(no subject)
this shit makes me angry to no end.
>>Friends,
>>
>>It's a heartbreaking day for pit bull owners, animal lovers, and
>>good people everywhere.
>>
>>The city of Denver is sending animal control officers door-to-door,
>>confiscating all pit bulls and dogs that a committee decides look
>>like pit bulls. Family pets that have never caused a problem are
>>being euthanized. San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom is considering
>>encouraging similar legislation in the wake of a recent tragic
>>killing of a 12-year-old boy left alone with two 80-pound dogs.
>>
>>Imagine, animal control officers backed up by several armed police
>>officers, at your door to take your family pet and kill it for no
>>reason. Picture your dog looking back at you for the last time as
>>she is led away, perhaps afraid, perhaps with her tail wagging and
>>a goofy look on her face.
>>
>>I can't get that picture out of my head.
>>
>>But wait, aren't pit bulls dangerous? Don't they freak out without
>>warning? Don't they have a locking jaw?
>>
>>The short answer? No, no, and no. Individual dogs may be
>>dangerous. Entire breeds are not.
>>
>>The long answer? I know of no dog trainer or vet who recommends
>>breed specific legislation. Breeds are a construct invented by
>>humans, and each breed has rough personality and appearance traits.
>>These traits are manipulated by breeders in an attempt to improve
>>the bloodlines. When a bloodline becomes distinct enough, a kennel
>>club may decide to 'create' a new breed to describe those
>>characteristics.
>>
>>When a breed becomes very popular, people who are just trying to
>>make a buck breed them without knowledge or scruples. Bad
>>bloodlines lead to behavioral and health disorders. In the case of
>>pit bulls, breeders may even be *trying* to create vicious dogs.
>>According to the breed standard, pit bulls are NOT human
>>aggressive. So, I would argue that dogs bred from pit bulls, but
>>selected specifically for human aggression, are not really pit
>>bulls at all, but a new breed.
>>
>>Plus, some people just plain abuse their dogs. Pit bulls have,
>>sadly, become popular among some of these people. Sometimes abused
>>dogs turn aggressive.
>>
>>What about the recent killings of children by pit bulls (most
>>recently in San Francisco)? First of all, it's very sad. I feel
>>terrible for the families.
>>
>>Those of us who adore bully breeds for their puppy-like demeanor
>>and love of fun can't imagine this happening, but I'm not denying
>>that it occasionally does. However, two thoughts come to mind.
>>One is that there are a hundred instances of life-saving pit bull
>>bravery for each "vicious pit bull attack," but those don't often
>>make front page news Two is that many breeds of dogs have been
>>implicated in killings and maulings, from Huskies to Dachshunds.
>>
>>Any dog that is truly dangerous to humans should be kept under
>>careful supervision or humanely euthanized. No dog (especially a
>>big powerful dog!) should ever be left with children without
>>supervision.
>>
>>The saddest thing is that there is a solution to this problem that
>>doesn't involve brutal genocide. Testing exists that can determine
>>whether a dog is dangerous. It's called temperament testing. Dogs
>>are put through a series of stressful situations and watched
>>carefully for signs of aggression. Pit bulls, by the way, pass at
>>a rate of about 84% - higher than many breeds considered innocuous.
>>
>>This isn't just my little soap box. This is about common decency
>>and morality. Living, loving, creatures should not be killed
>>without reason. Killing all the pit bulls in the world will not
>>save us humans from tragedy and grief.
>>
>>Please, if you agree with me, speak up for these misunderstood
>>"monsters." Pass this email along if you feel that it might help
>>change some minds. Consider not taking your tourist dollars to
>>Denver or other cities with breed-specific legislation (including
>>Vancouver, B.C.). If you're a praying type, please send your a few
>>of your prayers to these poor dogs and their families.
>>
>>Resources for more information:
>>
>>BAD-RAP (Bay Area Dog Owners Responsible About Pit Bulls - a rescue
>>and advocacy organization that is helping to relocate many Denver
>>dogs. They could use money and have a convenient Paypal link, if
>>you want to send some)
>>http://www.badrap.org/rescue/
>>
>>Pit Bull Rescue Central (where we got our Raisin)
>>http://www.pbrc.net/home.html
>>
>>American Pit Bull Terrier (UKC) breed standard
>>http://www.ukcdogs.com/breeds/terriers/americanpitbullterrier.std.shtml
>>
>>Understand-a-bull (info about pit bulls)
>>http://www.understand-a-bull.com
>>
>>American Temperament Testing Society
>>http://www.atts.org/
>>Friends,
>>
>>It's a heartbreaking day for pit bull owners, animal lovers, and
>>good people everywhere.
>>
>>The city of Denver is sending animal control officers door-to-door,
>>confiscating all pit bulls and dogs that a committee decides look
>>like pit bulls. Family pets that have never caused a problem are
>>being euthanized. San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom is considering
>>encouraging similar legislation in the wake of a recent tragic
>>killing of a 12-year-old boy left alone with two 80-pound dogs.
>>
>>Imagine, animal control officers backed up by several armed police
>>officers, at your door to take your family pet and kill it for no
>>reason. Picture your dog looking back at you for the last time as
>>she is led away, perhaps afraid, perhaps with her tail wagging and
>>a goofy look on her face.
>>
>>I can't get that picture out of my head.
>>
>>But wait, aren't pit bulls dangerous? Don't they freak out without
>>warning? Don't they have a locking jaw?
>>
>>The short answer? No, no, and no. Individual dogs may be
>>dangerous. Entire breeds are not.
>>
>>The long answer? I know of no dog trainer or vet who recommends
>>breed specific legislation. Breeds are a construct invented by
>>humans, and each breed has rough personality and appearance traits.
>>These traits are manipulated by breeders in an attempt to improve
>>the bloodlines. When a bloodline becomes distinct enough, a kennel
>>club may decide to 'create' a new breed to describe those
>>characteristics.
>>
>>When a breed becomes very popular, people who are just trying to
>>make a buck breed them without knowledge or scruples. Bad
>>bloodlines lead to behavioral and health disorders. In the case of
>>pit bulls, breeders may even be *trying* to create vicious dogs.
>>According to the breed standard, pit bulls are NOT human
>>aggressive. So, I would argue that dogs bred from pit bulls, but
>>selected specifically for human aggression, are not really pit
>>bulls at all, but a new breed.
>>
>>Plus, some people just plain abuse their dogs. Pit bulls have,
>>sadly, become popular among some of these people. Sometimes abused
>>dogs turn aggressive.
>>
>>What about the recent killings of children by pit bulls (most
>>recently in San Francisco)? First of all, it's very sad. I feel
>>terrible for the families.
>>
>>Those of us who adore bully breeds for their puppy-like demeanor
>>and love of fun can't imagine this happening, but I'm not denying
>>that it occasionally does. However, two thoughts come to mind.
>>One is that there are a hundred instances of life-saving pit bull
>>bravery for each "vicious pit bull attack," but those don't often
>>make front page news Two is that many breeds of dogs have been
>>implicated in killings and maulings, from Huskies to Dachshunds.
>>
>>Any dog that is truly dangerous to humans should be kept under
>>careful supervision or humanely euthanized. No dog (especially a
>>big powerful dog!) should ever be left with children without
>>supervision.
>>
>>The saddest thing is that there is a solution to this problem that
>>doesn't involve brutal genocide. Testing exists that can determine
>>whether a dog is dangerous. It's called temperament testing. Dogs
>>are put through a series of stressful situations and watched
>>carefully for signs of aggression. Pit bulls, by the way, pass at
>>a rate of about 84% - higher than many breeds considered innocuous.
>>
>>This isn't just my little soap box. This is about common decency
>>and morality. Living, loving, creatures should not be killed
>>without reason. Killing all the pit bulls in the world will not
>>save us humans from tragedy and grief.
>>
>>Please, if you agree with me, speak up for these misunderstood
>>"monsters." Pass this email along if you feel that it might help
>>change some minds. Consider not taking your tourist dollars to
>>Denver or other cities with breed-specific legislation (including
>>Vancouver, B.C.). If you're a praying type, please send your a few
>>of your prayers to these poor dogs and their families.
>>
>>Resources for more information:
>>
>>BAD-RAP (Bay Area Dog Owners Responsible About Pit Bulls - a rescue
>>and advocacy organization that is helping to relocate many Denver
>>dogs. They could use money and have a convenient Paypal link, if
>>you want to send some)
>>http://www.badrap.org/rescue/
>>
>>Pit Bull Rescue Central (where we got our Raisin)
>>http://www.pbrc.net/home.html
>>
>>American Pit Bull Terrier (UKC) breed standard
>>http://www.ukcdogs.com/breeds/terriers/americanpitbullterrier.std.shtml
>>
>>Understand-a-bull (info about pit bulls)
>>http://www.understand-a-bull.com
>>
>>American Temperament Testing Society
>>http://www.atts.org/