|
(Cont'd)
First of all, the types of people targeted with breed bans usually do not give much thought about any laws. That means breed bans will not reach the target of the legislation, the negligent dog owners. The only people the law directly impacts are those who obey the law. Law abiding citizens are already responsible owners to begin with. Irresponsible owners are the kind that are involved in negligent dog owning behavior such as: letting their dogs run off leash all over the neighborhood and in places where leash laws exist; not getting their pet dogs spayed or neutered; chaining their dogs to live in the yard; keeping dogs cooped up in pens; thinking ownership of a reactive aggressive dog is cool and/or desirable; trying to fight their dogs even when against the law; and other irresponsible ownership actions.
Another question to ask is where would Animal Control obtain information in order to find out the homes and owners who own certain breeds of dogs? Basically, the information would come directly from responsible dog owners themselves. These are the owners who leave paper trails when they register their dogs with the city, participate in dog shows, microchip their dogs, and take their dogs to the vet for routine care and shots. The irresponsible owners do not register their dogs, participate in dog shows, microchip their dogs, or stay up to date on veterinary care. In turn, making them difficult to locate.
Second, most people don't know how to correctly identify various breeds of dogs. Many people don’t know what my Dobermans are as far as their breed and have trouble identifying them. My Dobermans are cropped, docked, and their color is the typical and traditional looking Doberman color, yet many still cannot correctly identify their breed. While out in public people have called my Dobermans Pit Bulls, German Shepherds, mix breed dogs, Greyhounds, Foxhounds, Great Danes, Pointers, Miniature Pinschers, and other various breeds. Dobermans with floppy ears and a long tail are really confusing for people, even more so if they are red, brown, blue, or fawn. The majority of people do not recognize them as Dobermans at all, even though they are purebred Dobermans. Which means even with a breed ban on Dobermans, many can and will slide under the radar if they are not registered with any registry and do not have a long paper trail stating their breed. The same identification problem occurs with a large amount of purebreds and mixed breeds alike. The majority of purebred dogs living in the United States do not have valid registration papers. There are thousands upon thousands of unregistered purebred dogs living the in United States. Although they are purebred they may not registered for many reasons: some people never mail in the papers; some people lose them; some people never bother to register; etc.
Most Pit Bulls are not registered. It is impossible to register a Pit Bull with the American Kennel Club (AKC) as that breed is not even recognized as an AKC breed. Many people incorrectly identify Pit Bulls calling the dog a Pit Bull even if it is another breed or a mixed breed not related to a Pit Bull. If you think you can correctly identify a Pit Bull up close, please take this test and find out: http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html.
Also a large number of dogs are of mixed ancestry and it isn’t always obvious what they are mixed with, as they may look nothing like a breed at all. Many mixed breed dogs are mixed with more than just two dog breeds making identification even more challenging. When tracing roots back most purebred dogs are of diverse mixed ancestry. Another problem with breed banning is the decision of what dog is “x” breed and what dog is not “x” breed. This is not always easy to determine for many people, especially in the absence of an in depth accurate registered pedigree. Who is the person whose decision ultimately brings life or death to a dog that has done nothing wrong other than be born to resemble a certain breed? I see many problems with identifying dogs and putting them to death based on a person’s opinion.
Animal control officers don't even know their breeds as well as they should. Some hold their own biases. Some have never been to dog shows and are not interested attending. Many are not interested in breeding. Many have poor knowledge of dog breeds and how it related to canine health and genetics. Some might be new to the job. Some might not have in depth breed knowledge. Some may not know canine genetics and are unable to identify the true origin of dog breeds, especially in mix breeds that are hard to correctly identify even for some breeders. Those are just a few of the reasons why Animal Control officers might not know the breeds and mixed breeds well. I know I personally wouldn’t bet my cherished dogs lives on someone’s personal opinion.
Furthermore, how can anyone verify the validity that dog bites reported from the general public are really from Pits, Labs, or Boxers? Many dog bites go untreated and unreported if they are from small breeds. This skews statistics and they become more skewed when it comes to specific purebred dog breeds, as many people can’t tell the difference between the breeds and mixed breeds. Making identification even more complicated is the fact that many breeds are not registered and are of questionable backgrounds.
Various dog bite reports fail to give full and honest disclosure; rarely much is reported behind those stories and statistics. Misidentified breed mistakes aside, it is not common to hear about the background details such as: was the dog being chained in the backyard; was the dog in unbearable pain; was the dog neglected and mistreated; was the dog abused; did the owners bother to socialize the dog; were people treating the dog humanely; etc.
Third, does it really work when the government blanket bans anything? Even things that make sense like drugs, criminals owning guns, or decrees that people not kill each other do not work even when banned. Statistically outright banning does not show positive results in the United States. Even with harsh penalties the United States, it is still a very dangerous place to live despite banning laws. Dog abuse is illegal yet it happens every day all across the United States. The enforcement for dog abuse is often times too costly for states to receive proper funding and the enforcement for dog abuse laws are far from adequate. Breed banning would add even more of a burden on an already overtaxed system. Tax dollars, funding, and proper allocation of resources should go towards properly enforcing important laws already in existence, such as preventing animal cruelty and eliminating dog abuse in the lives of all dogs across the United States. Making new legislation will not magically solve problems. Banning certain breeds of dogs is not economically feasible or realistic.
Fourth, what about those who own dog breeds found on breed ban lists, such as Dobermans, Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Great Danes, Huskies, or Boxers that are very stable, have excellent temperaments, and are much loved family pets and lifelong companions? What about those dogs that do therapy work in hospitals and nursing homes and bring smiles to people’s homes every day? What about those dogs that act as service animals, being a direct and important part in helping a disabled person live their life? What about those dogs that went through training to do Search and Rescue and help save lives? What about those dogs that help children with learning disabilities? Breed bans overlook the dogs that are contributing to our society in positive ways and label all dogs as dangerous, solely based on how they look.
When a breed ban is enacted all household pets and companions, working dogs, police dogs, obedience dogs, hunting dogs, show dogs, therapy dogs, childrens best friends, certified search and rescue dogs, and working service dogs are all equally effected and in danger. Animal control will research pet owners and obtain personal documents that show ownership such as: vet records and microchip information; training club records; therapy dog visit logs; dog show catalogs; or SPCA records (where someone adopted a dog to save a life) in order to seize all dogs of the breed or breeds banned. They will take all seized dogs to a shelter to euthanize them since they essentially became "illegal" overnight. Dogs that have never and would never hurt anyone will be taken away from their homes to be killed. It is the stuff nightmares are made of for loving dog owners. There are no easy choices in a breed ban. A family will be forced to move if they want to keep their dogs.
Fifth, breed banning does not mean negligent dog owners will suddenly become law abiding. If a county or state successfully passes a breed ban, negligent and irresponsible owners (the types that encourage aggression in the first place, are in gangs, fight dogs, etc.) will either breed the banned dogs irresponsibly underground (and not have the chance to socialize them, show them, walk them, or have access to adequate vet care for fear they will be taken away); or the negligent dog owners will move onto to another powerful breed and do whatever they wish with that breed. The AKC registers over 156 breeds, the UKC registers over 440 breeds, and other dog registries exist as well. Every dog breed, even Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers, are capable of aggression and have the need to be socialized and treated humanely. The underground breeders will probably get creative and make mixes that no longer look like the banned breeds but still have a high percentage of that breed. What then? Ban anything that looks likes the new mixes too? Who will decide which ones meet the correct characteristics since mixes do not have a standard, look very different even if from the same parents, and lack breed type? Should the newly created breeds from underground breeders be banned one by one as they are created? Where does it stop?
When a breed ban goes into effect, instead of going underground, responsible owners will have to give up their cherished pets by quickly moving them out of the county/state, or move themselves from their established lives and jobs to relocate for fear their much loved pets will be seized and killed. Or, some can risk keeping their much loved pets or service dogs inside their home without the chance to take car rides, go to shows, get adequate vet care, go on walks, etc. for fear they will be removed and killed at the pound based on nothing more than outside looks.
Sixth, in a country filled with millions of dogs where the pet industry brings in over 35 billion dollars per year, there are only 12 deaths a year according to the book Dog Bite Related Fatalities. In short, fatalities are highly unusual, especially when you compare the numbers.
You would think the number of deaths would be much higher compared to the number of dogs America owns if dogs are so dangerous. According the Humane Society of the United States over 74 million dogs are living in the United States. Out of over 74 million dogs, only 12 deaths occur a year. This means an individual has a .00001% chance of death from a dog bite per year. Instead of dogs, bees should be animals of concern for humans as they are killing over 50 people per year. Being killed by bees is far more likely than being killed by a dog. Yet, each bee attack and death never seems to make the local news. In fact, horses kill people more often than dogs. Over 150 deaths by horses occur each year. If someone follows breed-banning logic they would conclude horses are dangerous animals and should be banned.
Statistics in a TIME magazine article state parents kill their own children more than dogs kill children each year, but you do not hear about legislation to ban parents because they are all dangerous. Humans murder and injure each other more often than the over 74 million dogs even get close to doing. More people young and old die in cars each year (over 40,000) than die any other way. Should the government ban cars since they are so dangerous? Should they ban certain types of motor vehicles, like sports cars and motorcycles? If cars should be banned, swimming should also be banned, as around 500 children per year die from being around bodies of water. So please take out pools from backyards, the city pools should be closed. Lakes and river trips should be avoided, as they are a dangerous activity seeing as a large amount of adults and children die per year in water.
Around 800 people die per year riding their bicycles. My grandfather was an expert rider and he used to ride cross-country. He was wearing a helmet when he crashed but still suffered massive head trauma (the helmet broke). Following breed ban logic, bicycles should be banned; clearly they are more dangerous than dogs. On average over 60-70 people die each year from getting struck by lightening according to the National Weather Service. A human has a much higher percentage of dying from being struck by lightening than getting killed by a dog. Many sites listed for preventing accidental injury for children list things such as car safety, poison safety, fire safety, railroad safety, toy safety, and water safety. All of those are more likely to injure a child than a dog.
Seventh, it is more prudent to crack down on laws that are already on the books and need to be enforced properly. Important laws need to be enforced such as : not allowing animal abuse; being strict on abusers; huge fines for loose dogs; enforcing leash laws; not allowing dogs to live tied to a chain; and other things that can lead up to bites and are considered animal cruelty. Instead of breed bans, dog owners nationwide need a reminder that they cannot be negligent and/or cruel to their dogs, as that behavior will no longer be tolerated or go unnoticed. Why is it that the government cannot properly enforce animal cruelty laws due to lack of funds and lack of staff, yet they will somehow be able to fund and enforce stiffer breed ban laws to be followed?
A better idea than breed bans are conducting dog education classes in schools so kids can learn what is acceptable and not acceptable and learn to read dogs better. These classes are not only fun for children, they also teach safety and proper ownership. Society benefits when children become more dog savvy about the proper care of dogs and proper treatment of our canine friends.
50% - 70% of dog bites occur on the owner’s property. Also, most dog bites happen by intact (not neutered) male dogs on chains. There is a bigger problem than just breed. Ownership plays a big part. As a country, many people can’t read dog behavior and many more do not take the time to properly train and/or socialize their dogs. Many owners make their dogs live in inhumane conditions, such as in small pens, chained, or tethered outside. It is amazing in a country full of dogs that there are not more fatalities and dog bites owned by people who are overall clueless about raising dogs. If you look at the sheer numbers of dogs living alongside humans, it quickly becomes apparent that most dogs are very adaptable and friendly, despite society as a whole not always giving them the respect, training, and dignity they deserve.
A small handful and very small percentage of dogs, regardless of specific breed or lack of breed, will have neurological issues that are beyond human control due to breeding and individual temperament. While that is a shame, it is important to note that this is not the norm fortunately for us humans. Thankfully, the large majority of dogs of all breeds and mixed breed dogs are very adaptable and not human aggressive.
Eighth, breed banning initially goes after Pit Bulls (which we have already established are hard to identify and not even registered as an AKC breed) and Rottweilers, next are Akitas, Chow Chows, Dobermans, Siberian Huskies, German Shepherd Dogs, Belgian Malinois, Australian Cattle Dogs, Bulldogs, Bull Terriers, Saint Bernards, Mastiffs, Scottish Wolfhounds, and more. Boxers and Great Danes have also appeared on breed ban lists. Some breed ban lists call to ban any dog over a certain weight. For a time in history, Dobermans were America's most hated breed, then public perception moved to Rottweilers, then to Pit Bulls where it currently stands today. Public fear of dog breeds changes and shifts breeds throughout the decades. The specific banning of dog breeds is not an acceptable or realistic solution to any problem and would create all new problems.
I grew up with Dobermans and they are the best breed in the world to me. A big part of me would be lost if the government told me I could not longer own them due to the outliers (in statistics this means those that do not at all fit in the normal standard curve, the ones that are not normal and typical of the rest of the population). Dobermans are a popular breed being in the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) top 25 of all dogs registered for over 30 years. Out of all the Dobermans in the country, both registered and not registered, rarely is there a problem with most Dobermans. More Dobermans gain their championships and work as therapy and service dogs bringing joy to others each year than kill or harm people.
Dobermans are a highly intelligent and versatile breed. They are used in police work and can detect drugs and bombs. Dobermans help find children and people lost at bombsites and in investigations. Dobermans act as a guide dog for the blind, and work as service dogs for the disabled. They are therapy dogs going to nursing homes and hospitals to help people get better and bring joy to lives. Dobermans dedicated their lives to our country with their service in our military in Guam. Dobermans are in the top levels of being competitive and successful at obedience, agility, rally obedience, fly ball, freestyle dance, and conformation dog shows. Dobermans are used for hunting and herding and as a stable sport dog. They are cherished family pets and devoted companions to young and old alike.
Ninth, since when can someone honestly look at another human being and instantly be able to know everything about them based on nothing more than their melanin (the pigment in the skin)? Society does not accept that type of discrimination and stereotyping. Blanket statements like: all human males or dog males are this way; all human or canine females are that way; all red dogs act like this; all red headed humans act this way; black dogs act this way; blue eyed people are always this; etc., are incredibly inaccurate.
However, these types of statements are not based on fact. Rather, they are based on blanket biased stereotyping which doesn't leave any room for truth. Life is not just one way or the other. Life is not black or white. There is a lot of grey area as not everyone or everything is alike. Not everything or everyone fits neatly and accurately into one narrow-minded box. Blanket stereotyping has been a source of oppression for many throughout history in the world. While this article may be about dogs and dog breeds, the basic premise remains the same. Prejudice is still prejudice. Stereotyping is still stereotyping. To ban dogs based only upon the way they look is prejudice and is blatant discrimination.
In conclusion, breed banning through breed specific legislation (BSL) is not an instant easy answer to a perceived problem. Breed banning will do more harm than good for society. Breed banning punishes responsible and caring owners. Breed banning kills countless numbers of great dogs that never do anything wrong. Breed banning will be costly and expensive while at the same time ineffective.
A more reasonable answer would be to restrict ownership by requiring more education to own dogs. Public education should also be in schools on the proper care of dogs and how to read, treat, and approach our fellow canine friends. Some people ask what they can do to help fight Breed Specific Legislation (BSL). There are many ways people can help: · Support groups that are fighting BSL with your encouragement, support, time, and/or money. · Find and support Alliances for Responsible Dog Owners in your state. · Write your legislators and let them know you oppose Breed Specific Legislation. · If a place of business has Breed Specific Legislation, do not support that business and let them know why. · If you own a Doberman, join your local Doberman club and join the Doberman Pinscher Club of America. · Become active in dog clubs, donate funds, spread awareness, and donate your time doing Meet the Breed. · Meet the breed is public education with a dog breed usually at dog shows and other dog events. The general public will have the opportunity to meet Dobermans and get honest advice answering questions from Doberman owners. · If you own Dobermans, make sure your Dobermans are always seen in a positive light and are great breed representatives in private and public on both a large scale and a small scale. · While you are socializing your Dobermans take the opportunity to help educate the public about Dobermans. · After your TDI certification, volunteer to do therapy work with your Doberman through a local dog club. · Volunteer in schools to help children learn more dogs. · Volunteer in Four-H programs in your community to help children learn more about responsible dog ownership and dog training. · Share your touching personal stories and pictures of your dogs that are beneficial for the breed with other individuals. · You can also buy “Ban the Deed, Not the Breed” merchandise to spread awareness while at the same time fighting BSL http://www.dpca.org/Legisltv/Magnet.htm. These are just some of the many ways that you can help. With Breed Specific Legislation a real possibility, all dog owners have to be proactive to help fight the fight on behalf of our wonderful dogs. © 2009 mydobermans.com |
