Kansas City - Enough Talking, Time to Ban!

[Rene Allegrini]

Kansas City Star | 07/12/2006 | ENOUGH TALKING, TIME TO BAN PIT BULLS


Keeping pit bulls, chows and Rottweilers in our cities is just like playing Russian roulette with fangs.

Sooner or later, a dog will maul somebody. In recent weeks, that horror has played through our souls, over and over. Now it’s time to ban the breeds.

There’s a problem with those two paragraphs — and no, it’s not the harsh call to control the carnage.

The problem is that I wrote those paragraphs following a spate of attacks in 1997. The topic also came up in the 1980s, when The Star published a special package following a nationwide scourge of attacks.

Several years and numerous attacks later, most of our cities still haven’t gotten it right. So here we are again, this time in 2006, with another chance.

Independence, Gladstone, Raytown, Overland Park, Olathe and North Kansas City are among cities throughout the metro area debating the issue.

Kansas City is not considering a complete ban on pit bulls. But animal-control officials and the Law Department are researching the feasibility of mandatory spaying and neutering requirements. No specific proposal has gone to the City Council yet.

The time for debate has long since passed. Just ask the families of the three Independence men who were mauled earlier this year by three pit bulls.

After I wrote that column in 1997, I faced a barrage of comments from the public. Most agreed with me. Some did not. The three opposing points I heard most often:

• It’s wrong to pick on specific breeds, such as pit bulls. All dogs bite.

• The problem isn’t the dogs; it’s irresponsible owners who breed and train them for violence.

• This wouldn’t happen if people would teach people — especially kids — not to pet strange dogs. Maybe parents should keep their children on a leash.

We’re hearing those same arguments again, and they’re still just as lame. Let me address them in order.

Proponents of the first argument are right. All dogs bite. But when was the last time you heard of a beagle, Scottie or Chihuahua nearly chomping off somebody’s arm?

As for the second argument, it’s irrelevant. If a dog is going for your throat, you don’t care how it became vicious; you just want it gone.

Finally, the third argument, that people shouldn’t pet strange dogs. Good point. But the three men mauled in Independence weren’t trying to pet the animals. And a boy recently attacked in Olathe was injured after the dog jumped a fence.

The bottom line is that these dogs pose an unreasonable — and unnecessary — risk to the communities that allow them. And the problem isn’t just local. Several nations have enacted bans.

But if our cities don’t want to remove current “pets,” at least they could outlaw any more from taking up residence.

Were it not for one variable — what to do about mixed-breeds — the decision to ban them should be easy. Even so, a solution shouldn’t be overly elusive. Perhaps cities could appoint a board of veterinarians or animal-control officers who could decide if mongrel dogs have enough pit bull in them to pose a menace. The system might not be perfect, but it would be better than we have now.

After the uproar in the 1990s city leaders talked, listened and commissioned studies. Some cities even wrote or toughened laws against dangerous animals. That obviously wasn’t enough.

Now, please, no more talk. Just ban the animals.

Otherwise our cities will continue to play Russian roulette with fangs.

[LavenderRott]

I sent the guy an e-mail:


I read your well thought out commentary on banning pit bulls and I must say, you seem to have a point.

And while you are banning pit bulls, rottweilers, and chows can you please ban cars and hand guns? I have read the statistics on drunk drivers hitting and killing people, and it seems to me that the numbers there are quite a bit higher then those bit by dogs. Since ticketing drunks doesn't seem to be solving the problem, then I really think that all cars should be banned. Tell me where to send my car keys.

I know that handguns kill a lot more people then cars do. But we can't seem to ban them. Some trash about the person holding the gun being responsible.

Here is a novel thought - why not hold dog owners responsible for the actions of their dogs. Just like we hold car owners responsible for the damage of their cars and hand gun owners for the damage of their handguns.

I am sure that the gentlemen who were mauled by "pit bulls" mentioned in your commentary would be just as injured if they had been attacked by another large breed of dog like, say, a Saint Bernard. Maybe if the owners of the "pit bulls" had taken minimal care of their dogs, the whole incident could have been avoided.

Maybe if such things as leash laws were enforced, city registrations were enforced and other city by-laws bite incidents would be reduced. Just a thought. Maybe, if a dog kills someone and the dog's owner was facing charges of murder or manslaughter, people would be interested in doing some basic training of their pet.

People are attacked by all different breeds of dogs. There have been people killed by pomeranians, schnauzers, labradors, and even little dachhunds. The lady in France who had a face transplant was attacked by a black lab. Did these people suffer any less because of the breed that bit them.

Pit Bulls and Rottweilers work as therapy dogs, Search and Rescue dogs, bomb dogs, drug dogs, cadaver dogs, etc. I promise if you spend some real time looking into the subject you will find that there are thousands of pit bulls and rottweilers that live their whole lives without ever growling at or biting a soul. You will also find that these animals have been vetted, trained and socialized by caring people. If you study your statistics and look into the people who owned dogs that have bitten, mauled, or killed people - you would find quite a different story.

As someone in a position such as yours - to be able to speak your mind to a large audience - one would hope that you would think and look into something before spreading a knee-jerk opinion that won't solve any problems at all.

[Rene Allegrini]

Sandi,

Although you have made some very valid points in your letter, I doubt this guy is going to heed much of what you have to say. His letter reeks of ignorance and arrogance. It would be interesting to see his response.

[Baxter's Mom]

I too wrote him also and yes, Rene, I agree with you about his letter... If he does respond back, I'll post it....

[LavenderRott]

Originally Posted by Rene Allegrini

Sandi,

Although you have made some very valid points in your letter, I doubt this guy is going to heed much of what you have to say. His letter reeks of ignorance and arrogance. It would be interesting to see his response.

I don't expect to hear back from him. Well, I don't expect him to respond in any intelligent manner. But I sure feel better having hit the send button.

[Rene Allegrini]

Great! If either of you gets a response, please share. It should be interesting. But then again. . . I don't expect he will have anything intelligent to say.

[JemarsSerena]

Since this is my turf I've been following this. They have yet to ban breeds and I will do my part to keep it that way.

[spoiledbabies3]

Bill...Since this is your turf...Is there another email addy for the "Editor" of the paper? Sometimes that works much better. I'd be willing to send a letter also...Thanks..Gotta help look out for one of the "2006 Rottie Girls"...

[JemarsSerena]

I'll look, When I've sent letters to the star in the past, there is usually a million editor e-mail addresses it's hard to figure out who to send it to.

[spoiledbabies3]

Thanks...I appreciate it...just thought I could do my part too!

[JemarsSerena]

This what I sent. Not sure how effective it is, just shot from the hip.

Where is your research and proof behind these ignorant statements. It's not the breeds specifically that are doing the damage. It's like saying that people don't kill people, the guns do. Just ignorant. Any dog that is raised with kindness and a gentle hand, who is properly socialized, and trained by a responsible owner would not hurt anyone unless they had a reason to protect themselves. Just do a Google search and you will see that the evidence is overwhelmingly against you. You simply try to incite emotion in people so that they will make uneducated decisions.

Yes, a rott or pit can tear your arm off and a Yorkshire Terier cannot. But this is America and we have the freedom to make our own decisions and live with the consequenses. As well we should be responsible for our own actions. There should be severe criminal penalties for the owners of dogs that attack people. My mother was attacked by a mix breed lab a couple of weeks ago. The dog was quarantied then released back to it's owner with no one being held accountable. Turns out the owner was a nurse at the ER my mother had to go to.

Dangerous dogs that have mental issues should be humanely put to sleep in all circumstances. There needs to be enforcement of leash laws and laws against tethering dogs for long periods of time. Try writing an educated editorial that teaches responsible pet ownership instead of trying to incite emotional decisions.

Bill McFarland
Kansas City, KS
Mac511@hotmail.com


letters@kcstar.com
Here is the e-mail address for letters to the editor.

[Troy]

I sent an e-mail.

What an idiot!

[spoiledbabies3]

Thanks Bill...my email will go out tonight! Let us know what happens with the legislation! Such idiots!