Pit-bull bill is bad legislation

To the editor:

To be useful, legislation must be effective, enforceable, economical and reasonably fair. A bill has been placed before the state legislature that would fail all of these tests. This legislation specifically targets pit bulls or any mixed-breed canine that displays characteristics of the pit bull.

Most reputable animal organizations oppose this type of legislation because it is ineffective and doesn't address the real problem: irresponsible owners.

The supreme court of Alabama has ruled that there is no evidence to suggest one breed of dog is more dangerous than any other breed. According to the Humane Society of the United States, keeping a dog on a chain is a threat to people and other animals. Seventeen percent of all dogs involved in attacks from 1979 to 1998 were restrained in some way. A chained dog of any breed is a much greater threat than a responsibly owned pit bull.

When these laws are enacted many dogs end up in shelters and are euthanized. Our community would bring in more revenue by imposing larger fines on irresponsible owners violating existing leash laws.

It is not effective or fair to punish responsible owners by targeting a specific breed of dog as the problem. Please contact your state legislators and urge them to vote no on House Bill 1686.

SHELL WOOD, Cape Girardeau