Melanie Coy has been a pit bull fancier for 29 years. She's also been involved in obedience and other training and showing animals. Coy became involved in animal legislative issues in the mid-80s to dispel myths about the pit bull breed and fight against breed-specific laws. She advocates responsible dog ownership through training and educational programs, and helps shelters make dogs more adoptable.

Will You Stand?

Posted Sunday, November 29, 2015, at 7:23 PM

Annabelle...lost but never forgotten!

Thanksgiving is meant to be a time for reflection on all things we hold dear. I have been blessed in a vast number of ways. While it may seem strange to some but perfectly normal to others, I consider my dogs to be one of those blessings.

On Tuesday, December 1, pre-filing will begin in Jefferson City for legislation to be considered during the 2016 session. For almost a year I have stepped back from this blog to spend time talking with people, considering the best way to address the issue of removing the crutch of laziness represented by breed specific legislation. The State of Missouri is home to a number of very strong advocates but those numbers do not reflect the vast number of Pit Bull fanciers, rescues or families who share their lives with this breed. It will take this silent group adding their voices to those of the front line advocates to even gain the possibility of sponsorship for proposed legislation. My question to you now is:

Will you stand and take the initiative to do something as simple as sending an email to your legislator to let them know this means something to you?

Will you stand for a law which demands the responsibility for the abuse, fighting and destruction of this breed be placed on the irresponsible human instead of the first victim the dog?

Will you stand up for the dogs you profess to love so dearly and do what it takes to keep this legislation pure and out of the hands of the animal rights activists who would destroy ALL human animal bonds?

Will you stand and demand that the insanity, misinformation and outright lies end and our media be held to a higher standard than has been the driving force behind their promotion of the "thug image" and the destruction of the Pit Bull through their promoted breeding against the very essence of what this breed was originally?

Will you stand and become something more than a side line arm chair manager hoping someone will do something to save your pets?

Two years ago we saw legislation sponsored by a Senator who felt the breed prejudice when he brought his first Pit Bull into his home. Like so many others he had no idea what a storm awaited him in his choice of breed. We have since lost this man in the Senate because he chose not to run for re-election but we have not lost all those who supported both the legislation sponsored in our Senate and House of Representatives.

For some of those legislators willing to take a stand on an issue which can be something like trying to tip toe through a mine field, while they began not understanding how vast the problem is, they quickly found out this is not as simple as it seems from the outside. At least one got a taste of what it feels like to be targeted for being a champion of this breed even though she does not now or plan to have a Pit Bull in her home.

The only good thing to have come from the Michael Vick horrors was the turn in the tide of public opinion. For those of us directly affected by the years preceding this nightmare our days were spent in constant defense of our dogs not because of their actions but because of how they look or what is being said about them in the media. We saw bans enacted resulting in thousands of dogs being destroyed not because of their actions but because of how they look and what was being said about them in the media.

The media has not been completely to blame though they had a number of high profile so-called animal rights groups and supporters keeping them in material all the while lining their pockets with blood money. These groups proudly represent death and are not to be tolerated any longer. As soon as you hear them tell you how the only answer is to restrict or ban this breed for its own good, impeach them on the spot, challenge their outright stupidity and give them no quarter.

Ending BSL is not a part of the responsible owner movement represented by the legitimate animal welfare groups. This is not about spay/neuter, tethering or any other of the thousands of issues our companion animals face. This is about demanding our communities address their animal control ordinances in a generic, fair manner covering ALL dog owners. Animal control is meant to protect the animal just as it protects the community. This is NOT done by targeting the animal, the first victim but by addressing those who are considered to be the highest functioning life form on this planet.

I have suggested legislation drafted according to one of the more recent state laws enacted by Utah which reads as follows: A municipality may not adopt or enforce a breed-specific rule, regulation, policy, or ordinance regarding dogs. Any breed-specific rule, regulation, policy, or ordinance regarding dogs is void.*

The number of states outlawing the lazy practice of targeting dogs instead of addressing humans is growing. Their legislation can be found on many sites but the fact that even the AVMA comes out against ordinances targeting breeds speaks volumes to me.

By renewing this blog entry and publicly taking a stand once more I expect to encounter criticism and outright personal attacks by those who promote the genocide of this breed. I do ask those who care or who keep dogs of other breeds to consider this in the same way the Pit fanciers saw this issue in the beginning. If they destroy my breed of choice, what makes you think your dogs will not be targeted next? This will not blow over or go away until we finally TAKE A STAND!

For summarized anti breed ban legislation from around the country you can begin your education at this address: * https://www.avma.org/Advocacy/StateAndLocal/Pages/sr-breed-ordinances.aspx

Side note: Thanks Yvonne for believing!

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Local governments should have the legal right to make public safety laws that they think best serve their citizens. In 2015, Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky, Montana, North Carolina and Washington have rejected this type of state preemption bill that would prohibit local governments from creating public safety laws concerning certain dog breeds that are considered dangerous. NC is not listed here: http://blog.dogsbite.org/2015/04/first-quarter-report-municipalities-grassroots-...

The only reason Best Friends Animal Society was able to convince 19 states to pass public hazard anti-Breed Specific Laws was because 98.5% of the general public was in the dark that this was even happening. Now their is a growing awareness and voice to stop these public hazard laws that represent victims of dangerous dog attack mostly by pit bulls.

Before you take the legal rights away from 80 cities and towns that have Breed Specific Legislation have you asked for their input? Have you asked how much it cost to enact BSL in their city or town? Have you asked if BSL has been successful in their cities or towns?

Keep this number in mind because you will be bombarded with lots of emails from well-organized and well-funded Best Friends Animal Society, ASPCA and pit bull advocates who do not represent most of the public. Pit-bull type dog owners are 1.5% of the total US population. This bill caters to a very small interest group who could careless about public safety.

Breed Specific Legislation saves people and other people's beloved pets from being mauled or killed. There are 300 dog breeds and only a few breeds that continually kill humans. The problem with targeting "irresponsible"owners is that you only know they're "irresponsible" after the death or mauling has already occurred. That's too late for somebody. Good Breed Specific Legislation eliminates the problem before it happens.

If this bill passes, then you have not spend enough time here studying the victims of dangerous dog attacks.: http://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-fatalities.php

If this bill passes, MO elected officials have put pit bull lives over human lives. If you lost a loved one to a horrific pit bull attack what would you do? Would you stand back and take it or would you speak out about the dangers of pit bulls living among us?

Pit bulls weren't bred to be safe family pets. Not all pit bulls will maim or kill but predicting which ones is impossible. Pit bull type dogs make up 6% of the U.S. dog population but they kill more than 95% of the 50,000 people, pets and livestock killed every year in the US. From 2005-2015, 227 people killed by pit bull type dogs. http://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-fatalities.php How many animals killed by pit bulls: http://www.animals24-7.org/2015/01/27/how-many-other-animals-did-pit-bulls-kill-... There are 300 dog breeds and most of them have never killed a human. Dog Breed Choice Matters.

I attached a picture of a mother kissing her son goodbye after the child is fatally mauled by 2 pit bulls. Just before the pit bull attack, Tyler was riding his bike after returning from school. With so many irresponsible or naive pit bull owners, all of you are not immune to someone in your own community harboring a pit bull that could kill one of your family members. If these pit bulls were a beagle or I could name almost 300 dog breeds this child would be alive today. BREED CHOICE MATTERS.

http://blog.dogsbite.org/2013/04/2013-dog-bite-fatality-callaway-boy-savagely-ma...

Two words to prove pit bull type dogs are inherently dangerous, "BREAK STICK'.

Does this sound like a normal and safe dog breed to have live in our neighborhoods? Pit Bull Rescue Central recommends ALL pit bull owners to have a "break stick", a wedge-shaped piece of wood used to pry open a pit bull's jaw during an attack. "Since pit bulls have a strong fighting background, we recommend that pet owners also have a breaking stick as a precaution, even if they don't plan to use it in an illegal context. However, please be discreet. Breaking sticks are not something to brag about and the general public might have the wrong impression if you walk around with a stick in your hand. Breaking sticks are not illegal, but they are considered dog fighting paraphernalia in certain states and/or with certain law enforcement agents." http://www.pbrc.net/breaksticks.html

This person demonstrates how to use a break stick on a pit-bull: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfMVH4wY5Pg

Pit-bull Rescue Central, the leading authority of pit bull types, admits MOST pit-bull types are not safe around other dogs because of their genetics. For that reason alone is why I do not consider them safe family pets for our neighborhoods. These are powerful animals that break away from their guardians all the time and maul & kill another beloved pet or person in front of a child or person. This is a typical pit attack on another beloved pet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZTiGWgQubA Too many children & adults have watched their beloved pets be mauled to death by pit bulls. Many develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after watching a horrific pit attack: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=684_1405912995

According to Pit Bull Rescue Central, "It is a fact that our pit bulls, AmStaffs and pit mixes come with a built-in fighting heritage.It doesn't matter where we get them from, whether it be the pound, a stray we pick up, or a puppy we buy from a breeder. The majority of pit bulls will, at some point in their lives, exhibit some degree of dog-on-dog aggression. Yet, chances are that a "normal" pit bull will not share his affection with other animals.We cannot predict when or where it will happen and we can't love, train or socialize it out of the dog. Pit bulls may not start fights, but they will finish them." http://www.pbrc.net/misc/PBRC_dogpark.pdf"

Red Flag: Most insurance companies have come to the same conclusion and do no cover pit-bulls and other types of high risk breeds because they can't afford the risk. Insurance companies have a calculated actuarial risk of pit bulls of 3,000% compared with other dogs. Pit bulls are seven times more likely to attack their owners. Dog attacks are the third most common claim on homeowner's insurance. More evidence that people who have pit-bulls and certain other types of breeds are endangering people and other people's beloved pets in our communities. http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2014/09/15/homeowner-insurance-blacklist-dog-bree...

It all starts with the ethical breeder willing to produce a dog with a stable inherited temperament. Domestic animals are selectively bred for certain traits, people are not. It is not possible to discriminate against dog breeds that are purposely bred for certain traits and characteristics. Dog breeding is the practice of mating selected dogs with the intent to maintain or produce specific qualities and characteristics. There are over 300 dog breeds. Pit bull breeders are the only ones who are breeding for aggression, tenacity and power to create the ultimate canine gladiator. The reality is that it is not how you raise them, it is how they are bred. "Love" will not take away a pit bulls inherent drive to kill. They are supplying to dog fighters, drug dealers, gang members, people who want a guard dog or a dog that looks like a protection dog. Aggression is a dominant trait resulting in a 75% chance of inheritance. One needs to actively breed to eliminate it through selective breeding and deliberate attrition, things that back yard breeders never do. Another problem is the rampant inbreeding with pit bull that produces unsafe dog. Pit-bull type dogs are the number one dog surrendered to shelters, a million every year, mostly because of aggression issues. Then many are rehomed by irresponsible pit bull advocates back into our communities. Watch this clip of unethical backyard breeders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiZOj9o6jpE So basically people who have pits are playing Russian Roulette against our communities.

Most dogs warn you before they attack, growling or barking to tell you how angry they are--"so they don't have to fight," ASPCA adviser and animal geneticist Stephen Zawistowski stresses. Not the pit bull, which attacks without warning. Most dogs, too, will bow to signal that they want to frolic. Again, not the pit bull, which may follow an apparently playful bow with a lethal assault. More information from experts about pit bull traits: http://www.city-journal.org/html/9_2_scared_of_pit.html

BENJAMIN HART, professor emeritus at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and animal behaviorist, "It's quite common for a pit bull to show no signs of aggression. People will call it a nice dog, a sweet dog, even the neighbors - and then all of a sudden something triggers the dog, and it attacks a human in a characteristic way of biting and hanging on until a lot of damage is done. Hart said pit bulls are responsible for about 60 percent of dog attack fatalities each year, which is "way out of proportion" compared with other breeds. Pit bulls make up less than 5 percent of the American dog population. "It's very poor policy to allow any child around a pit bull, in my mind, let alone climb on a dog." More info from pit bull experts: http://thetruthaboutpitbulls.blogspot.com/2012/10/no-one-can-be-great-thinker-wh...

From Rescue Train & Tia Torres who has a national TV show called Pit Bull & Parolees, "It's a mistake to think the fighting gene can be easily trained or loved out of a pit-bull." Why she thinks it's appropriate to adopt out pit bulls after saying that is beyond me.http://www.therescuetrain.org/pit_bull_education.php

This issue has never been about which breeds bite the most.The issue with pit bulls is the degree of damage they inflict, and their attacks being more likely to result in fatality. Appellate courts across the United States have recognized the dangers of the pit bull breed for over 25-years. We've listed excerpts from court decisions that demonstrate this. http://www.dogsbite.org/legislating-dangerous-dogs-appellate-court-decisions.php

-- Posted by nonpitbullguardian on Sun, Nov 29, 2015, at 8:29 PM
Pit bull type dogs kill 30-35 Americans every year and maul hundreds of others serious enough to require hospitalization. Thousands of pets are cruelly killed by pit bull type dogs. The vast majority of the pit bull type dogs that kill are family pets, and are not trained fighters. Breed Specific Legislation is needed to protect our communities.

-- Posted by n0kjf on Sun, Nov 29, 2015, at 9:03 PM
Dogs have a great deal of instinctive behavior hardwired into their brains, real experts agree up to 90%. If you want a dog to help you hunt ducks, one would select a Chesapeake Bay Retriever or a Labrador Retriever, these dogs are bred with the physical and mental characteristics to make them excel at these tasks. Selective breeding has given them webbed feet for more efficient swimming, a large thick tail for an effective rudder, thick undercoat for insulation from the icy waters they retrieve downed ducks from, and a love of retrieving. These dogs are genetically hardwired to perform these tasks; one would hardly expect to get a chow or a doberman to do the same work.

If you have a flock of sheep, one would select a border collie to look after the animals. Border collies are bred to herd animals; they have an incredible attention span and endurance that is not to be believed. These physical and mental characteristics have been carefully selectively bred into these dogs to make them suitable for these tasks.

Other examples; golden's retrieve, pointers point, and bloodhounds track, you get the idea. All of these behaviors are instinctive and are not "how it's raised".

Today's pit bull type dog is a descendant of the original English bull-baiting dog, a dog that was bred to bite and hold bulls, bears and other large animals around the face and head. When baiting large animals was outlawed in 1835, people turned instead to fighting their dogs against each other. These larger, slower bull-baiting dogs were crossed with smaller, quicker terriers to produce a more agile and athletic dog for fighting other dogs. All of these physical and mental characteristics have been carefully selectively bred into pit bull type dogs to make them suitable for these tasks. Seriously, are these the genetically hardwired selectively bred tasks you want in a dog that you expose your fellow citizens, friends and loved ones to? I would hope not, steer clear of pit bull type dogs and other bully breeds.

-- Posted by n0kjf on Sun, Nov 29, 2015, at 9:04 PM
Pit bull type dogs have "abnormal" instincts bred into them such as a lack of fear and self-preservation, not to mention resistance to pain. The various traits bred into them makes them much more dangerous than other dogs, even ones who are larger and more powerful. The pit bull type dog problem is made far worse because well-meaning people do not understand dogs' behaviors. Human emotions and moralities are naively applied to dogs. When a pit bull type dog kills, it experiences the "emotion" of accomplishment and victory over the weak. A dog will not experience the same emotion of regret that a human may feel. Attempts at punishment would only be effective if applied a mere few seconds after the bad behavior. A human child can be punished weeks after the bad behavior and understand why they are being punished. The more primitive level of comprehension in a dog makes reward / punishment far more complex.

This issue has never been about which breeds bite the most. The issue with pit bull type dogs is the degree of damage they inflict, and their attacks being more likely to result in a fatality. Appellate courts across the United States have recognized the dangers of the pit bull breed for over 25 years.

-- Posted by n0kjf on Sun, Nov 29, 2015, at 9:05 PM
https://vimeo.com/19472436

http://www.instituteofcaninebiology.org/genetics-of-behavior-and-performance.htm...

http://www.border-wars.com/2015/03/its-all-in-how-you-train-them-not-really.html

Identifying pit bull type dogs;

https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=1496137140642653899&q

Nanny dog myth;

http://thetruthaboutpitbulls.blogspot.com/2010/08/nanny-dog-myth-revealed.html

https://www.facebook.com/BADRAP.org/posts/10151460774472399

-- Posted by n0kjf on Sun, Nov 29, 2015, at 9:06 PM
Newly adopted dogs that "passed" the temperament testing:

http://longisland.news12.com/news/dog-adopted-by-patchogue-family-attacks-daught...

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Rescued-Pit-Bull-Attacks-Teenage-Daughter-E...

https://www.facebook.com/mary.urban.delaney/videos/10205426049553777/

Pit bull type dogs attacking with wagging tails;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESHBBLeOaqk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-iYiCBz7Uw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEN-k-od6Rw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt2fCXTjIq0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPAqAqfX3es

-- Posted by n0kjf on Sun, Nov 29, 2015, at 9:07 PM
34 million airbags were recalled because they MIGHT HAVE contributed to 6 deaths, By the numbers pit bull type dogs should be recalled after causing 23 USA human deaths so far this year. If the average killing rate by pit bull type dogs continues, 3 people will be killed by pit bull type dogs before Christmas.

Pits; 3,000,000 in the USA @ 23 human kills, = 0.000007667%

Airbags recalled; 34,000,000 @ 6 maybe human kills = 0.00001765%

By the numbers, you are at least 43.4 times more likely to be butchered by a pit bull type dog than you are by an airbag. Based on the numbers, I think it is past time to recall pit bull type dogs.

-- Posted by n0kjf on Sun, Nov 29, 2015, at 9:08 PM
Simply put, border collies do not herd sheep because they are raised on sheep farms; rather, they are raised on sheep farms because they herd.

In addition pointers point, retrievers retrieve, and mastiffs guard, all because those traits are part of their breed expectations, meaning strong and continuous selection in the underlying breeding program "

Pit bulls do not attack because they are raised with dog fighters and drug dealers, dog fighters and drug dealers use pit bulls because they attack!

It is their nature, their genetic truth and reality.!!

It is not how you raise them rather it is simply what they are.!!

Just like sled dogs run and pull, it is just their nature.!

A pit bull type dog is what it is and does what it is.You can no more alter it genetic makeup then you can a collies to herd, a hounds to track, a retriever's to retrieve, a labs to swim, a pointers to point, a sled dog to run and pull.

They do what they are and a pit bull type dog is a mauling violent killer that has been bred to be a land shark, nothing you do can change that, even if you have them from birth.

No matter if you love them, or how you nurture, train, rehabilitate, raise them optimally as normal dogs from birth, you can not change their Genetic reality to Kill, Maul, Maim, Disfigure, Dismember, cause Life Flights or trips to the Intensive Care Unit.

For over 800 years the current pit bull type dog was brought into being through careful selective genetic breeding to create the most violent murderous fighting dog possible

-- Posted by Thomas McCartney on Sun, Nov 29, 2015, at 10:03 PM
Pit bull type dogs make up only 6% of the US dog population yet they kill more then 99% of the 50,000 people, pets and livestock every year in the US.!

Over the last 800 years Pit bull type dogs were Breed to kill Bears, Bulls & Large draft horses in the pit and then later each other in dog fights, that is what they are and they are what they do, Kill, Maul, Maim, Disfigure, Dismember, cause Life Flights or trips to the Intensive Care Unit.

This is what they do, what they are and why they are not fit for human interaction then or now.!!

-- Posted by Thomas McCartney on Sun, Nov 29, 2015, at 10:03 PM
The following is a list of the top 10 dog breeds involved in dog attacks in the U.S. and Canada involving humans from September 1982 to December 31, 2013, based on a larger table compiled by Merritt Clifton who is the editor of Animals 24-7.

A Bullmastiff is considered a pit bull type dog and a pit bull mix between a pit bull and a mastiff and is 40% pit bull.

Breed ****** Attacks doing bodily harm ****** Maimed ****** Deaths

1. Pit bull **********2792 ***********************677 **********263

2. Rottweiler *******514 ************************294 **********81

3. Bull Mastiff ******105 ************************61 ***********15

4. German Shepherd 102 **********************63 ***********15

5. Wolf Hybrid ******85 *************************49 ***********19

6. Akita **************68 ************************50 ************8

7. Boxer *************62 ************************29 ************7

8. Chow *************58 ************************39 ************7

9. Pit bull/Rottweiler mix 50 ********************15 ************15

10.Labrador ********50 *************************39 ************3

The report states that the numbers are compiled from press accounts dating to 1982. It only includes attacks by dogs of clearly identified breed type or ancestry, as designated by animal control officers or others with evident expertise, which have been kept as pets.

All accounts are cross-checked by date, location and identity of the victim, according to the report.

Attacks by police dogs, guard dogs and dogs trained specifically to fight are not included in the report.

-- Posted by Thomas McCartney on Sun, Nov 29, 2015, at 10:04 PM
A pit bull BSL works EVERYWHERE it is useful in almost eliminating all serious dog attacks that maim, disfigure, dismember, maul, cripple.

or kill, this is a simply proven fact in all cases.The number of pit bulls is dramatically reduced as are the numbers of them put to death.

In ALL BSL's all existing pit bull type dogs are grandfathered in with restrictions until they die off naturally, only NEW pit bull type dogs are not allowed in.

In NO case are they put down or even forced to leave the community if they are a grandfathered in pit bull type dog if they are registered.!

When a BSL is brought in you usually have 30 days to register your pit bull type dog covered by the Ban and it is grandfathered in and you are allowed to keep it with restrictions like short leash by an adult, muzzled, kenneled, 6 figure insurance, fixed, chipped,signage etc.

If you don't register it in 30 days or you bring one in after the Ban is in effect it is confiscated and put down, as it would be evil & sick to ship a dangerous threat to public safety off to another community and be fine with that as long as your community was safe from them, that would simply be wrong.

The need to have BSL is to have a preemptive capability to avoid a pit bull attack from happening due to it's extremely savage consequences.

It is enacted against all pit bulls as they all have the genetic DNA propensity to carry out these horrific attacks that are non existent in 99% of all other breeds, ban the breed and you ban the deed, simple as that.

Dealing with an attack after the fact is simply not acceptable due to the horrific nature of said attacks.!

With any other breed other then Rottweiler's, wolf hybrids in very small numbers it is not a naturally genetic reality for them to carry out such horrifying attacks.

Simply put, border collies do not herd sheep because they are raised on sheep farms; rather, they are raised on sheep farms because they herd.

In addition pointers point, retrievers retrieve, and mastiffs guard, all because those traits are part of their breed expectations, meaning strong and continuous selection in the underlying breeding program "

Pit bulls do not attack because they are raised with dog fighters and drug dealers, dog fighters and drug dealers use pit bulls because they attack!

There should be mandatory Spay/Neuter programs for all breeds but clearly the one that needs it the most and where the most change would be effected would be with the Pit Bull type dog where every year a third of their numbers are put down in animal shelters.

-- Posted by Thomas McCartney on Sun, Nov 29, 2015, at 10:04 PM
There is very little cost difference no matter if you have a pit bull type dog BSL Ban or not.

There is a very impactful cost free indirect outcome as invariably the pit bull type dog owner will be far more careful and in fact go

underground to avoid the consequences of not adhering to a BSL Ban such as fines & or losing their dog or even having it put down, this tends to focus their minds and motivates them to be in compliance.

In effect out of sight reduces interaction with any pit bull type dogs

in general for both the 2 & 4 legged legitimate members of the

community which greatly increases their daily safety and dramatically reduces the possibility of pit bull attacks.

All this at not one cent of extra cost.

AC officers will be more available to carry out routine street and park patrols not having to deal with constant pit bull type dog mauling's.

This is their normal activity and will allow them to as they enforce the normal leash and dog at large laws to enforce the BSL Ban at the same time at no extra cost.

Simple they see a pit bull type dog they pick it up, a minor cost to

bring about increased public safety, & as they go more and more

underground this cost will drop sharply to the level of being moot from a budget perspective.

As well neighbors on the street will know if a pit bull type dog is

illegally present and can call the city AC to report this allowing the

animal to be removed, a simple, clean and efficient modality to find, fix and remove any pit bull type dog illegally in the community.

If the owners keep their pit bull type dogs in the basement or take them out only very early in the morning or very late at night this will

dramatically enhance the community's safety cost free as the possibility of the public interacting with a pit bull type dog is reduced to fractionally what it normally would be the case in normal daytime hours.

There would be no extras kenneling cost after you pick up a pit bull

type dog, you put down a stray right away, if there is ownership proof an immediate choice is given to the owner, give it up to be put down right away or if they appeal it in the courts they pay the kenneling cost.

If done this way the expense of kenneling is also moot.

Done this way any Pit Bull type dog BSL Ban is easily enforceable by any community, the only requirement to make this a reality is to have the courage to simply carry out said enforcement in the face of screams, rants and raves by the pit bull advocates.

-- Posted by Thomas McCartney on Sun, Nov 29, 2015, at 10:05 PM
An example of the failure that is breed neutral legislation:

In Calgary, by Bill Bruce's own admission and documentation, pit bulls lead the serious bite count with 13% of the city's serious bites attributable to pit bulls, yet pit bulls account for less than 1% of the city's dogs.

In fact, pit bulls are responsible for nearly as many serious bites (13%) as the ENTIRE sporting breeding category (15%), which includes all of the most popular breeds (Labs, Goldens, Poodles, Spaniels, etc) and houses 70% of Calgary's dogs.

Why aren't these breeds attacking in the face of irresponsible ownership?

An example of why leashing and licensing laws don't work to solve the breed-specific problem of pit bulls:

Pitbull supporters always point to Calgary Model as the perfect solution when dealing with dangerous dogs. The city introduced its responsible pet ownership bylaw in 2006.

Calgary's bylaw department emphasizes responsible pet ownership through intensive licensing, hefty fines and owner education.

In Calgary, the largest city in Alberta, "confirmed aggressive dog incidents" and related criminal charges tripled in 2013, and in mid-2014 were up 15% more.

Has their model worked? The statistics from the past four years would indicate a resounding "NO". For the past four years dog bites have risen steadily every year, and over 350% in the past 4 years, from 58 in 2009 to 203 in 2012.

And In 2010 Pit bulls led the 'bite' count. Meanwhile in Toronto, four years after implementing Breed Bans, dog bites were down 32%, from 486 to 329.

Bites in Toronto blamed on the four banned breeds fell sharply, from 71 in 2005 to only six in 2010.

Considering these breeds regularly inflict the most serious damage, this is an undeniable win for the citizens of Toronto.

There were 400 dog bites in Calgary in 2013 and 500 in 2014.

-- Posted by Thomas McCartney on Sun, Nov 29, 2015, at 10:05 PM
A good comparison to show the effectiveness of pit bull bans: pit bull type dogs were banned in Ontario in 2005 but are still legal in Illinois.

Population:

Ontario 13.5 million (Toronto: 2.7 million)

Illinois: 12.8 million (Chicago: 2.7 million)

Pit bull fatalities since 2005:

Ontario: 0

Illinois: 11

-- Posted by Thomas McCartney on Sun, Nov 29, 2015, at 10:05 PM
MIKE JOYNER --

"As a judge in Environmental Court who has had to deal with numerous cases of dog on dog and dog on human attacks, I can without any bias say that pit bulls are a dangerous breed. The facts speak for themselves. You cannot argue against the data.

My wife owns a doggie daycare and I have dealt with every possible breed. In the six years she has been opened there have been over 1600 dogs that have been through the doors with the exception of the pit bull. Her liability insurance company will not insure her if she takes pit bulls, and as much as I love ALL dogs I do not trust pit bulls around children or other dogs.

I have been on the bench for several cases where a pit bull attacked a child and literally pulled the scalp off of a 12 year old girl's head. It was a neighbor's dog and she had pet it a week before the incident, which occurred in her own backyard with the pit bull jumped the fence and attacked her without any provocation or warning. I have had numerous cases where a pit bull attacked another dog and held it down or shook it until it was dead...even in the presence of the owner of the pit bull who could do nothing to separate the dogs.

"Knowing what I know I would be negligent if I promoted pit bulls as pets to any family with children or neighbors with pets."

-- Posted by Thomas McCartney on Sun, Nov 29, 2015, at 10:09 PM
In 1992 I was chased into my home by a neighbors pit bull terrier. It was 2 doors down and i was 5 feet from my steel front door. I didnt even know they had a pit. I looked up locked eyes and he immediately charged me. Luckily I had heard of these dogs for years growing up and knew that i had to bolt. I barely got in the house before the dog slammed into my door, putting a 5 inch dent in it. I shudder to think what would have happened if my kids had been out front with me that day. That was the third loose pit bull in our neighborhood that month. The other two having to be shot because the police could not catch them and they were out and attacking neighbors and other dogs. If the fact that these dogs were purposely bred to latch on and kill live beings is NOT ENOUGH, if the fact that pit bulls and their derivatives (created by loose pits mating with other loose dogs) are responsible for approximately 80 percent of all dog bite related fatalities each year and an even higher percentage of dog attacks on humans and animals is NOT ENOUGH, maybe the FACT that these dogs have a variety of owners, many who are irresponsible. Whether as a result of irresponsible behavior or on purpose, these owners often have loose dogs. The danger that these dogs present is only prevented by educating the public, creating laws for accountability, holding owners and rescuers responsible for their actions and the actions of their dogs. Beagles and poodles dont do the kind of damages that pits and their derivatives do. And while Poodles and beagles may bite they arent killing an average of 30 people a year and thousands of other animals like pits are. We have to focus on the breed that is, pits and their mixes. We have to have breed specific legislation, specific to the pit bull terrier.Legislating ALL dogs makes the public think that pits are no more dangerous than other dogs, which is NOT TRUE.While BSL does not have to mean banning the breed/type, it could include that if laws protecting people from this breed are not followed. And WHILE all pits and their derivatives arent attacking, far too many are attacking for these attacks to be coincidences. Many of the attacking pits were loved family dogs raised from pups.They had not been neglected or trained to attack. Many passed standard temperament tests. There is no way to determine which of these dogs will snap and its ALWAYS to the great surprise of their owner. BSL and bans in some areas are the ONLY way to warn the public of the potential danger that these dogs present and the ONLY thing between them and their next victim. Keep your legislation. Protect people first.

-- Posted by Annie Brown on Sun, Nov 29, 2015, at 11:01 PM
http://www.semissourian.com/blogs/1452/entry/48327

-- Posted by Melanie Coy on Mon, Nov 30, 2015, at 6:34 AM
Thank you so much for such an insightful and well written article. I am very pleased to see that the fight continues to move past the archaic ideas of breed-specific legislation and on to more responsible thoughts on dog ownership. I am sorry to see all the negative comments about repealing breed-specific legislation. I choose not to clog your commentary by searching the Internet for statistics and figures about what dogs may or may not do in the last 30 years or what dog did or did not do over the last 30 years, but perhaps to share some experience that I feel matters in convrsstions like this. I have been involved in the animal welfare field for more than 25 years as an animal control officer, and animal cruelty investigator, animal shelter manager and veterinary technician. Throughout those years, I have had lots of experience with all dogs, and of course, pitbull and pitbull mix dogs. I also moved to Missouri from New Jersey, a state which does not now nor has ever had breed-specific legislation. I also live in a town now that has opposed and stands against BSL. Reading some of the statistics that others have shared about the lack of BSL, it makes one wonder how it's possible the areas that do not have BSL do not have the street running ready in blood. How has there not been sheer chaos in the streets? Probably because BSL is the language of fear mangers. It's for those who take what they see as the easy easy to handle things...instead of enforce laws for resposnible ownership of all dogs, lets point our fingers at the perceived "bad guy" and just "make it all better". It's very sad that these BSL advocates feel the need to absolutely try to terrorize people It seems that those that feel the need to saturate us in statistics the most often have the lease true real life experiences with the subjects that they are talking about. In my 25 years of experience, I have not seen pitbulls in my shelters and communities as the predominant type of dogs involved in quarantine cases or behavior owner surrendered cases. I often find at the issue in problematic dog behavior is caused by other end of the leash. My shelter successfully adopts hundreds of pitbulls each year, in the same manner that we adopt out every other breed of dog, with counseling to ensure that the family is prepared to adopt and responsibly care for the dog they have chosen to adopt. Guys, it's not rocket scIence, I have been doing this kind of work for a long time, I am not sure why these BSL advocates feel the need to complicate and make everything so difficult . Common sense is all that's needed. I will continue to encourage those in my community to contact their legislators and ask them to end the archaic madness that is BSL and give the rights back to the citizens and their dogs that they deserve...the right to own the dog they choose to own and the dogs to leave in peace with their families. Let's end the madness. As a shelter manager, I am tired of seeing wonderful dogs who have done nothing wrong torn away from their families. Lysa Boston, Shelter Manager, JHS

-- Posted by Outcastacres on Mon, Nov 30, 2015, at 8:12 AM
Once again we find a pit bull advocate sharing their own experiences and ignoring all of the hundreds of thousands of experiences to the contrary. Although I have never worked in animal control myself, I too have been a vet tech and have worked with the Humane Society and in animal rescue since I was 12 years old, for over 40 years. I have my own experiences with dogs and my experience is that pitbulls and their derivatives are and have always been the loose cannon dog. In our veterinary practice we saw many dog attack victims that we had to repair or put down. All severe injuries came from one of only a few breeds. The pit bull terrier always did the most damage followed by the Rottweiler and the German Shepherd. While other dogs were also biting and attacking none were near as traumatic or fatal as the pitbull terrier and the Rottweiler. And of the two, pitbull terriers/mixes were responsible for over 75% of those attacks . I believe that this is the norm across the country . And I believe that the statistics not only show that, but show a trend that attacks from these dogs are increasing . BSL advocates believe that these increases are due to heightened awareness and adoption by pit pushing individuals from animal rescues , increased breeding with heightened genetics of these animals for profit for both protection and for fighting, lack of education to individuals regarding the potential dangers of these animals , and the overall increased push to "save" these animals which is scattering them into every niche of society. These dogs have been lushed into foreign roles: a lovable rescue dog, a support dog , a show dog or whatever other niche they can possibly be squeezed into as long as we " save the dog". BSL takes the "save people first" approach.

As a lifelong lover of all animals, especially dogs, I've been interested in and helped to save almost every breed. I have observed, over time, the way that dogs behave. I have rescued dogs and rehomed dogs. I have been around pits and their mixes but never fully trusted them. While I see the dangers that they bring , I also see that the dumbing down of their genetics has brought lesser aggressive dogs into the breed /type and that there are dogs that are less or non aggressive . I believe these are the dogs that people are citing as being typical of the breed . These are the dogs that are put forth as examples of why pets are misunderstood . But there are two sides to every coin and we cannot forget that they can also be very dangerous . My experience with pits, without exception, is that they are high strung, powerful and not completely predictable. I have seen far too many bites and fatalities crom this breed/type.

I currently have 5 fur babies that i love dearly ages 1 to 19 years. To say that breed specific legislation advocates are fear mongerers, animal haters or trying to take people's dogs away is false. If a car seat is faulty because one of the buckles is not constructed correctly and one child dies the car seat is recalled and hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent to ensure that this horrific situation does not reoccur. If a food product makes someone sick and they die after eating it, the producer finds where this food has been distributed and pulls it off the shelves everywhere to prevent further damage or death to consumers. Pit bull terriers and other dogs with the same genetics were created for one purpose, their aggression. When mankind creates something and it goes awry it is our responsibility to fix the error. The fact that the error that mankind made happens to be living is truly sad. But what's even more sad is that innocent children, elderly and pets have had to pay with their lives because of this error. Many able bodied men and women too! It is time to fix our error. Breed specific legislation does not mean ripping dogs out of homes. Breed specific legislation does not necessarily mean banning dogs from certain areas or everywhere. Only in cases where laws are not followed should bans be considered. Since all dogs have the ability to bite and many do, we need to realize that there is a way to handle them to keep ourselves safe. Education and training and understanding certain dogs mentalities is important to keep individuals from getting bitten. A dog bite is unpleasant and can be dangerous if it becomes infected. Most dogs fall into this category. They can bite, but not all do. I've owned about 20 dogs in my life, large and small, and have never been bitten once.

When you start looking at larger dogs you have a different situation. Their size alone increases there danger to humans simply because the impact of their weight and the size and velocity of their bite. Individuals need to understand the genetics and the temperament of larger dogs to ensure their own and others safety. When you look at dogs in general and see their pointed ears or their floppy ears, their long smooth snouts or their short pug faces, their long lean bodies or their thick stocky bodies, it's pretty easy to see how their genetics play a role in everything they do and are. When you have a dog that is both large and genetically predisposed to aggression it is important to know that you have increased the danger factor that exists with owning that dog. Dogs are instinctual, not rational. They are reactionary and respond differently to different stimuli automatically. These are uncontrollable factors. When you give a dog with heightened danger factor to an irresponsible, neglectful, abusive, and/or ignorant owner you create the perfect storm. You put people and animals in perilous situations. Because we can not control ownership of large dogs that are genetically predisposed to aggression, we must regulate them. In order to protect society we must make and enforce rules for these owners to live by.

To make the statement that looking at statistics is irrelevant is a denial of the reality of what's going on in our country today. It is also the height of irresponsibility. To say that the streets are not bathed in blood when you read articles to the contrary daily is simply ignorant.

Breed specific legislation advocates are not thrilled when we come upon the next victims. We are not ecstatic to share with the public the latest fatality. We are not "over the moon" to report the thousands of animals that are killed each year by Pitbulls and their derivatives. We are deeply saddened. We only wish to make people aware to prevent the next attack. We are even saddened when people's own family pitbulls turn on them and injure or kill a family member. We are devastated when new victims and/or their families turn to us for support and answers. (Which is daily by the way.) We do not wish that responsible owners of pits and their derivatives have their pets pulled from their homes. We DO wish to see responsible ownership of these dogs across the board. We DO wish to see a national campaign alerting everyone in our country about the possible dangers of these dogs. We DO wish to see mandatory spay and neuter of these dogs so that we won't have thousands on the street and even more being euthanized in shelters. We DO want stricter punishment for dog fighters and breeders who are breeding to fill that niche. We DO want shelters to be accountable for the dogs that they release to unsuspecting adopters with full and TRUTHFUL disclosure of breed and history. Shelters simply cannot adopt out dangerous dogs. We DO want punishment to the full extent of the law when shelters choose to adopt out dangerous dogs and those dogs maul and kill people . And we DO want laws that protect innocent people who do not wish to own or be exposed to potentially dangerous dogs like pits and their mixes. We DO want mandatory leash laws, containment laws, and laws that force responsibility for dangerous dogs onto their owners. We DO believe that certain people should not be allowed to own dangerous dogs. We DO believe that people who own dangerous dogs must keep them on leash and contained and be required to carry a break stick with them at all times and be trained on how to use it. We DO believe that dog owners should be required by law to carry an insurance policy that would cover the lifelong surgical procedures needed by victims after an attack. There are many other laws that need to be implemented in order to keep society safe. We also believe that these laws must be enforced and strict punishment dealt out quickly in order for them to succeed. In areas where breed specific legislation is both carried out and severely punished the decrease in dangerous dog fatalities and attacks is astounding.

To paint a picture of breed specific legislation advocates as being fear mongers or heartless and dog haters is ridiculous. The more accurate picture is that we love people first and therefore wish to protect them from all dangers. We also love animals and hate to see any animal, pit or otherwise abused neglected and suffering.

-- Posted by Annie Brown on Mon, Nov 30, 2015, at 10:08 AM
I apologize in advance for any errant use of there, their or theyre and incorrect spellings in my lengthy post. Its not easy posting from an android.

-- Posted by Annie Brown on Mon, Nov 30, 2015, at 10:10 AM
Classic Pit nutter argument: "In the 70's it was German Shepherds, in the 80's it was Dobermans, and in the 90s it was Rottweilers."

I gathered some numbers of fatal dog maulings to use when responding to this particular bit of idiocy. Mixes were included in the tallies.

DBRFs from German Shepherds in the 70s: 10

DBRFs from Dobermans in the 80s: 1

DBRFs from Rottweilers in the 90s: 17

DBRFs from all three of these breeds from 1970 through 2014 (nearly 45 years): 115

Working backwards from the present day, one need only go back to mid-August 2009 to count 115 deaths by pit bull. Pit bulls accomplished in just over 5 years what it took these other three breeds 45 years to do.

DBRFs from Chihuahuas: 0

-- Posted by Thomas McCartney on Mon, Nov 30, 2015, at 10:40 AM
THE TOPIC

MAY 2015

Sixty-eight percent of U.S. households, or 83.3 million homes, own a pet, according to a 2013/2014 survey from by the American Pet Products Association.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year and about 885,000 require medical attention for these injuries; about half of these are children.

Some insurance companies will not insure homeowners who own certain breeds of dogs categorized as dangerous, such as pit bulls. Others decide on a case-by-case basis, depending on whether an individual dog, regardless of its breed has been deemed vicious.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Claims: Dog bites and other dog-related injuries accounted for more than one-third of all homeowners insurance liability claim dollars paid out in 2014, costing more than $530 million, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) and State Farm�. An analysis of homeowners insurance data by the I.I.I. found that while the number of dog bite claims nationwide decreased 4.7 percent in 2014, the average cost per claim for the year was up 15 percent. The average cost paid out for dog bite claims nationwide was $32,072 in 2014, compared with $27,862 in 2013. The average cost per claim nationally has risen more than 67 percent from 2003 to 2014, due to increased medical costs as well as the size of settlements, judgments and jury awards given to plaintiffs, which are still on the upswing. California continued to have the largest number of claims in the U.S. at 1,867. Ohio had the second highest number of claims at 1,009. While New York had the third highest number of claims at 965, it registered the highest average cost per claim in the country: $56,628. The trend in higher costs per claim is attributable not only to dog bites but also to dogs knocking down children, cyclists, the elderly, etc., which can result in injuries that impact the potential severity of the losses.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uac...

-- Posted by Hardheaded on Mon, Nov 30, 2015, at 1:11 PM
Lysa Boston,

Could you please give me the number of U.S. families who have been torn away from their pit bulls in the last 10 years because of BSL?

Could you please give me the number of MO families who have been torn away from their pit bulls in the last 10 years because of BSL?

-- Posted by nonpitbullguardian on Mon, Nov 30, 2015, at 4:51 PM
You only need to check the statistics in Denver when they enacted an across the board confiscation & destroy ordinance.

As for statistics most people know how easy they are to manipulate. Considering you gather your's from a master manipulator, it's no wonder they come out against sanity.

I've provided you a previous link to a blog entry I did in 2012 which outlines my thoughts on your reasoning.

This link will tell you my thoughts on your statistics:

http://www.semissourian.com/blogs/1452/entry/59342/

-- Posted by Melanie Coy on Mon, Nov 30, 2015, at 6:07 PM
I made it easy for you. I also have photos of the mountain of carnage left behind when they finished their sanctioned murder of Pit Bulls. These weren't strays, abused dogs or dogs that had been fought. They were peoples pets, pregnant females, puppies old dogs. The photos are in my archive if you've never seen what a kill of this magnitude looks like...

http://www.westword.com/news/3-497-dead-dogs-and-other-numbers-from-denvers-pit-...

-- Posted by Melanie Coy on Mon, Nov 30, 2015, at 6:10 PM
Melanie Coy, That is not the question I asked. Give me the number and names of U.S. families who have been torn away from their pit bulls in the last 10 years from 2005-2015 because of BSL?

The pit bull lobby/advocates: Best Friends Animal Society, ASPCA, The Humane Society of the United States plan is not working by promoting shelter pit bulls onto the public as safe family pets. We are going on 10 years with a million pit bulls being surrendered to shelters each year and most of them killed. People get them as cute puppies. When they reach maturity, the owners can't handle their energy or aggression issues so they surrender them. If pit bulls were making great pets there would not be a million of them mostly surrendered by their owner because they don't want them anymore. Ethical breeders take back their stock if the dog owner is having problems but not unscrupulous pit bull breeders that is another reason so many end up at shelters.

This problem is getting worst not better. With pit bull type dogs making the news every single day across the U.S. for severely mauling people, pets and livestock or killing people, pets and livestock the general public is going to stay wary of them and are not going to adopt them. The general public is not like the 1.5% of pit bull owners of the U.S. population. We rather not play Russian Roulette with our pet choice.

Anyone who does not support BSL in the form of mandatory sterilization with so many pit bulls being euthanized in shelters does not care about pit bulls, just their own selfish desire to own one. Pit bulls have a 20% spay/neuter rate -- while the rest of dogs have a 70% rate. That is partly why mandatory pit bull sterilization laws are so needs.I will never understand why pit bull activists have a hard time with spay & neuter out of existence. The world does not need pit bulls, their primary purpose is a felony in all 50 states. Dog breeds are man-made bred with certain genetic traits and characteristics to serve humans and considered property by law. We can stop breeding whatever breed we want to. Many breeds go extinct https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_extinct_dog_

Cities and counties up and down the coast of California have adopted pit bull spay/neuter ordinances with excellent results, including two of the largest counties in the U.S., San Bernardino County and Riverside County. Breed-specific protection laws are spreading East too. Just a few days ago, Beaufort County, South Carolina also passed one. The reasons are very clear: reduce pit bull euthanasia and intake and directly impact the most irresponsible owners and breeders. No one can help that many unsavory people are attracted to the breed, but we can reduce the number of unwanted pit bulls that should have been born in the first place. http://www.dogsbite.org/legislating-dangerous-dogs-california.php

-- Posted by nonpitbullguardian on Mon, Nov 30, 2015, at 9:06 PM
Rottweilers are not next unless they start mauling and killing people and pets at the rate of pit bulls. There are over 300 dog breeds to choose from that are a lot safer than the pit bull type dogs. http://www.animal-photography.com/dogs

Pit bulls have always been the number one canine killer of all dog breeds combined.

In the past 30 years, pit bulls have killed 352 people, Rottweilers 86, German Shepherds 15, Huskies 26, Dobermans 8... Even Dalmations, who are known for being not good with kids have killed zero. http://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-fatalities.php

-- Posted by nonpitbullguardian on Tue, Dec 1, 2015, at 9:52 AM
PS: We are not against large dogs that are over 50 pounds. You are being ridiculous. Most of us have dogs that is why we are speaking out about the dangers of pit bulls living among us because pit bulls are slaughtering other dog breeds in our neighborhoods. I grew up with labs and many of my friends had large dogs. I rescued 2 dogs over 50 pounds.

Never confuse a pit bull lover for someone who loves dogs, or any other animals for that matter, it just simply does not add up.

How many animals killed by pit bulls: http://www.animals24-7.org/2015/01/27/how-many-other-animals-did-pit-bulls-kill-...

Understanding what purpose breeds of dogs were bred for should not be considered breed discrimination, but, in reality, breed knowledge.

I have never blamed the pit bull. I do blame the pit bull advocates pushing pit bulls onto the public as safe family pets. I place the blame on the unethical pit bull breeders who are breeding dangerous dogs that were never meant to be a safe family pet. This issue is more than just how an owner treats or trains their dogs, it is also how they are bred.

Pit bulls were bred by the dogmen to be "game", which means that once they are engaged in a fight, they do not stop, despite pain and mortal wounds. They were selected through generations to be highly dog aggressive, and to not respond normally to canine body language. They ignore signals of submission. They have a high threshold for pain. They have an active defense reflex, and will chose fight over flight when challenged. They were bred to attack without the typical warning signals, since signaling intent to your opponent is a liability in the fighting pit.

While normal dogs use mostly ritualistic displays of aggression.... posturing, hackling, growling, pinning and air snapping; or use just enough force to open up a flight path, such as when a fearful dog bites and releases....pit bulls have been bred to grab, hold, and shake their opponent until it stops moving.

This behavior in pit bulls is a self rewarding behavior, just as the exaggerated eye-stalk behavior of the border collie is. It is not the result of abuse or training. Current breeding practices for pit bulls continue to select for these traits...the vast majority of people breeding pit bulls todays are at best grossly irresponsible back yard breeders, who are ignoring temperament and just looking to make a quick buck.

It's time to stop the fairy tales about "nanny dogs", and the mental gymnastics of looking for triggers and excuses as to "why" pit bull attacks occur. The dogs are simply doing what they were bred to do. Dogs aren't people, they are a eugenics experiment. Pit bulls were created for an activity that is now a felony in all 50 states. Its time to take a hard look at regulating them as a public safety measure.

Learn more: http://www.daxtonsfriends.com/american-pit-bull-terrier/

I don't attack the dogs, that's where you are losing the argument. The dogs are exactly what they were bred to be. They were never meant to live among humans, in family homes. They do what they were meant to do, fight to the death. Just because they haven't yet is no guarantee they won't become a killer. But the problem is the people who persist in believing they can somehow love out or train out hundreds of years of genetic selection. Innocent people and animals pay the price every day for this misguided notion.

Dogfighting is allowed to flourish while dog fighters easily hide in plain sight, and kept in an endless supply of dogs. Not to mention all the donations that pour into rescues and humane societies to save and help those poor rescued fighting dogs that just seem to keep coming. There is an endless supply of money coming in, and what a coincidence, it all flows straight back into the pit advocates and their supporters hands. What exactly to victims advocates and bsl supporters have to gain though? We aren't getting any money, we're simply trying to keep some other poor person from experiencing one of these life or death attacks.

-- Posted by nonpitbullguardian on Tue, Dec 1, 2015, at 10:10 AM
If you google Thomas McCartney's name, you will see that he is listed as a pitbull hater. He watches for blogs on pitbulls and then spams or "blows up" the page. It looks like there are also a few others on here who are also doing the same thing. I hope the editor of the paper sees these haters and removes their posts.

-- Posted by Burpd on Tue, Dec 1, 2015, at 10:12 PM
I am very familiar with this group. They all originate from one place & a man who lines his pockets with the blood money which comes from promoting the genocide of this breed. Look closely at the links provided and you'll see one common denominator. I knew what was going to happen when I posted this entry. It seemed to be the best way to get the lovers of the breed to wake up & see how many enemies we fight. It isn't just the abusers, fighters, back yard breeders or a sensation seeking media. It is also what you see right here. I have the power to delete the posts but what better way to show the outright stupidity and hatred of those with ZERO concern for the vast majority of Pit Bulls and the responsible owners.

-- Posted by Melanie Coy on Wed, Dec 2, 2015, at 6:05 AM
How is speaking on the behalf of all the people, pets and livestock that have been severely mauled or killed mostly by pit bulls being hateful. That is your choice if you do not want to learn from other people's tragedies. But I will keep speaking up for all the people and pets that have been severely mauled and the families who have lost a loved one or a beloved pet to a pit bull attack. Any dog that kills or seriously injures a person where the police/ambulance intervene is newsworthy and is reported by the media. If you need a few stitches not reported by the media. See the difference. There are 300 dog breeds and most of them have never, ever killed anyone. This site tracks all the people killed by the different dog breeds. There are only a few dog breeds that continually kill humans. From 2005-2015, 227 people killed by pit bulls. These families know exactly what breed killed their loved one: http://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-fatalities-2014.php

-- Posted by nonpitbullguardian on Wed, Dec 2, 2015, at 6:58 AM
Melanie Coy, You are not an advocate to non-pit-bull animals. While I feel sorry for pits that they were ever born, the lives of people, pets, and livestock should not be sacrificed on the deluded altar of the pit bull. Pit "advocates", shelters, and rescues are all complicit in the carnage caused by this breed when they promote pits as pets.

-- Posted by nonpitbullguardian on Wed, Dec 2, 2015, at 7:07 AM
In all honesty I pity you all for your inability to see how you're being manipulated and led by a man who has indeed found a way to garner the attention he craves & does line his pockets. Sadly there will always be blind followers and those unable to do anything more than be led by anything negative. You hide yourselves behind what you feel to be a righteous cause for the good of man & beast but you're still nothing but hate mongers & death peddlers. You have presented well the level of hatred of something you know nothing about beyond what you're fed. I thank you for demonstrating what my words have been unable to convey to those who think they're safe because this level of insanity can't possible exist in the world of rational people. Guess you showed them huh?!

-- Posted by Melanie Coy on Wed, Dec 2, 2015, at 7:02 PM
So are you going to actually respond to their arguments or just fling insults?

This is why I stopped caring about BSL. Pit advocates always just resort to calling names and never actually address issues the opposition brings up. How am I supposed to believe that a pit bull is just as safe as a golden retriever when their owners are so defensive and prone to emotional outbursts instead of calmly being able to debate with those who disagree with them?

-- Posted by spaghettiOs on Sun, Dec 13, 2015, at 11:58 PM
As you can tell by the lengthy and worthless musings of dbo cult members, their school yard bullying tactics are intended to make you cower to their whims. To somehow sound intelligent whilst delivering a plethora of malignant vitriol. Pit bull proponents are fully aware of their propensity of distributing disinformation and lies. Weak minds and lack of morals is the bench mark of this cult.

-- Posted by Kick Rocks on Mon, Dec 14, 2015, at 7:12 PM

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