Mississippi city's pit bull ban "discrimination"

[Maddy McCall]

By Sylvain Metz
[e-mail]


Establishing strict laws governing dogs is one thing. But banning a specific breed is another, said Richland resident Chris Pena, president of the Magnolia Canine Club.

Pena is a pit bull owner who objects to a new city ordinance that will make it illegal to house a pit bull in the Rankin County city. So he and his wife, Kristi, are taking their protest to the street, soliciting signatures for a petition that asks the Board of Aldermen to reconsider its actions.

The ordinance, which goes into effect June 1, is expected to affect about a dozen dog owners who have 15-18 pit bulls, Police Chief Russell James said. A police officer getting bitten a year and a half ago prompted the city to take a look at pit bulls and other vicious dogs.

The Penas, who also represent the local chapter of the Endangered Breed Association, say they have about 200 signatures from local residents. "We ought to make all dog owners responsible," Chris Pena said. "We are against breed-specific legislation. When you single out a breed, that's discrimination in its purest form."

Much more at:

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060507/NEWS/605070413/1001/NEWS

[Kutjara]

1. Last time I checked...

...dogs weren't mentioned in any equal rights legislation. They can't vote either.

Rightly or wrongly, banning certain breeds is not a discrimination issue. It's a public safety issue. If there is sufficient evidence of behavioral instability in a particular breed, then controls need to be put in place to ensure public safety. Pit bulls seem to have garnered a reputation for chewing people up, and are banned in quite a few countries. If these dogs are as dangerous as they're reputed to be, a ban in an urban area seems appropriate.

[ktlyon]

2. Rottweilers are not banned here in Virginia (don't know about Pit

Bulls) but you can't get insurance for your home if you have one. Lots of dogs can be dangerous when in hands of misguided people, Dobermans German Shepherds come to mind. I have been chased and snapped at by many dogs while bicycling but the worst are the little barky ones with very small brains and even smaller brained owners.

[leftyladyfrommo]

5. Other dogs can be dangerous - but they don't rip people to

pieces when they go crazy.

I have border collies and I think they are #1 now for biting. But I don't think there has ever been a case in history where a border collie has seriously hurt someone.

These fighting dogs are a whole different thing.

[peacebuzzard]

7. Ha! (lol) couldn't agree with you more.

I have an assortment of sizes in pooches here but the most cranky one is my little 15 lb. guy. Plus he is the only one who is totally unkind to my kitty.

[Critters2]

8. I always find it amazing that pit bull advocates think they'll win

their argument by insulting other breeds, rather than using stats, facts, that sort of thing to support their position. It's precisely because of the mean-spiritedness of people who want these dogs that I figure they should be banned.

[peacebuzzard]

13. I agree with you on one of your statements.

because of the mean-spiritedness of people who want these dogs

but when it comes to they that is a very big group of critters, mycritters2.

But hell, yes!!! Ban breeding for profit of all sorts. Ban breeding period. All pets (and humans) need to be neutered. Make room for all the abandoned and abused critters of the world.

Just looked up your profile and thank you for being a fellow rescuer. Thank you.

That is what I am all about.

[Lucy - Claire]

3. They are banned in the UK

Too many children were mauled by them. So is banning Pit Bull Terriers is discrimination, it is because they are known to be mad,dangerous and the type of people that own them are often are happy to have vicious dogs, that are a fighting breed.

[leftyladyfrommo]

4. Hot topic in Kansas City right now. 3 pitbulls just mauled

3 different people here. One man was walking down the street, and the other two were mowing their yards. One man is still in critical condition - the dogs tore off most of his arm - leaving only the bone.

I am an animal lover and dog rescuer but I think these dogs need to have special legislation on who can own them and how they have to be kept.

There are way too many pitbulls in this city. Some 40 to 60 percent of all dogs picked up here are pitbulls. And they can't be readopted so they are mostly killed.

People here breed them because they can make money - $100 a pup and each litter is about 9-11 pups.

Just a terrible situation.

[peacebuzzard]

6. Pits (and Rotties and other breeds)-- don't believe everything you think

It is the puppy mill owner and the stupid clueless owner that needs to be banned.
Many times these owners specifically want these big hearted, courageous animals to be mean.
Jeez, I hate people in situations like this.
These poor animals only want to please, and are full of energy to play in good hands.
My sister has 2 pit bull rescues that are all about peace and love.

http://www.gonzoskatrinasite.com/gen1/pits_and_rotts.htm More here at this link.
please don't pre-judge this gentle giant wannabe



Here is a sensitive video on the bad rap these guys get. It will make you hold your breath, shed a tear and smile for the lucky few.

http://www.ukcpitbull.com/flash/pitflashfinal2.swf slide show video link

[Critters2]

9. Tell it to their victims

[leftyladyfrommo]

11. I agree that it is not the dog's fault. But it is a serious problem.

The people here don't breed pit bulls because they love them or love the breed. They raise them because they are stupid, ignorant people who want to make a buck. Or the gangbangers who raise them because they like to bet on dogfights.

But the result of this stupidity is a whole lot of very dangerous situations where very badly bred dogs are in the hands of very badly bred humans. It is dangerous for people and it is very dangerous for people's pets. I had one friend who had her little yorkie torn to pieces on her front porch by a pitbull belonging across the street.

I think what they are trying to do here is make it illegal to have any pitbulls that aren't showdogs. I am hoping that responsible owners and their dogs can just be grandfathered. And people who own them will have to take extra precautions with their dogs. Personally, I think they should go after the buyers and sellers.

I certainly don't believe that dogs living with responsible people, dogs that have never bothered anyone or anything, should just be destroyed. But they certainly need to be liscensed.

Unfortunately, the people that need to be prosecuted are ones that will pay absolutely no attention to any laws.

[peacebuzzard]

12. Thank you for elaborating.

too many emotional people shoot from the hip without analyzing specifics.

[friesianrider]

16. Your last line says it all pretty well, leftylady.

"Unfortunately, the people that need to be prosecuted are ones that will pay absolutely no attention to any laws."

This type of legislation will only hurt those owners who are responsible.

[Critters2]

10. Protecting people and their pets is not discrimination

:eyes:

[friesianrider]

15. Yeah, so maybe we should ban Arabs from flying on commercial airlines.

Or, if we do let them ("them" being Arabs or Muslims) fly, maybe we should require ALL of them to undergo a cavity search and extra security procedures before boarding, and be kept in a part of the plane where they can be watched.

After all, protecting the American public is not discrimination. Right?

[Critters2]

19. Arabs haven't been genetically selected for aggressiveness.

Pit bulls have been.

Who's racist now?

[friesianrider]

22. Neither have Pit Bulls.

Your statement that they are is blatantly untrue. Period.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

17. Most pit bulls are loving, gentle dogs.

The few that aren't make it hell for responsible owners. I've been around the breed a lot. A well-bred pit bull with a responsible owner is a great dog. When I'm in a position to own a dog, I am adopting a pit bull. You know why, so many of these wonderful dogs are put down because ill-informed people discriminate against the breed and label them all killers. I'd trust a pit bull before I'd trust a poodle.

[leftyladyfrommo]

21. I wouldn't - not the dogs in this town.

Almost all of these dogs are in the drug part of town here. They are not well bred and they are owned by seriously mentally impaired people. It is a terrible combination.

I am sympathetic to the responsible owners and they should be considered as a part of any decision.

But you simply cannot have dogs that are capable of tearing people to pieces running loose on Kansas City streets.

If people want to own these dogs then they need to be willing to take the extra steps needed to protect their neighbors and themselves and their children. Special fencing, muzzles - whatever it takes.

[friesianrider]

14. Yeah, and how is this different than racial profiling?

Aside from the fact that we're talking humans and dogs? Hmm, let's see. Knee-jerk reaction? Check. Non-sensical "feel good" legislation? Check. Discrimination? Check. "All in the name of protecting the public?" Check. Punishing a thousand innocents to find one guilty? Check.

The fact is, 99.99% of people who support this kind of legislation are simply uneducated to the problem, period. They don't understand how this legislation effects responsible dog owners, and frankly they don't care or they would choose any number of better options. They also don't understand how this legislation *doesn't* effect the irresponsible dog owners. Moreover, I'd bet that well over half the people who support this legislation don't realize that any dog who even *slightly resembles* the *appearance* alone of a Pit Bull will be euthanized immediately. Do YOU know what a Pit looks like? Can YOU pick the real Pit Bull out of a crowd of many different breeds of dogs?

http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html

If this kind of knee-jerk, ignorant legislation makes people sleep better at night...whatever. Just don't be surprised when it does absolutely nothing to stop dog attacks, but does cause a lot of heartache and killing of innocent animals. It's called common sense. Does it make sense to make blanket statements about certain groups or races of people? No, so why would it make sense to make blanket statements about a certain breed of dog? Particularly when said breed of dog isn't even the most "aggressive" breed out there (again, educate yourself by checking the stats).

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/07/10/earlyshow/contributors/debbyeturner/main514774.shtml

"Often, aggressive "pit bulls" have been abused and/or neglected." Are we going to treat the symptom or the disease? And at what cost?

The smart thing to do is educate yourself, and it's something a lot of otherwise intelligent people don't seem to bother to do when this issue comes up.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

18. Hey, I found the pit on the first try!

I'm educated and rational about them though.

[Critters2]

20. I was given this "test" months ago

and also found the pit on the first try. Every dog owner I've ever seen take it has. I'm beginning to think it's the pit bull people who don't know their own breed.

[friesianrider]

23. With all due respect...

I sincerely doubt you picked the Pit on the first try. Not calling you a liar, just saying...I sincerely doubt it. I know quite literally dozens and dozens of people (both for and opposed to BSL, including veterinarians, breeders, rescue people, and politicians) who did NOT got the Pit on the first try.