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Hi all! I just wanted to update what has happened and make some more suggestions on things to do. Also, for those of you who are positive you can spot a pitbull, there is a test! Ways to make your kids and yourself, dog safe. An online petition to stop the senseless killing!
First, thank you to everyone who has written to tell me how I am not wrong. Thanks! There have only been two negatives so far and one was from someone who is terrified of dogs, period. Wish I could help with that one, but I cannot tell someone how to overcome what for them is a valid fear. She didn’t say why she is scared of all dogs, just that she is.
To the other who is convinced pitbulls are just bred to be mean, no they are not. It is the owners who make a dog mean. Any dog will bite if they feel threatened. That is natural.
Torturing a dog to teach it to fight needs to be more of a crime. And that is what they do, I will not detail it, because it is just sick. I think that forfiture would be a far better method. And I mean forfiture of not just the animals, but the property they were trained on and housed in. All vehicles found at an animal fight (because believe it or not, these draw spectators and bettors) and confiscation of all monies from everyone present. Then the proceeds should be turned over to the animal shelters to better the lives of all animals. Let’s make this supposed “sport” too expensive to do. Though a nice jail sentence for animal fighters certainly wouldn’t hurt either.
As to what is happening in Denver, so far no change in the legislation, but I have three suggestions!
If I read the recent Supreme Court ruling correctly on emminent domain, I think it could be applied to the dogs. Please follow my logic. The Court said, no goverment agency may take personal property for the public good, without justly compensating the owners. Dogs are property. A dog whose sole crime is resembling a pit bull (see the test at the end if you think you are able to spot em easily) is there fore being killed or the owners forced to relinquish them. So the owners are being deprived of their property and it may be that they are justified in demanding the city reimburse them for the loss of their property even if it is a dog. A judge would actually have to decide this one It may not fly, but it couldn’t hurt to file a suit if you lost a dog to this law in Denver asking for financial compensation for your property loss.
Another possible legal option. Start a recall of the mayor and city council members who voted this in. One of the few legal options citizens have left anymore to rid themselves of incompetent politicians.
Lastly, this is strictly for the city workers, civil disobediance. Refuse to collect dogs or kill those whose sole crime is looking like they just might be a pit bull. I do believe most shelter workers are kind, caring people and are as heartsick over this as the rest of us. If they ban together and refuse, they will have an impact. They would be the best also to propose alternative laws.
For those who are sure they can spot a pit bull, here’s a test. Try it, I think you will be surprised at how really difficult this is.
http://www.pbrc.net/poppysplace/games/AdultFindabull/findpitbull_v4.html
Poppy’s Place has some wonderful info on pitbulls and dogs in general. Especially their fun and games section which is excellent for kids!
http://www.pbrc.net/poppysplace/
For more general info on pitbulls try the rescue group:
http://www.pbrc.net/home.html
I will say this, most rescue groups are far more honest about their dogs than breeders. They don’t want you to return a dog once you have adopted it so they are much more likely to tell you all the joys and faults of a specific breed and individual dog! I am not saying breeders are bad, just some of them are less scrupulous than others. For the good ones, I applaud you. For the bad ones, well I certainly wouldn’t be heart broken if you went out of business.
Online petition to the Governor of Colorado and the Mayor of Denver: http://www.petitiononline.com/savepits/petition.html
And to WP who suggested that I am “stirring up shit” and needed a golden spoon. Naw, a shovel. A spoon is too small.
Thanks for all the support!
Darla