Readers react to proposed pit bull law
Just as my colleague Tania Chatila found out (see her and Jennifer McLain's Leftovers from City Hall blog), when you write about cities trying to tell pet owners what to do about their pets, you are gonna get a spirited response.
Here are a few comments from folks reacting to Pasadena's proposed law to require spaying and neutering of all pit bulls and pit bull mixes in the city:
"My neighbor has a pit bull and my new dog is a lab-pit mix. Both of them are wonderful dogs, loving animals with no mean bones in their bodies. YET I have met Chihuahuas and smaller dogs that would tear you apart if you met them."I don't mind taking precautions on animal population. My 12 year old Labrador was not neutered and I can honestly say he never got out and became a father, nor was he vicious to any person, child or other animal. I just think that focusing in on one breed (results in) a Pit Bull being targeted as an unfriendly breed."
-- Ruth S.
I have owned and shown Staffordshire Bull
Terriers most of my life. My breed, which has
never been documented to do anything malicious, is typically lumped
into these bills and what we try and do is educate the public and the
council members as to the distinct difference in our breeds and the
fact that (breed specific legislation) or banning of certain breeds never works. In fact a pit
bull is basically a term describing a mixed breed that may resemble
another and not purebred AKC registered show dogs like I have.
"I have been to the Pasadena Shelter and have not seen an overpopulation of pit bulls. I saw mainly mixed breeds and a purebred intact male Boxer being handed over for example the day I was there. Typically when you attend a shelter there is not an abundance of one breed. There is an abundance of mixed breeds."
"I have been to the Pasadena Shelter and have not seen an overpopulation of pit bulls. I saw mainly mixed breeds and a purebred intact male Boxer being handed over for example the day I was there. Typically when you attend a shelter there is not an abundance of one breed. There is an abundance of mixed breeds."
-- Kristina E.
"Got a warrant, if not then Leave. Forced Neuter of Pits I would have to
take that to court. In the mean time keep there (sic) stupid (deleted) San
Francisco excrement... out of So. Cal."
-- Randy G.
"Four dogs running loose is a 'horrifying incident'?
no… rapes... murders... violent human crimes are HORRIFYING incidents. Of
course none of these occur in Bungalow Heaven... Do those people who
perpetrate those crimes get shot... just for being on the street? There is
already a 5-10 week wait to spay/castrate these animals.. so obviously there
are people stepping up tot the plate to have the dogs altered... so why a
law? What will it do... I will tell you... more dogs will be KILLED... either
shot on sight ( for doing nothing but being loose) or killed in the shelters as
people turn them in at even higher rates when they cannot abide by the new law
in a timely manner... This is thinly veiled attempt to eradicate “pit
bulls”.. there is NO SUCH BREED of dog... if we were talking about doing
this to PEOPLE we would here (sic) the cries of DISCRIMINATION throughout the land...
Encourage spay/neuter... and so far it is working... how about increasing the
budget for VOLUNTARY?? Looks to me like someone needs to be re-elected... like
some of the council members???
-- Jan D.
Pit Bulls are not the problem - focusing on pet overpopulation, spay & neuter programs, breeders & puppy mills, and responsible ownership is
the solution. I find the discrimination against pit bulls as nothing
but media hysteria, public misinformation, and quite frankly a form of
racism.
-- Whitney
City staffers are expected to bring back a draft version of the ordinance to the council in two months. It would require mandatory sterilization of all pit bulls and pit bull mixes in the city over 8 weeks old, with exemptions for licensed breeders and animals with certain physical deformities that would make sterilization dangerous. Owners who violate the law would be subject to anything from a citation to misdemeanor charges.
If approved, the law would make Pasadena the first city in the Southland to require breed-specific mandatory sterilization. San Francisco has already passed a similar ordinance, which is being challenged in court by a dog owner advocacy group.
If approved, the law would make Pasadena the first city in the Southland to require breed-specific mandatory sterilization. San Francisco has already passed a similar ordinance, which is being challenged in court by a dog owner advocacy group.
Comments
Posted by: dog sense | March 17, 2008 10:49 PM
Posted by: I know | March 19, 2008 10:12 PM
Posted by: daisy | April 1, 2008 5:12 PM
Posted by: thanx | April 3, 2008 11:58 PM