July 12, 2013Comments are closed.Getting 2 Zero
Alternatives to breed specific legislation – Mark Kumpf (Montgomery County Animal Resource Center)
Ohio – only the dog warden could identify ‘pit bulls’.
BSL basics
– media driven/fear
– no due process – sentenced, found guilty, that was it
– not a ban – but a declaration made it very difficult to own
– juridictons passed their own bans
– (BSL) bad science legislation
– Provides no protection to the public.
Belfast held Lennox two years. Dubious testimony. Had never bitten anyone or displayed aggressive behaviour. Predicting ‘future’ behaviour of a dog. No family visits. No behavioural assessments. No transparency.
BSL – what does it do to the community? Threats to council and staff.
Why is the media interested?
– More than 50% of population owns pets
– Animal stories draw viewers
– BSL has large media interest. ‘Pit bull’ stories get coverage, labradors don’t.
– Interview people with little knowledge of the subject interviewed.
Bad Science Legislation
– No true genetic marker for ‘mixed breed’
– Phrenolony
– Based on physical appearance
– Often cited ‘facts’ have no basis in actual studies (bite force studies, US Center for Disease Control – breed IDs in the report is wrong)
– Dogbites.org ‘facts’ – Mark is absolutely to blame
Costs
– BSL enacted as ‘knee jerk reaction
– Lengthy legal battles
– Incredible international media
– Impact on families
– 20,000 dog licences weren’t sold in Mark’s county, because people were afraid
– Low redemptions (fear of arrest)
Unequal applications
– other breeds not targeted
If these dogs were as bad as people who want them banned claim, hundreds of people should be dying. They simply aren’t.
Ways forward
– Engage the general public
– Media
– Elected officials/legislators/policy makers
– Accurate information, dispassionate
– Provide fact sheets
– Engage experts
– BEFORE incidents, not after the latest dog attack
– Well socialised examples of companion animals
– Public awareness events
– Planned media exposure
– Treat them as a dog. As a dog
– Adopt them. Have them on the adoption floor
– Don’t call them ‘pit bulls’
Breed Neutral Legislation
– Advocate for responsible, enforceable regulation that holds the owner accountable
– Clearly defines deed based violations
– Does not rely on appearance
Stock phrases
– ‘All dogs have the potential to be aggressive, not just one breed’
– ‘Our agency focuses on the facts and evidence in these cases’
– ‘We have many wonderful dogs and cats available for adoption here at our local shelter’
Repeals can work
– US repealing breed bans. Recent petition from Whitehouse + President
– UK Dangerous Dog Act
It’s bad law and people are realising it.
No dog should be killed for how it looks. All dogs should be appraised on its deed only.
Sensational fear-mongering perpetuated by uneducated legislators and the media.
A dog is a dog is a dog.
