The Other Side of Banning

The other victims

I spend a lot of time speaking with different groups and individuals about the impractical use of breed bans to address irresponsible Pit Bull ownership. It is a proven fact that holding the dog responsible for the actions of the owner does nothing to improve the conditions in our communities. There is another victim of breed banning that is not receiving enough attention.

In the locations that have successfully passed ordinances against Pit Bulls, the perspective is different according to the party being directly affected. The city councils feel victorious in passing ordinances they feel the citizens want. Fearful citizens are given a false sense of safety because they think the problem has been addressed. The trouble makers are annoyed and inconvenienced. But what about the truly responsible owners? Worse, what about the dogs that are loved and cherished by their owners?

No one can deny that shelters and rescues are being over whelmed by dogs flooding the network because of abuse, neglect or fighting situations. Breed banning is causing numerous healthy, well adjusted dogs to enter these ranks because their owners are being forced to surrender their pets. In addition to banning, many locations are allowing owners to keep one dog as being "grandfathered in", while forcing them to surrender others that may go over restricted numbers. For those of you that have more than one dog, imagine for a moment if you had to decide between them which will stay with you and which will be relinquished.

One of the hardest pulls I have ever had to make was the dog located in Washington county that was owned by the older couple. They took this dog in as a puppy when he was dumped in their yard. This dog was breathtakingly beautiful, obviously loved and I had to take him from the security of his home because the neighbors had been swayed by misinformation. This dog never had to go into a shelter environment. That made him one of the lucky ones. This was the exception to the rule.

Most owners find themselves with no time allowed to find secure options for their beloved pets. They only know that if the dog is not removed from their home, it will be confiscated and destroyed. These dogs, like the Washington county dog, have enjoyed the warmth and security of a loving home. They have plenty of food and attention. They are part of a family. Suddenly, they are taken from their responsible homes and find themselves in an environment that is nothing short of unbearable from the dog's point of view. There is no way to explain to a dog the ignorance of breed bans or the reasons behind their expulsion from their families. You can read the fear and bewilderment in their eyes.

These are the dogs that break my heart the fastest. In so many cases, they are adults. That is automatically a strike against any dog. To be an adult Pit Bull in a shelter is an almost guaranteed death sentence. Fortunately in this area, our potential adopters are spending time educating themselves. This has led to many dogs previously considered un-adoptable being considered, and in many cases, re-homed. The advantage to seeking out these dogs is that you get a companion that has never known any bad behavior from humans. They are normally very social, already housebroken and accustomed to living in homes with children. These dogs are wonderful candidates to bring into your home. Our area also has a strong shelter and rescue network ready to help with the transition from the original home, to the shelter, then into the new home.

We have been fortunate in this area to have many companion animal activists. There is a sad reality elsewhere in our state, and in this country, that does not recognize a dog's worth on the individual case by case basis. The dogs being removed from responsible homes face nothing but a mandatory death sentence. So many of our shelters are not educating themselves to the special needs of pets being surrendered because of breed bans. All Pit Bulls, regardless of circumstances, are being lumped together in one category...... undesirable. This is doing nothing but increasing the euthanasia numbers.

I spent some time earlier this week discussing the unique challenges facing responsible Pit Bull owners. Your average dog owner is unaware of the dangers faced when entering areas of our country that are still under the influence of breed phobias.

There have been reports from some of the southern states of transporters being detained because they are being "profiled" as possible dog fighters. Just having multiple Pit Bulls does not make you a dog fighter. Transporters often times do have dogs that have been abused or show signs of the sort of damage associated with dog fighting. This is why it is so important to have valid paperwork when moving these dogs from one location to another.

Show people are another group that has reported having problems in some areas, because they also normally have more than one dog. Proper identification and vet records are a must when traveling. I also can not stress enough the practicality of micro chipping dogs. This is the one fool proof means of proving ownership.

For myself, I love to travel with my dogs. I have had to deal with the extra precautions faced by Pit Bull owners for so long, that I do not really notice it any longer. But it is a fact that you should do some research when taking your dogs into unfamiliar territory. There are states that are more hostile to Pit Bulls than others. It is best to know the laws and local ordinances before traveling to unfamiliar places. It is so hard to hear the stories of dogs being confiscated, not because they have done anything wrong, but simply because they are of a certain breed or have a certain look.

I always have my rabies tags, city license receipts and vet information in my purse. I also carry identification cards on each dog that show when they had their last vaccinations, what their micro chip numbers are and who their vet is. These identification cards have a clear photo of the dog too, in case they are lost. I also keep identification tags on their collars as my first line of insuring their safety.

There are probably many people wondering why anyone would go to such trouble with this breed when they could easily choose another dog. This is true. I could give up and simply choose one of the many other breeds I have such admiration for. But if all the Pit Bull fanciers decide to take the easy way out, what happens to all the innocent dogs? Can we really justify a genocide, because of ignorace and misinformation or what is easier? Would I be able to turn over any one of my dogs and allow them to be killed because it is easier than fighting a stereotype? NOPE!

Education will always be the best defense of responsible owners. My choice to keep Pit Bulls is not being determined by what is popular or a perceived image. My choice is determined by what I can responsibly care for and am personally compatible with. As always, the key word is resposibility. Forcing our law makers to examine the issue of dog ownership from an informed point of view, is one more way we can all help lower the numbers of dogs being lost in our shelters. It is unacceptable to have any more dogs killed simply because they fall into a category that has been so badly damaged due to stupidity.