Humane Society of the United States

[JonandMichelle]

I just got done watching a segment on my local news channel 11 (ABC) here in North Carolina about Breed Specific bands. I must say it was very eye opening for me. Did you know that the Humane Society of the United States is NOW backing breed baning??? They have taken a "closer" look at specific breeds attacking children, adults, and other animals. The spokeswomen for the HSUS stated that do to the rise in these attacks and the majority of the breeds are concidered "vicous dogs" (she gave an example of the Pitbull) that they have changed their policy about breed bans. What got me extremly ticked off is that in the same breath, she stated that it wasn't the breeds fault. That too many people are getting these breeds for the wrong reasons. I myself am compelled to write a long letter to the HSUS to let them know what they are doing is wrong. I hope I have all of your support on this one too Let's all get involved here and take a stand, together to protect our rights and our breeds! It has to start somewhere!

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Michelle L. Sarabia

[SableMom]

That News special was absolutly horrible! Michelle emailed me and let me know it was going to be shown, and I also watched it. It started with the picture being a rottie. Then the reporters interviewed a man who was attacked by two rotties while out walking his shih tzus. The rotts killed the shih tzus. At the end of the story, they showed the man taking his three new shih tzus out for a walk. NONE of his dogs were on a leash, and they were out walking around the neighborhood! (That doesn't mean they should be attacked, but it is irresponsible!). The one good point was that the animal control office actually stood up against BSL by saying that there is no 'bad breed', there are bad owners!

I, personally, cannot believe that the HSUS would ever stand up and say they could support any kind of ban on a dog simply because of breed. I don't have a problem with vicious dog laws--laws where dogs are judged on an individual basis due to their actions. BUT, should my rottie and dobie, who have never caused any problem, be punished and singled out because other owners are irresponsible?

[dfmartin]

I agree with you totally. The problem is not with the breeds, it is with irresponsible owners. The owner of any dog that attacks a child or neighbor should be held responsible for the attack.

Of course, I feel the same way about guns, cars and baseball bats. They aren't dangerous all by themselves, it is the hands and minds that control them...


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dave and Dante
VW Microbus Buddies

[German Vanegas]

Originally posted by dfmartin:
I agree with you totally. The problem is not with the breeds, it is with irresponsible owners. The owner of any dog that attacks a child or neighbor should be held responsible for the attack.

Absolutely!

We need to let know the HSUS that we disagree with such senseless policy, because our beloved breed may well be next on their list!

Instead of targeting unethical dog breeders and irresponsible dog owners, whom are the real problem and threat.

The generic breed named "Pitbull" is wrongly being labeled and ruined just because some IRRESPONSIBLE BREEDERS AND DOG OWNERS raise them to be extremely aggressive (they called it "gameness") and fight other dogs (illegal dog pitfighting!). I personally know and have seen some of the best, finest, greatest American Pitbull Terriers in this Earth, even as good as any well-bred, well-raised and trained Rottie! Honest to God!

If they ban the "Pitbull" what breed would be next?... the Rottweiler maybe? Oh yeah!

[Alaskan]

It makes me mad that the only people that are shown on these tv. programs are the bad examples of both animal and human type. I guess that this promotes their cause though and sells the news. If they believe that banning these few breeds will stop the problem then they have something else coming. The people that maltreat and poorly breed these dogs will just keep switching to other breeds and the problem will only get worse. I was curious what will happen to the ethical rott breeders if they manage to ban the breed nationally. Does that mean they can't breed them anymore or just only a few? If they can't breed them anymore then eventually the breed will disapear which is a horrible tragedy. This won't stop though with our breed or the pittbull etc.

[Stacy White]

Please send letters to the Humane Society. Pressure in large numbers is very effective. Take a look at <A HREF=http://www.rott-n-chatter.com/rottweilers/laws/sampleletters.html>Jan Cooper's sample letters</A> for some assistance. I find #2 to be worded quite persuasively and have used it myself.

If you'd like to help me out, please also send a message to <A HREF=mailto:crmayor@www.rochester.lib.ny.us> Mayor William Johnson</A> of Rochester, NY. After a couple recent pit bull attacks, he is proposing to hold pit bull owners more accountable for their dogs' actions than the rest of dogs. He wants to have the NY law outlawing breed-specific legislation changed.
Please help me convince him that breed-specific is not the way to go!

A step in the right direction is to enforce and penalize the existing leash and license laws. One of the recent attacks involved two dogs whose owner was ticketed a total of 7 times for unleashed or unlicensed dogs.

Thanks for your support!


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Stacy White
stacywhite@rottweiler.net

[German Vanegas]

Thank you Stacy!

Please people, be proactive and get involved, the Rottweiler breed is at stake too!

[Fergy]

Breedism, sound familiar. Has the same ignorant ring as racism. When will it end?!
I'm sending my message to the Humane Society tonight.

[MJ22LAM]

I agree totally, I live in Buffalo NY and the Rochester thing really sucks, I have sent a letter to Mayor Johnson, and fully intend to do the same with the humane society. (which by the way our local SPCA is going to be screening my Sampson for canine good citizenship in a few months) I dont understand why they are suddenly backing banns they are supposed to be the ones helping us keep our breeds in a positive light.

Leigh

[Tango]

We agree with all of you. We have to take action, we don't want to see any breed banned. Pitbulls are already banned here in Denver. This has to stop!

[ragosa]

When the phrase Breed Ban is talked about are they referring to neuter/spay or destroy the
breed when it is brought into the shelter? They can't contoll breeders, well, then again
what a money maker that would be for a state.
Fines all over the place. The only problem
with that is, LOOK at the man power hours to
attempt enforcing such a law, IF PASSED!!!

[German Vanegas]

Ragosa,
For your information, laws banning and restricting dog breeds already exist in the USA, in different states and municipalities all over. As soon as owners of the banned or restricted breed start to get heavily fined by the authorities, and in some cases the dog may be seized to later be destroyed, then the message gets across and people refrain from owning the breed in question, thus the breed quickly fades away... not that difficult, isn't.

[Fergy]

OK folks let's cut the bull. Here's the address; http://www.hsus.org/
tell them what you think! I did!!!