Sikeston MO begins pit bull roundup

Several years ago, Sikeston, MO passed a law that automatically made 'pit bull type' dogs automatically declared dangerous. In order for people to keep their dogs, owners had to license their dogs (which included taking multiple pictures of the dogs from various angles), keep them leashed and muzzled, and  post 'beware of dog signs in their yards.

However, apparently that wasn't enough for the authorities in Sikeston -- and yesterday, they began rounding up 'pit bulls' out of people's homes to take to the shelter. Most will likely be killed there. It doesn't matter that these dogs were family pets. It doesn't matter that owners did everything to comply with the law. It doesn't seem to matter that the dogs had no history of aggression or complaints about them. It only seems to matter that they look like pit bulls, and the city authorities want them dead.  All of them.

This isn't happening in a 3rd world country. Or some science fiction novel. It's happening in the United States. In 2012. And this isn't the only place it's happened.

Several years ago, a similar incident happened in Denver, when authorities began going around and rounding up 'pit bull' type dogs, leading to a massive pile of dead pit bulls in the city (note, the picture at the link may be disturbing). And this is even different than the killing of homeless animals in our shelters (which is its own travesty), this is the purposeful rounding up and killing of people's family pets that HAVE loving homes.

People in Sikeston, Mo should be upset that this is happening. In fact, people everywhere should be upset this is happening. And if you are, sign the petition at Best Friends. And if you're in Sikeston, change all of your city leaders today. This is a tremendous waste of taxpayer funds that could be used to solve many of the city's other major problems.

For those not familiar with Sikeston, MO, here's a bit of the rundown. Sikeston is a community of about 16,000 people in rural Southeast Missouri. It's a poor community, with 35% of the population living below the poverty line. Crime in the city is high, with a crime index in 2010 of 632 (nearly double the national average of 319, and of the poverty level of Sikeston in 2002) -- in spite of the city employing nearly double the police officers per 1000 people (4) than the national average (2.5). So, there are much better places the city could be spending this money.

And if dog bites really are a huge issue in Sikeston, The Fox News report also does a great job of showing the failure of the city officials -- as they captured multiple video shots of dogs roaming at large through the neighborhoods of Sikeston. When one person who's dogs were taken by authorities mentioned the loose dogs, the police told her that "they couldn't catch them".  Excellent.

This is the type of thing you get when cities focus on hysterics instead of intelligence in creating their animal control (or any other) ordinances. This is what breed-specific legislation is. And this is why it needs to end.

I do want to tip my hat to the Sikeston Humane Society -- who in an effort to deal with the issue, transferred 35 dogs up to the St. Louis area in order to make room for the incoming animals in order to avoid having to kill for space. They seem to be making a strong effort in spite of a crappy situation created by their city leaders.

Update: There is a new update on the situation in Sikeston -- for the most recent information, please click here.

Comments

[charles]

its kinda funny how our government makes a family pet illegal, but let crooked politicians and police violate our rights over and over. so politicians steal, lie, and cheat. police use prejudice laws to violate our rights, but pits are bad. ok wheres the pile of politicians and police?

[Cherie Kamps]

It is horrid to KILL & MURDER any animal. They are killing Pitt Bulls just because of their bad wrap. . . .why are they taking the good family Pittbulls. . . .My daughter has a Pittbull & it is the nicest Pittbull, smart & so family oriented. It would NOT harm anyone & we all love her dog. To kill an anmial with no record of biting or harming anyone should be illegal. I love Pittbulls & Parolees as she saves dogs that are going to be killed, they all get a second chance!

[Shawna Sabol]

This is completely outrageous...Pit bulls have a bad rep because a few of them have become aggressive but most of these dogs are loving gentle dogs. The sad part is that this kind of thing can happen with any kind of dog...It's not the dog it's the way they are raised!!! German Shepard are know for biting people don't see people rounding them up and killing them do ya? Any dog can become aggressive if not raised right lets put the blame where it belongs with the people who breed fighting dogs and not with the dogs....This is sickening!!!

[Randy G. Heise]

WOW! This IS a most disturbing and terrible story...if it was only true.

[derrick]

Its not the dogs I have a female pit its the owners if you want to round up anything round up the owners not the dogs fault its how there raised the dog more scared of you then you are of them killing family pets is like killing your kids how's that justice

[Mickey Buczak]

It's very sad. Before you know it, it'll be any dog in any state.

[Donna]

Who Wants to join me in having a handful of uniformed shirts with the swastika emblem on the chest and sending it to them? This is a blatant reenactment of the Holocaust all over again!!!!

[Kevin Marcy]

This is truly sickening, and the direct result of clearly misinformed politicians appeasing to the will of a community that is also grossly misinformed about the true nature of this wonderful breed. I'm disgusted that something such as this can be allowed in this country, in this day and age!!! What have "we" as a society become. The only thing vicious in this community are the township leaders allowing this to happen. Please folks....appeal to the higher courts, and stop this infringement upon people's Constitutional Rights.

[keith royer]

if you come to take my dogs be prepared to deliver several folded flags to the wives of those sent to act like Nazi's. When the government no longer serves the people it is their right, no, duty to remove such government from power.

[5pitbulls]

that's always the process. First they insist you register your dog. Then they come for it, because they know you are law-abiding and know exactly where your dog is. The criminals, the abusers? Oh no, that would require actual POLICE WORK to shut down and more risk. So the same people who were the problem to begin with keep on doing exactly as they please, animals suffer and are murdered for no purpose except to enable pols to pat themselves on the back and crow they "did something". Never mind that BSL has not reduced dog bites in any place it has been enacted. Often it goes UP because the responsible owners no longer have their animals and the criminal/abusive element still do.

[bob]

bastards

[Ace]

This is the law in wpg....I had a pitbull in the late 90's.....

[Amanda a]

Being from Sikeston, this makes me so happy someone understands!! Our city leaders are crooked, narrow minded people. I'm looking to rescue a pet but I can't even get one of the many many needy pit bull puppies that need homes because of the restrictions here in Sikeston! It breaks my heart. Something HAS to be done..