Toronto pitcher Mark Buehrle to leave family behind to care for dog, outlawed in Ontario

[yeats]

Comments

[mastadge]

I know nothing about this guy other than what's in the article but my respect for him and his family just went up a notch or 3.

[clevermanka]

For real.

Also, breed-specific laws make me rage.

[carmy_w]

SECONDED.

When fuzzy Golden Retrievers have the highest incidents of bites in the US, having pit bulls outlawed makes no f-ing sense.

Heck, I have a Yorkie/poodle cross (poor doll-he pretty much had to have been abused, the way he acts around anyone besides Dean & I) who is nippy as hell around kids and big dogs; he'll nip at any kids' fingers who try to pet him if he's startled, and any larger dog, he's in their face immediately, trying to bite their nose. I make a point of picking him up or keeping him on a VERY short leash when I'm around kids or other dogs.

[kittenmommy]

The sweetest puppy I've ever met in my entire life was a pit bull puppy rescued from death row (he was there because he was a pit bull - that shelter had a policy of "euthanizing" pit bulls as soon as they came in, but long story short he was rescued, thank God!) and I held him on my shoulder and he sniffled and snorted into my neck before falling asleep... I'm a cat person, but wow, that puppy. I would've thrown myself in front of a moving vehicle to save him, heh.

There are no bad pets; there are only bad owners.

[wesleysgirl]

I assume they've had the dog genetically tested (on the off chance that he might be a different breed than appearances suggest.) That's great that they're being so responsible and taking care of the dog. BSL is horrible.

[lone_concertina]

Good luck getting anyone to recognize the genetic testing as evidence of non-aggression. Our "pit" is actually 1/2 vizsla (and 100% vizsla personality), 1/4 AmStaf, and 1/4 everything from Frenchie to Labrador. Regardless of that, she still has that big block head of a pit, which is all anyone seems to care about.

[wesleysgirl]

In this specific situation it doesn't sound like they are required to prove non-aggression, it's that "pit bulls" are banned. I would hope that if one was able to prove one's dog wasn't a pit bull, through genetic testing, that would be what was required. But BSL is such crap anyway, who knows what a state or province would need as "proof."

[roseofjuly]

The problem, though, is that "pit bull" isn't any specific kind of breed. It refers to dogs in a lot of different breeds.

[wldrose]

the complete opposite of "my new boy friend dosent like cats so can you find a home for these 3 year old brother and sister they are so sweet you will have no problems placing them"

[qara_isuke]

Of course, I've seen a lot of people calling him a horrible father because he "cares more about a stupid dog than his kids". Ignoring that I imagine the kids were involved in the discussion about what to do, even as young as they are.

[wldrose]

because loyalty, concomitant, honor, flexibility, and willingness to work till a soulation is found are all really bad things to teach your kids.

I dont understand people I really dont.

[natyanayaki]

Me neither, I wonder if people who think this makes him a horrible father even considered that the children might not want to leave their dog.

[234_am]

[romp]

oh what she thinks she does! what a honey

[shadwrayvn]

I hate breed specific laws so much! Not all dogs fit the horrible stereotypes of their breeds! Punish shitty owners not the poor dogs & breeds! Kudos to him & his family!

[betray802]

I had a once-a-week afternoon paper route in high school. I had Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Chows, a wolf mix on that route. All of whom I trusted more than some of their human neighbors.

The dog I tiptoed around? A brown and white rat terrier who would have had to be dunked in batter and fried to accomplish ten pounds. She'd come to the door snarling and slavering like goddamned Cujo. The screen wasn't securely fastened, and I thought if she ever got in her furry little brain to come at me, her escape trajectory would take her straight into my face. I had hope my glasses would protect my eyes, but I knew the rest of my face depended on my own reaction time.

[shadwrayvn]

God I've had so many of the dangerous breed growing up & the meanest & feared ones were the effing Chihuahuas who had no problem attacking anyone. Yes I get the bigger breeds do more damage to a body but no one complains about their viciousness!

[lone_concertina]

Chihuahuas and poodles are actually the most aggressive and their bites hurt like hell because their teeth are like little needles, but they don't have strong enough jaws to actually break skin so no one gives a fuck about them.