[kanawa]

Thunder Bay editorial
Rick Smith

The State of New Mexico has just climbed aboard the Pit Bull Ban Wagon and all Ontario dog owners had better listen up.

New Mexico’s Bill S188 will not only place severe restrictions on ownership and acquisition of pit bulls which they choose to define as a, “Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier or (and I continue to quote from the bill) or dog identifiable as or known as a Pit Bull”, whatever the heck that means. The law states, no one can acquire a pit bull after July 1st of this year. As for present owners the law covers breeding (they can’t), spaying and neutering (they must). Licensing, its $250 a year. If that breed is found at large it’s an automatic $1,000 fine. And there’s much more. But, in addition the bill automatically declares the following breeds “dangerous” and subjects them to additional fines and restrictions. “Akita, Alaskan Malamute, American or “Old Country” Bull dog, Presa Canario, Chow Chow, Doberman, German Shepherd, Great Dane, Rottweiler, Siberian Husky and Wolf hybrids.

Kris Brown of Dorion writes an open letter that appears under the heading “What’s Next – a ban for every dog that bites?” Good question Mr. Brown.

[muawiyah]

Banning biting dogs is a good idea.

It'd be a step up from the tens of thousands year old standard of simply killing those of long muzzle or snapping temperament.

[kanawa]

Gentle Giant Ping List
Off or On at your request

[Calpernia]

The "Pit Bull Problem"

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[Guillermo]

Men who own pit bulls have a penis inferiority complex.

Women who own pit bulls date men who have a penis inferiority complex.

[Millicent_Hornswaggle]

I have known many rotts, german shepherds, huskies, and great danes in my life and all I have found to be loving, gentle dogs. I do agree the pits are extemely dangerous, but you can't outlaw all big dogs just because they are big. There is a big difference in dogs that are bred to be aggressive and dogs that are large in size.

[kanawa]

"I don't want to have in Ontario one more victim at the hands and teeth of a pit bull."

In retrospect I'm glad I didn't attend this hearing, I think I would have lost it at this point.

These hearings were just a PR tactic at the tax-payers expense.
He never listen to or considered any of the recommendations put forth by experts.

[Phantom Lord]

I agree that to a certain extent a dogs behaviour is based on how it is raised. But Pit Bulls seem to be in a catagory all their own.

Someone please find for me a news story about a small child being killed by the family poodle.

[thoughtomator]

Maybe just dogs that can bite human limbs straight off? Ping for ambrose, who must be sleepin'!

[Conspiracy Guy]

A 70 year old woman was mauled by a Pit bull and died earlier this week in South Alabama. The problem is not the dog. The problem is irresponsible owners. The owner of a dog that wounds or kills should be charged with assault or manslaughter. Usually these attacks occur when the dog is allowed to run free or escapes inadequate restraining system. I have never met a dog I could not control unless it had been given the command to attack. Most people make the mistake of displaying fear or worse still, taking flight when confronted by an aggressive animal. This is a normal response by the person. Do we train the public (dangerous and expensive) or control the animal. I say we control the animal.

All dogs need to be kept from roaming free by the owner. The owner needs to be held fully responsible for the dog. I have been known to shovel dog poop into a paper bag and take it to the owner. Ring the doorbell and say, "here this is yours, put the dog up or I will capture it and take it to the pound." We have leash laws and dogs are not free to poop in my yard. I have a dog and she is either inside our well grounded fenced backyard or on a leash. People who can't contain a dog should have the dog taken from them.

[Varda]

This is animal rights legislation and since the animal rights movement has been misrepresented to most people they don't recognize it.

Animal rights people consider pet-ownership abuse so they attempt to outlaw it. We had these same people doing this in my area. They openly admitted they would start with Pit Bulls and add breeds as they could. Occasionally they'll try to get wording that accomplishes what they want faster. In one town they had the legal definition of a dangerous animal include "any animal that can bite".

[Feiny]

Too bad, hopefully there will be an appeal. Punishing the irresponsible owners is more effective. It is the same "logic" they use with gun control....."if it saves just one life". Of course, they never consider the positive uses of guns....just like they are ignoring the positive aspects of the breed in this case.

[mel]

I am in favor of banning the breed because of the abuse they endure, I watch Animal Precinct and it amazing what fat slobs will do to Pit Bulls. They literally starve the dogs to death while they sit on their fat rears.

[Vaquero]

there is only one 'Dog' Canis lupus familiaris. just like there is only one homo sapiens. period. it is a domestic version of Canis lupus, or Grey Wolf. you can breed some nastiness into a dog and you can select the pick of the litter for nastiness and you can mistreat a dog and make it nasty. you can do this with, as someone put it, pomeranians. You have to ban all dogs or ban none. and like guns that commit crimes(I know guns dont commit crimes), you have to go after the owners, not the dogs.

[cicero's_son]

Less pit bull[s] guns means less people victimized by pit bulls guns; that is effective," Bryant said. "You over time eliminate the dog gun that is causing the biteinjury, and over time you will eliminate the bite. injury."

I'm sure this makes sense to all the breed- bannersand gun-grabbers on FR.

[razorback-bert]

Pits banned, do you know about fighting cocks?

[NoClones]

the banning is kind of crazy...

a dog has teeth that it will use to bite - what is so difficult to understand about that?

If someone gets bitten, investigate & then make a judgement based on the circumstances.

Dogs aren't really particularly dangerous...

Now if a person was mauled by a 'pet' cougar, tiger or lion the ban on having those dangerous animals as pets would and does make sense!

These characters need to get a clue & not bandstand for the public!

[R. Scott]

It is far easier to enact a law banning a particular breed (See! We’re doing something – anything, even if it’s nothing!) than it is to enforce existing laws about keeping a dangerous dog.

[Snowy]

[100%FEDUP]

After several years of listening to discussion, I have concluded that Attorneys General are dangerous and therefore should be banned!