Ugh. There’s been a wave of breed bans over the past couple of weeks. I’m almost in shock over the number of announcements I’ve read from different states…different countries.

I’m a member of Pitbull-L. It’s a mailing list of Pit Bull owners who correspond throughout the day. We share pictures of our dogs and share stories about the cute and funny things our dogs do. We educate new members and worry over reports of dog attacks. And…we fight breed specific legislation.

I’ve written a couple of letters here and there because there is volume in numbers. The more emails, snail mails, and faxes that land in the hands of the lawmakers the more likely they are to reconsider banning our dogs.

Today it came to our attention that New Zeland has banned Pit Bulls. I wouldn’t have written a letter to a lawmaker in NZ under normal circumstances but this man’s abrasive, one line responses to some of the members of the L got under my skin.

“You don’t live here: I’m not interested in your opinion. No sane person owns a pit bull.”

“Your letter clearly identifies you as fitting every description of a pit
bull owner.
Your pique is pathetic, and don’t bother troubling my inbox again.
I feel genuinely sorry for you.”

So I wrote him an email. And boy, did he respond fast.

My letter:

Kristie to Michael.Laws
show details 6:56 PM (1 hour ago) Reply

Dear Sir,

I became aware of your recent ban on Pit Bulls today and I have a few things to say.

Any dog can bite. Any dog can cause serious harm. All dogs have the potential to kill people. There are two ways you can keep your public safe.

1. Ban all animals with teeth. OR
2. Hold pet owners accountable for the actions of their animals.

Though I am not a resident of your country I’m certain there are already laws in place that, if enforced, would ensure harmony between people and the animals in their care. What is the reason enforcement of these laws is not the first step in gaining control of the number of dog bites that occur? I guarantee that if you confiscate dogs from individuals who allow them to roam, who abuse and neglect them, and/or use them for negative purposes your statistics would drastically decrease. Add stiff monetary penalties and community service sentences to that confiscation and you not only get on the right path to discouraging the type of pet ownership that allows dog attacks to occur, you also gain funds to pay for the manpower to enforce the laws and free labor for any number of unpleasant tasks most people wouldn’t choose to do even if they were paid.

Education can go a long way towards avoiding tragedies like the ones you hope to eradicate with your breed ban. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money to offer it. There are tons of Internet sites dedicated to the proper treatment of animals. There are volunteer organizations who would jump at the chance to hold seminars if space and advertisement were provided for them. If you can teach people the right way to own a dog you will not only keep the Pit Bulls from biting people…you’ll help dogs who are currently not getting the care they need realize a happy, healthy life.

Examples:

Allow dogs to live indoors with the family. Ban chaining/penning dogs outside.
Encourage proper nutrition and medical care for animals. Enforce animal cruelty laws regarding starvation and neglect.

I’m already aware of your opinion of Pit Bull owners. I am the proud owner of an amazing American Pit Bull Terrier. She would give up her life to save mine or the lives of my children. She has been treated humanely, she knows her place in the family, and because she is of sound temperament, she would never THINK to so much as snap at a person. You see, though Pit Bulls were bred to fight other dogs and savage other animals they were also bred to NEVER bite a human. Generations of fighting dogs were raised and trained under the strict code that no man biter would live. Unfortunately the Pit Bulls of today are being bred as protection and fighting dogs. It’s people who are creating the unstable dogs that attack humans.

Which ties us back to enforcing the laws. Get the dogs out of the hands of those who foster the human aggression while allowing the responsible Pit Bull owners to live in peace with their dogs.

Respectfully,

Kristie (my last name)

His reply to me was also a one liner…but was not a stinging, insulting remark.

“Sorry but we won’t be reversing the menacing dog classification anytime soon.”

Maybe he’ stired of answering emails. I do give him credit for responding, he could ignore every email that lands in his box. Or maybe the bite of his answers is disappearing because the public, even if they’re not his constituants, is giving him information that’s starting to sink in a little.

I can only hope that my letter made at least a little bit of a difference. If not…well…at least I lent my voice to the cause.