Another Step Forward
On July 31 2014 the State of Delaware took a step toward seeing sanity lay the foundation for their state laws. The governor signed into law legislation that would end the practice of dogs confiscated due to fighting being killed simply for having the misfortune of ending up in the hands of the human monster. This may seem to be common sense logic but in the matter of all things Pit Bull, common sense rarely wins.
Until the horrors of Michael Vick were exposed the public as a whole and the national groups promoting the insanity for a buck, relished the idea of destroying Pit Bulls. Promoting misinformation and outright lies about this breed is still big business to some but we are seeing the tide change in the form of comprehensive legislation which up holds the fact that these dogs are doing what it takes to survive the life they have been thrown into, not the mistaken notion they are simply killing machines from hell.
In Missouri we fought for and won disposition hearings after 30 days for dogs confiscated due to abuse and neglect. In the past, dogs were held pending the outcome of the judicial procedure. Anyone who has ever watched our courts in action knows the trial process can take years to complete. That means the dogs being held as evidence languished in holding facilities until the courts ordered them "disposed of" in one way or another. Unfortunately this disposition process does not extend to dogs confiscated in fighting busts. A simple fact is the evidentiary value of these dogs, whether fighting or abuse, is null after about two weeks. In the case of Pit Bulls, when the courts are finished they could care less about the care takers who have fallen in love with the dogs and they expect them to be destroyed. The school of thought surrounding Pit Bulls remains the only good Pit is a dead Pit regardless of the dog's temperament or intelligence. This fact is what made the decision by Delaware so monumental.
I share numerous accounts of legislative trends from around the country. I promote taking action at the state level because only through enactment of laws based on the welfare of dogs can we hope to see true reform. That means even though the canine advocates may feel they are not strong enough or experienced enough to get involved, they must step out of their comfort zone and learn what it takes to get this job done.
Best Friends was the group which spearheaded the legislation in Delaware. They have also stepped up in support of Missourians to help us promote the removal of breed discrimination in favor of responsible owner laws. They are strong and they can get the job done but only if we, the citizens of this state, get involved to show our legislators we are serious.
We will be going into fall session in just a few weeks. The time for considering legislation for the 2015 session is now. Bills need to be sponsored and pre-filed to insure they get the maximum support required to see our bid for sanity become reality.
Missouri is also in an election year. Tell your incumbents what you want and ask the tough questions of those applying for the job of representing your interests. It takes numbers and an unwavering push to get laws enacted which promote quality of life for ALL dogs. That means you must stop talking about what is wrong and take action.
http://blogs.bestfriends.org/index.php/2014/07/31/the-continuing-upside-of-the-m...
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