It's been quite a week here at the KC Dog Blog. Not only did Nathan Winograd run my interview this week, but the interview also got picked up at the Kansas City Star Blog and again in the Chicago Tribune. Meanwhile, our KC Dog Advocates Group has been involved in the city council meetings in Buckner and trying to help out some folks in Omaha who are also dealing with being descriminated against due to the type of dog they own. It's been a busy week. So onto the week's top stories from around the globe...
City's and Animal Welfare Policies
Petersborough, Ontario is struggling with dog bites and animals running loose. The city has seen eight dog attacks in five days. Petersborough is of course in Ontario, which 3 years ago passed a ban on 'pit bulls', but the law has done nothing to improve public safety in this community. The attacks have included a variety of different types of dogs -- shepherd types, a rottweiler, a couple of Border Collies and a Husky. This is why its so important to focus on animal behavior with laws and not breeds.
Houston is now considering a mandatory spay/neuter ordinance following an incident where an animal control officer neglectfully killed8 dogs by allowing them to overheat in the hot Houston Summer in an un-airconditioned animal control vehicle. The article mentions several other communities who have implemented or are considering implementing similar ordinances -- including interviewing Ed Boks who's Mandatory Spay/Neuter law that coincides with the first increase in etuhanasia at the Los Angeles Shelter in over a decade. It also sounds like Houston's animal control is woefully understaffed and underfunded with 23 animal control officers to serve a community of 3.8 million people.
Charles Town, WV is looking at "strengthening" their dangerous dog laws after the mayor, Peggy Smith, says she saw several 'pit bulls' in the community. Keep in mind that none of these dogs has actually bitten, attacked or even scared anyone, but Smith SAW them and now wants to look at potential ordinances. If you live in Charles Town, please contact the mayor and other city council members. There is more at this story.
Albany, GA has seen a dramatic increase in the number of dog bites this year. The city is appropriately looking at how dogs are treated and contained and possible solutions to mistreatement in order to solve the problem.
State Representative Veronica Gonzales of McAllen, TX is looking at potentially launching a bill that would ban pit bulls from the state of Texas. Current state law in Texas forbids any type of breed specific legislation. Gonzales is considering the ban following the fatal attack of a young boy in Hidalgo County. The attack of course had nothing to do with the breed of dog involved. Hidalgo County is one of the poorest counties in the country, ranking 22nd from the bottom in per capita income. With the poverty comes crime, and the boy's uncle had gotten the dog to protect his property after having been robbed several times. The dog was usually kept chained in the back yard. Representative Gonzales would be wise to start working on the other social problems in her community that led to the actual use of dogs as guard dogs vs thinking a breed ban is going to solve this problem. It won't.
Dog Attacks
A five day old infant was bitten in the head by a 40 pound Husky in Hopatcong, NJ. Dogs can live happily in the home with young children, but it is very important to properly introduce the dog to the new member of the family.
A Great Bend, KS man was attacked by a 'pit bull' that was running loose in the area. Neighbors have complained about the dog running loose before, but animal control has not corrected the situation. Of course, because of the attack, the city now is looking at potential restrictions on 'pit bulls' in spite of not being able to adequately enforce their current leash law.
A seven year oldUK girl was attacked by what is believed to be a Patterdale Terrier. The UK banned four breeds of dogs in 1991 and has continued to see double digit rises in dog attacks in their country.
A two year old Tennessee boy was bitten by the family 'pit bull'. The dog was being fed at the time of the attack. If you dog has food aggression issues (which is fairly common in dogs and pretty easy to train out), it is your responsibility as an owner to fix the problem. And for crying out loud, if your dog has food aggression, don't feed it in front of your 2 year old.
Abuse Cases - because humans are the more violent species
In Philadelphia, four teenagers were spotted walking a a young pit bull along some commuter rail tracks, wrapped a towel around the dog, doused it with lighter fluid, and the dog was set ablaze. The dog died from the injuries. Police are looking for the abuserss who could face jail time.
A German Shepherd in Murfeesboro, TN was beaten with a baseball bat while the owner was not home.
A pit bull in Escambia Couty, AL was dragged for several miles behind a pickup truck. The dog ended up having to be euthanized from the injuries that were very severe.
A Muncie, IN man gets 18 months in jail after he admitted forcing his 7 year old daughter to stab the family cat to death.
Miscellanious
An odd couple is awaiting adoption at the NORCO animal shelter. Yogi and Boo Boo, a large Chow/Lab mix and a small Chihuahua are best of friends, and the shelter is looking for someone who wants to give both of them a home. The pictures alone are worth following the link for.
Residents of Great Falls, MT are meeting some opposition to the new dog park that is slated to open next Spring. Many residents feel that health issues and irresponsible owners may cause problems with the parks. Dog Parks have proven to be excellent areas for dogs to socialize and meet other dogs. Best of luck to the residents of Great Falls in their quest for a dog park. It's a great town (I lived there for awhile).
Here's a great editorial from Windsor, BC on why banning 'pit bulls' would be wrong-headed. "Suffice it say, then, that banning dogs based on how they look is hardly a rational or effective way to protect adults, children or other dogs."
Around Kansas City
The Kansas City Star is once again using some funky headlines to create a bit of drama and mayhem in the area. The story has the headline: Olathe man gets 15 months on dogfighting, drug charges. The man, Reginald Marcellius Anderson doesn't sound like a saint by any stretch, nor apparently all that smart if he's running a breeding operation out of a duplex, however, if you read the story, it turns out that he pleaded guilty to three felony counts of drug charges involving marijuana, but that prosecuters said "there is no evidence that dogfights occured on Anderson's property". They do note that he was breeding the dogs for a profit (which is not against the law). It looks to me like he was a non-reputable dog breeder that was selling marijuana...so why the dogfighting scare in the headline?
An emaciated dog led police officers to her four puppies. All were rescued. It appears that the dogs are in good hands at SNKC, but they are looking for foster or adopting homes.
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