My Vet's Response

[Gary Madore]

When Ontario introduced its "Pit Bull And Any Other Dog That Kinda-Sorta Might Be A Pit Bull, Or Even Just Looks Like It Might Be A Pit Bull, Even Though None Of Us As A Clue What A Pit Bull Is Or Even Looks Like Ban" law, the hysterical peasants and opportunistic politicians were attempting to broaden the scope of the legislation to include other "dangerous" breeds.

Various cities and municipalites were having meetings with an eye to drafting a list of dangerous dogs that could be banned in order to make our citizens safe from marauding packs of bloodthirsty hounds. Rottweilers were, of course, at the TOP of most lists.

My Veterinarian (who owns Irish Wolfhounds that scare the bejeebers out of everybody despite the fact that they rearely notice, let alone acknowledge, humans) went to the meeting in our municipality (we live out in the country) to offer his help.

The unwashed, hysterical masses were tossing around breed names based on predjudice and not fact, and my Vet stood up and announced that he had a proposal to make this all so much easier. The rabble feel silent in eager anticipation of the Word from On High as related by our good Doctor:

He proposed that we ban any and all "Mastiff-based" breeds and pointed to the Rottie as an example, and then mentioned big scary monsters like the Cane Corso, et. al.

The crowd went wild! They lit their torches and prepared to storm the castles of any and all Evil Mastiff-based Dog owners. But my Vet wasn't done:

He then provided more examples of evil dogs that would need to be purged due to their Mastiff roots. Yep, the Labradors would have to go, as would the Newfoundlanders, and more.... Obviously, as his list of potential bans grew and grew, the enthusiam died off.

But he was on a roll:

Barely pausing for breath, he then said that we ought to ban any breed that has ever mauled a human to death. Knowing that the crowd was onto him, he didn't wait for a roar of approval this time but just launched into the list of dogs that had to go: Jack Russels, Dachschunds, Yorkies, Shi-tzus... the list is, as you all know, endless. Needless to say, Labs, Newfs, et.al., were now all double-listed and marked for immediate execution. Then he explained that, statistically, the most dangerous dog on the planet for young children is the Cocker Spaniel.

By the time he launched into a discussion of the decades-old Pit Bull ban in Winnipeg, Canada (that has resulted in NO CHANGE of bite numbers or severity of bites), nobody was listening any more.

BUT, except for the Pit Bull ban, which was the result of opportunistic politicians (scoring points for "doing something") and opportunistic journalists (scoring cash by selling stories), and a fait-accompli, further BSL died a quick death - at least in this municipality.

If only we had more Vets willing to do what mine did, things may be different. Unfortunately, it will take the word of Vets because *nobody* will listen to a breeder or owner: Our knowledge is deemed irrelevant because we have a stake in the matter.

Anyway, thought y'all might enjoy my (true!) story and share a cheer for my Vet.

Cheers!

Gary

[midi04]

your vet is awesome! I'd like to meet him.

[Gary Madore]

Originally Posted by midi04

your vet is awesome! I'd like to meet him.

He really is awesome and he love my dog - it's funny as all get-out when he drops to his knees to greet and ruffle Wally in the waiting room while all the people with little white yap-dogs look on in undisguised disgust.

During Wally's first visit I noted how comfortable the Doc seemed to be around an unknown, un-neutered, male Rott. I mentioned this to him and asked if he would be "my Vet." He said he'd be happy to, and on remarking on his comfort around big dogs he asked me if I had seen a blonde woman walking around the neighborhood (coincidentally, we live down the street from each-other) with a giant horse that looked sorta like a dog.

I said that yes indeed I had seen just such a pair and he said "That's my wife and my Wolfhound. Yeah, I'm OK around big dogs" (grin)

Cheers!

Gary

P.S. Yes, his wife was the blonde one... :)

[MR PEREZ]

sounds to me like your vet is a loony..and midi04, why in the hell would you want to meet a person like this?

[Gary Madore]

Originally Posted by MR PEREZ

sounds to me like your vet is a loony..and midi04, why in the hell would you want to meet a person like this?

NO, BSL is looney and my Vet was out to illustrate that.

AND his facts, although presented in humorous fashion, were all correct.

Cheers!

Gary

(another, possibly, looney part was my description of the rabble, peasants, etc., etc., all of which was, admittedly, hyperbole)

[Gary Madore]

Originally Posted by MR PEREZ

and midi04, why in the hell would you want to meet a person like this?

Why would she want to meet a person like what? A Vet who cares? A Vet who's passionate about animals? A Vet who made it his mission to see that Looney BSL legislation failed - despite the knowledge that all the yap-dog owners would most likely leave his practice and look for an ill-informed, yet Rottie-hating Doc?

Indeed, for-shame, who WOULD want to meet a person like that?

Wait... I, for one, would

Whatsamatta? You a closet Cocker Spaniel owner? ;)

Cheers!

Gary

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by MR PEREZ

sounds to me like your vet is a loony..why in the hell would you want to meet a person like this?

Regretably, the irony of the vet's presentation sailed right over your head.

[Shane]

lol...I love your vet!

[Robenk]

I love this story!! I wish more vets would be this brave!!

Mr Perez, you have a funny idea of who's a loony!!! Obviously you didn't understand the story at all, so it's a good thing you weren't at the meeting!!

[shaddoc]

I love this story. I wish we would have had a "loony" vet like this in my town when they banned "pit bulls" and anything that looked like a "pit bull".

[itzivy]

I love..this story and thanks for sharing.

[JoJo]

Originally Posted by MR PEREZ

sounds to me like your vet is a loony..and midi04, why in the hell would you want to meet a person like this?

MR PEREZ I'm going to assume that you don't have a clue what BSL is just by your statement in regards to this vet.

I invite you to read all the threads in this BSL forum to familiarize yourself with the topic. Then look up your own cities take on BSL. If it's not there, be on the lookout, for it's coming! I would hope you would want someone like this veterinarian to be on your side.

Oh and one more thing, it's the Pit Bull only in some municipalities, but don't think the Rottweiler isn't on the majority of the BSL lists! If you want to continue to own this breed, get very up close and personal to BSL. It's not your friend. It is most of ours worse nightmare! Have you checked with your insurance company lately? That should give you some insight to BSL.

[midi04]

my vet is a great lady and don't get me wrong, she is against BSL (she owns an often targeted breed) but she doesn't strike me as the type to go to a BSL meeting and make all the "angry torch waving peasants" angry by pointing out the foolishness of their logic.

I wish they'd all be this vocal, and entertaining, as Gary's vet.

[arie25]

I think MR perez didn't get the message, not trying to offend you Perez, But the Vet pointed out that if a Breed would have to be banned as pitbulls or Rottweilers, Other dogs not so "evil" looking would have to go too, As cockier spaniel and labradors, etc. So the Vet put it on a sarcastic way of telling the ppl that if Rotties and pitts had to go, also the no "evil" breeds since they all are a "danger" for humans. Hope I had made my point. It took me a while to understand the statement since my native leng is spanish and reading a sarcastic argument aren't too easy for me cuz I need keep following the big pic. If u guys know what I mean.
Oh and in my country there are no rules or laws at all about any breed, except for the "not dogs allowed" at some parks. So I feel is a shame that in 1st world countries, has to happend like that. And I would bet my whole life that most of the ppl protesting on those kinda stuff are ppl that is ignorant, whether to the breed, or animals as such. Just maybe cuz they had a cousin that got beaten accidentally. At the end of the line, those ppl haven't had any education, experience with animals, dogs in particular.

[julsquincy]

Great story Gary. Thanks for sharing.