We encourage all of you to contact your local city counselor or MP and request a meeting. Talk to them about your dog(s), and how BSL would unjustly affect you. Tell them what you'd rather see, such as stronger laws and enforcement, which focus on the owner rather than the breed of dog. The truth is, online petitions and polls have little influence. Neither does moaning about it on the internet.
HugABull gets emails all the time, or people approaching us at our meetings and events, complaining about BSL, and expecting US to do something about it. The thing is, HugABull in that sense, as in the people you email when you need help, is just 5 people. We all have jobs and lives, and work damned hard for HugABull without getting paid. We don't have the time or resources to fight BSL on our own. It's important to remember that ALL OF YOU are HugABull. Our adopters, volunteers, and supporters are our voice. So, what are YOU going to do about this BSL threat?
Real change lies in groups of people banding together and taking action. This doesn't mean posting up online polls, or a bunch of email addresses to flood with letters. It means getting together, organizing a presentation, and then getting your message out there with the people that matter - your government. It means taking initiative. Get your (sound, well-behaved) Pit Bull out in the public in a visible way (Starbucks patio and wearing a cute shirt?), and get ready to do some education. Organize public walks, kinda hard not to notice a group of 5-10 Pit Bulls and their non-thug owners walking around! Bring up BSL as a topic of discussion with at least 3 new people every day. A co-worker, someone in line behind you at the grocery store, the delivery guy, whatever. People don't care about an issue they don't know about.
People think all Pit Bull owners are drug dealing thugs, because those of us that aren't keep such a low profile. We're either afraid to draw attention to ourselves because we don't want the flak, or, even more often, busy sitting on the internet. I guarantee that the "good" owners by far outnumber the "bad" ones, but it doesn't matter much if nobody knows we exist. So, get visible, find your voice, and SPEAK UP!
also, in general, good places to look for info and guidance on how to fight BSL and get more effective laws in place are:
Dog Legislation Council of Canada (DLCC)
Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of Canada (they're active in fighting BSL)
Banned Aid Defend-a-Bull (http://www.defend-a-bull.com/)
Good Pooch (http://www.goodpooch.com/)
A few of good books to invest in are:
- dogs bite but balloons and bathroom slippers are more dangerous by Janis Bradley
- fatal dog attacks by Karen Delise
- The Pit Bull Placebo by Karen Delise Links to the books on Amazon.ca above. Fatal Dog Attacks is sold out and out of print, so hard to find. The Pit Bull Placebo can be bought direct from the author's website at http://www.fataldogattacks.com/purchase.asp
When you're presenting to a politician, you want to remember to keep things simple and straightforward, and you want your presentation to have visual impact. Also, never go to a politician with a problem, without having an answer ready. You'll want to put together a little folder which includes some basic info, some examples of where BSL hasn't worked, some examples where alternative models have worked, and the whys. Remember that politicians, in general, don't care about how much you love your dog, or the fact that your dog doesn't bite anybody. They do care about easy answers. The public is clamoring for something to be done, and so, the politicians feel the need to do something. Your goal is to show them how BSL is a bad choice, that will not make anybody happy in the long run, and show them a good alternative. Some things to include in a presentation to an MP or counsellor:
1. show WHY BSL is not a good answer: - hard to enforce (already problems enforcing current legislation) - doesn't protect the public, as most dog bites happen on private property, people are bitten by their own dog, or a friend's dog - top 4 biters in Canada don't include Pit Bull breeds. Nor are Pit Bulls responsible for the highest number of fatalities in Canada - I believe there's only ever been one fatality.
A Pit Bull ban will not protect the public from bites or attacks from other breeds. This is a good place to include a chart of how popular dog breeds, and Pit Bulls, score on the ATTS. Also a few nice color shots of Pit Bulls that are service dogs, therapy dogs, drug detecting dogs, bomb detecting dogs, etc. - if we're talking public safety, dog bites is the wrong place to look. Over 60% of dog bites to Canadian children need no follow up medical treatment (http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/injury-bles/chirpp/injrep-rapbles/dogbit-eng.php). A Canadian is far more likely to be hurt by tripping in the bathroom, burning or cutting themselves in the kitchen, or getting in a car accident, for example. You can find lots of good CANADIAN statistics on injuries and their causes here http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/injury-bles/chirpp/injrep-rapbles/index-eng.php
2. Talk about how BSL is expensive, hard to enforce, doesn't actually increase public safety, and is ultimately rejected. The Netherlands just revoked their BSL. Ontario's is being rejected in court as I write this. Vancouver revoked theirs with good reason. If you google, I'm sure you'll find other examples
3. Talk about how the general public, and your general enforcement officer, doesn't even know what a Pit Bull is. That skews aggressive dog statistics (if it's got short hair and a blocky head it MUST be a Pit Bull, right?), and makes enforcement difficult. Have a Find the Pit Bull test in your folder.
4. Then talk about what WILL work and IS enforceable. Look at Calgary as a model. They don't have BSL, and their dog licensing compliance rate is something like 90% compared to Vancouver's 10%-25%. Why? They have a great education program, and their bylaw officers go door to door for licenses. Talk about how having a dog obedience trained decreases the chance it will ever bite by 85%. About the fact that most dogs who bite are intact and chained. Anti-tethering laws, spay/neuter incentives, and free or discounted obedience classes provided by the city will go a long way to decrease bites and increase public safety. 1 hour of bite-proofing info for kids decreases that child's chances of being bitten by almost 90% (these numbers come from Stanley Coren btw, and you can contact him for the exact numbers and references). Most bite victims are children. Making dog education a part of elementary school education will help protect our children, and is CHEAP. The teacher's are already there, they just need to include it in the curriculum!
Hope this gives those of you that want to know what YOU can do to help some ideas on where to start.
10 comments:
I must add that it DOES help to refute myths and outright lies on Forums with FACTS.
Someone may just read that FACT.
Someone actually thanked me today for the link to Lehr Brisbin`s testimony on the "locking jaw" and the "jaw strength".
Here(Page 7)
http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/rod/docs/pdf/6/2006/2006-ohio-975.pdf
or here
http://www.animalfarmfoundation.org/topic.php?id=5&topic=86
That`s 1 more person who knows the truth and maybe they will educate someone else.
It doesn`t help to tell stories about your good dog because they will come back with stories about not so good dogs whether or not they are in fact "Pit Bulls"
It doesn`t help to argue with people but there are people reading these forums that just don`t know what to believe.
They get their "facts" and beliefs from the Media.
Hell I`d be terrified of these dogs if ALL I knew was what I had read in the Media.
So help to educate the Public.
Some are willing and looking to be educated.
Post a link to Pit Bull Placebo.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0972191410/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link
Post a link to Hug-a-Bull.
Post a link to Animal Farm
http://www.animalfarmfoundation.org/section.php?id=5
or NCRC.
http://www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/default.asp
It doesn`t matter that they are American sites.
Post a link to the Hearings into Ontario`s Ban so people will know what the Experts actually said about Ontario`s proposed Breed Ban before it passed.
KNOW what has happened in Ontario since their Ban.
2 Fatalities by Non Pits.
http://www.ontla.on.ca/committee-proceedings/transcripts/files_html/2005-01-24_M009.htm#P672_181318
The truth supports the dogs.
The Facts do NOT support Breed Bans.
We can all get the truth out there.
Some people will NEVER care about truth and Facts.
They don`t matter.
Many people out there just don`t know what to think and they are afraid.
Show them where they can find the truth about these dogs.
Post these Identify the "Pit Bull" tests.
http://www.understand-a-bull.com/Findthebull/findpitbull_v4.swf
http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html
http://www.coldsteelpits.com/coldsteelfindthepitbull.htm
Help the Public understand that dogs that are being reported as "Pit Bulls" by the Media and the Public can be many other Breeds,mixes or mutts.
It`s the job of those who know the Truth to educate.
You can do that as an individual.
It doesn`t help to post "Ban the Breed NOT the Deed" over and over again in FaceBook Groups.
It doesn`t help to post "It`s all about how they`re raised" either.
If THAT was true there would be NO hope for dogs that come into rescue from terrible situations.
People are afraid.
Educate yourself and then help to educate others.
Like Hug-A-Bull so aptly said.
Quit whining and do something NOW!
You can`t educate people if you don`t know what you`re talking about.
You just end up arguing with people who don`t know any more than you do.
They just happen to be on the other side.
It`s easier to educate NOW and try to prevent a Breed Ban than to overturn a Breed Ban later.
Let`s learn from Ontario.
Here`s a great link for the yabut crowd.
Yeah,they may not bite or attack any more often than other dogs but WHEN they DO they can injure/kill you like NO other Breed out there!
http://www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/canineaggression.asp
[quote]Below is a list of 15 different victims of a dog attack along with the description of the fatal wounds as listed on the autopsy report. Each victim was attacked and killed by a single dog. Each victim was killed by a different breed of dog (for a total of 15 different breeds*). Only one victim was killed by a Pit bull (or any type of bully breed).
*
Victim 1: Multiple penetrating wounds to the abdomen
*
Victim 2: Collapsed lungs, multiple wounds to the chest, partial devourment
*
Victim 3: Massive head and neck injuries
*
Victim 4: Multiple bite wounds, dismemberment
*
Victim 5: Extensive scalp and neck injuries
*
Victim 6: Multiple lacerations of scalp and neck, depressed skull fracture
*
Victim 7: Exsanguination from multiple bite wounds
*
Victim 8: Skull fracture and severe bites to upper back and face
*
Victim 9: Multiple penetrating wounds to back and chest
*
Victim 10: Severe bite wounds to the head
*
Victim 11: Severe bites, massive bleeding, broken facial & neck bones
*
Victim 12: Massive head injuries
*
Victim 13: Severe, multiple penetrating injuries to head and neck
*
Victim 14: Massive bite injuries to lower extremities, dismemberment
*
Victim 15: Severe scalp, facial wounds, laceration of jugular
Fifteen different breeds inflicted the fatal wounds listed above. The breeds were:
*
Siberian husky
*
Coonhound
*
Dachshund
*
Chow chow
*
Pit bull
*
Sheepdog-type dog
*
Malamute
*
Labrador Retriever
*
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
*
St. Bernard
*
German Shepherd dog
*
Wolfdog
*
Golden Retriever
*
Mixed breed (no discernable breed visible)
*
Rottweiler
It is virtually impossible for anyone to match the breed of dog with the fatal injuries listed above - as such - claims that one breed of dog inflicts injuries unlike other breeds have no merit.
(Fatal wounds / breed matches can be obtained upon request).
* Breeds were chosen for this sample only if the breed has been involved in more than one human fatality (i.e., Airedale Terrier, Pomeranian, Jack Russell Terrier, et.al, were not used as only one human fatality has been attributed to each of these breeds in the United States).[/quote]
I don`t think the Nationality of the dog matters.
Unless we`re talking Ontario!
Neville in Ontario-"killer"-Must be put to death.
Neville in the U.S.
http://www.lawdogsusa.org/k9neville.html
Amazing how that move across the Border straightened out this Pit Bull.
Also when the Ontario Pits move to Quebec and other Provinces they become just dogs.
I`ve been told of a Pit that lives on a farm in Quebec(mostly)..
some fields are in Ontario.
The Pit is so confused about whether or not he`s a 'killer' that he`s in Therapy with Owner.
This Media Release that was put out by the OVMA prior to the Ontario Ban might be of some use for fighting BSL in B.C.
http://www.brok.ca/pdf/OVMAMediaRelease.pdf
It didn`t help in Ontario but...maybe the Politicians are smarter in B.C.
Sent it to "The Province Enquirer" to show them what the OVMA thought of a Breed Ban before it became law but I`m sure it`s in File #13 by now.
All those in favour of Breed Bans raise your hands.
Now have a look at this list.
http://www.povn.com/rdows/banned%20breeds.html
Still in favour of Breed Bans?
It`s a slippery slope.
Great list to send out and post.
Sent it to T.S. along with this
http://www.avma.org/public_health/dogbite/dogbite.pdf
Calgary Stuff is also great to send out.
They have the solution.
http://content.calgary.ca/CCA/City+Hall/Business+Units/Animal+and+Bylaw+Services/Animal+Services/index.htm
http://www.windsorhumane.org/pdfs/Bill%20Bruce.pdf
Tell the World and the Politicians about the dogs abused by Vick.
They`ve come a long way.
http://www.badrap.org/rescue/vick/
One is already a certified Therapy Dog.
http://www.ourpack.org/leo.html
and a couple of them have just received their CGC certificates.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/8/prweb1198354.htm
A stable dog is a stable dog.
It`s the unstable humans that we need to worry about.
Time will tell whether Vick is able to earn his HGC certificate.
Unlike the dogs,he`s not starting out stable.
Help Spread the Word.
Get People talking.
Get people questioning.
Get them looking at the dogs with the true temperament.
http://bikingdog.blogspot.com/
This just came in through the Google Alerts
Re Ontario
[quote]Court reserves decision on appeal of pit bull ban[/quote]
http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/500413
It`s almost too much...
2 Sources get it!
From Ontario
http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1207316
[quote]Pit bull law should be overturned
An Ontario Court of Appeal is hearing arguments this week that literally are a matter of life and death. However, because these aren't human lives, many people might not even know it's going on.
That, however, doesn't lessen its importance.
The case in question is an effort to have the Ontario government's 2005 legislation that forbids the owning, breeding or selling of pit bulls overturned.
Lawyer Clayton Ruby is arguing -- correctly -- that the ban is "unconstitutionally vague,'' and should be sent back to the legislature.
"It is too broad and needs to be struck down,'' he said in court Monday. "It is unclear what was intended to be captured in this legislation.'
In 2005, the province introduced legislation that forbids the owning, breeding or selling of pit bulls. Existing pit bulls were exempt under the ban, but they had to be spayed or neutered and muzzled and leashed in public.
The province brought forward the legislation after a string of pit bull attacks.
Ruby also argues the government overreacted and based its decision on a single report -- written by a dog catcher from Ohio.
"They aren't dangerous,'' Ruby argued. ``In Canada, pit bulls are way down the list of dangerous dogs. They make wonderful family pets ... you can't identify how dangerous a dog may be to the public in advance and legislate it.''
In late March, the provincial government claimed victory after the controversial law survived a constitutional challenge.
But Ruby, who sought leave to appeal that ruling, argued the legislation is too broad because it bans all dogs that look like pit bulls, thereby painting too many breeds of dogs with the same brush.
Ruby is not only bang on in his arguments, in particular the vagueness of the legislation and the fact it would ban an entire breed of dog because of the actions of a few.
Interestingly, the fight against this legislation has received support -- at least quiet support -- from some unusual sources, namely the people required to enforce these laws.
Several humane societies, including the one in nearby Peterborough, have in recent months shipped pit bulls puppies to Quebec in order to avoid having to put them down.
When those who are supposed to enforce laws act against the spirit of the law, you know you have a problem.
But while Ruby fights to force the government to legislate sensibly (would that we could all do that more often) the real criminals in cases of pit bull attacks -- the owners -- continue to wander free and unscathed.
While pit bull attacks over recent years have been disturbingly vicious in several cases -- and we don't argue with the need to put down animals that do attack people or even other animals -- the reality is that many more pit bulls live as beloved family pets than commit horrendous crimes.
However it boggles the mind that the government could decide to legislate against an entire breed -- in effect pit bull genocide -- because of the actions of a few dogs.
It is similar in concept to the federal long gun registry -- penalize all gun owners for the acts of a few -- but in this case the government decided to kill innocent animals, not just fine innocent hunters.
It is all about appearing to do something rather than actually doing something -- and in this case it is costing lives.
Ironically, the Liberal government got it right with its street racing legislation -- yank the owner's licence and tow the car immediately -- which firmly put the blame on the driver, no matter whose vehicle it is.
Similar legislation would also be appropriate in dealing with owners of all violent dogs: charge them with a crime, get the dog away from them, and stop them from owning dogs for a period of time, say five years.
At the end of that time, put limitations and restrictions on them owning dogs, including requiring them to be subject to random checks on how they are caring for their animals.
Of course this approach is sensible and addresses the problem -- bad dog owners -- rather than being sensational and making it appear the government is actually doing something.
Maybe the Liberal government doesn't care about legislation that is immoral and ineffective because it's not as if a lot of voters care.
But we think people should care and we hope Clayton Ruby can force the government to take back its cruel and inhuman legislation and replace it with something that makes sense. He certainly has our support.[/quote]
From Seattle Washington
[quote]Rushing to ban pit bulls is the wrong response[/quote]
(Their copyright notice scared me-read it at the link please)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2008186610&zsection_id=268883724&slug=pitbullop18&date=20080918
Interesting article on how well The U.K`s Dangerous Dogs Act is working.
http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/1207/the-dangerous-dogs-act-its-time-for-breed-specific-legislation-to-go-go-now/
It isn`t and no one would step forward to even attempt to defend it.
But yet...
Foolishness reigns supreme.
The people who think they support breed bans really need to start thinking for themselves and pull that nose ring out placed there by the Media.
Don`t know if you guys have seen this but I came across it while googling Breed Bans.
It`s a Thesis from someone at Simon Fraser University
on Breed Bans(for their Masters Degree in Criminology.)
It`s interesting reading especially about the role of the media in creating the "problem" which leads to Bans.
(Copyrighted)
http://ir.lib.sfu.ca/retrieve/2404/etd2000.pdf
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