DogBoston’s Dog Blog

Today, a meeting to discuss breed specific legislation including a potential ban on pit bull and dangerous dog ownership took place in the Gardner Auditorium at 11:00 a.m. at the State House. I was not able to attend the meeting but our own Jan Dumas has the following the say and planned to read it this AM:

Well it looks as if we have quite a few ‘dogs’ in this fight. People who own pits or pit mixes and love them - fighting - with the people who fear them and know nothing about them. Dogs are amazing animals, they among all the other creatures on this planet choose to join with us, and ask for little in return for all they give us. We treat them like little people, or worse than nothing, and still if given a chance they will die for us.

I have a little bit more history with this breed, and this question than most. I am a member of two local American Pit Bull Terrier fancy clubs, and I own a Keeshond. The Keeshond was banned in Europe during the 1700’s and only now is starting to rebound as a breed. Excellent guard dogs, they also were on the wrong side of a political argument, and paid the price of having few to stand up for them. I do not wish to see us make this kind of mistake again.

The American Pit Bull Terrier is at the stage that the Kees once was, with a small population under attack, for the sins of many other dogs. Any one who has spent time as I have with a well breed APBT, attending conformation shows, knows what this dog can be. The big shovel head, the human eyes, and the sleek athlete’s body a dog breed to do several jobs. A dog that needs attention, love and a job to do, not locked in a back room, or other wise mistreated. The people I know who care about APBT, who breed APBT, do so because they love the breed, and they wish to see it continue. To look at the dogs I see around me, the ones who live on chains, are stuck in small rooms, are breed not because they are the best representative of the breed, but because the person wants quick money, or a smallish dog with a big bark and a hard reputation. A person with this kind of dog might call them a Pit Bull, however, they are not American Pit Bull Terriers. They are some sad, half mix, that does not deserve their mistreatment.

From the reports I have read, it is not possible to see one ‘breed’ or even one group that bites more than others. We hear more about a ‘Pit Bull’ like dog, or ‘Bully Breed’ dog bighting because is sells newspapers, and get free publicity for politicians. Suggesting that people, all people who own dogs need to socialize them, to properly care for them, no one wants to hear that. Even if it is the answer to this problem.

We already have laws about dog ownership, all dogs must be vaccinated against rabies, and all dogs must be licenses. Neither of those laws is being enforced, except in the few incidences where animal control stops to bother people allowing their dogs off leash play. I lost track of the times I was stopped by police officers, and dog control as I walked my ‘wolf’ asking if he had his shots and was licensed. My neighbor, whose dog was locked in the basement, was never asked, for she never allowed her dog out. Which dog was more dangerous if it was to get loose, the over socialized Kees, or the under socialized Lab?

Just as the above example (and I have enough to write a book) shows. The problem is NOT the dog, but the irresponsible owners. We need to enforce the laws we have about dog care. Remove dogs from people who will not care for them properly. Mandate neutering and spaying for dogs that are not listed with a breed registration such as the American Dog Breeders Association (ADBA) American Kennel Club or other breed registration group.. Create a training class that all dog owners must attend in order to get a dog license. Stop back yard breeders who are little less then puppy mills, turning out dogs with no care to temperament, confirmation, or breeding. Require all Animal Control Officers to learn about dogs and dog breeds, and finally stop asking me if I have a wolf on the end of my lead!

- Jan Dumas