Regan: "A Movement's Means Create Its Ends," Animals' Agenda "There are fundamental and profound differences between the philosophy of animal welfare and that of animal rights … Thus welfare reforms, by their very nature, can only serve to retard the pace at which animal rights goals are achieved." |
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| If You Care..... Federal Legislation |
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| Borrowed from sorryagain.com |