Suki
05-02-2006, 01:25 PM
Pit bulls
Owners' cruelty creates canine brutes
By Mary Sanchez The Kansas City Star
http://www.kansascity.com/images/kansascity/kansascitystar/news/op_Sanchez02.IMG_05-02-2006_R8L6R23.jpg
Responsible pit bull owners know to "never let the dog fail." The phrase refers to the fact that the dogs should not be allowed to run loose because genetically they have been bred to attack other dogs.
Pity the pit bull, not its irresponsible owner.
Nearly half the dogs at the Kansas City shelter are pit bulls. They amount to a large percentage of the 7,000 animals that the city euthanized last year.
What a cruel truth. Kansas City kills more pit bulls than any other breed.
Some might say good riddance, given the dog's reputation. But the dog is not the problem. The dogs didn't ask to be bred to be aggressive toward other dogs.
Pit bulls are not responsible for the people who think it is cool to strut around town with their dogs on massive links of chain.
Responsible pit bull owners know to "never let the dog fail." The phrase refers to the fact that the dogs should not be allowed to run loose because genetically they have been bred to attack other dogs.
Responsible pit bull owners do not haphazardly chain their dogs in backyards from which they can escape and roam the city to find breeding partners.
Pit bulls have large litters, often up to 12 puppies. As a result, portions of Kansas City are overpopulated with pit bulls.
Ten ZIP codes produce the most problems. Several are in the Northeast area, and others cluster around the U.S. 71/Prospect Avenue corridor.
These ZIP codes produce a vast majority of the calls for service: dog bites, strays picked up and other violations. On Monday, teams of workers began canvassing the areas, checking for licensing, rabies shots, etc. Where they find violations, owners will receive fines up to about $150. The fines are the last resort.
A consortium of pit bull rescue volunteers, Kansas City animal control, the veterinary school at the University of Missouri-Columbia and area animal shelters also has been working on the problem.
They can barely keep up. In the last three years, more than 10,000 reduced-cost spays and neuters have been performed at monthly clinics. Large-breed dogs, pit bulls in particular, have been the target.
At a clinic Sunday in a midtown warehouse, about 60 dogs underwent surgery. The dogs' owners deserve applause for complying, although it's sad to say the $20 incentive was necessary to lure some of the pit bull owners.
A largely volunteer staff ran the dogs through the surgeries like an assembly line. Rows of pit bulls and other large dogs lay tranquilized, flat on their backs atop metal operating gurneys, ready for the much-needed spaying and neutering.
Sunday was play-nice day. Monday brought the fines.
The number of pit bulls has reached a plateau at the city shelter, but numbers are still too high.
No one is allowed to adopt pit bulls from Kansas City animal control. The city staff can not adequately screen potential owners. The dogs have to be protected from the people who far too often desire them.
Worthy pit bull owners can go through a screening process and obtain pit bulls through Missouri Pit Bull Rescue. The organization turns down about half the people who request pit bulls.
And the organization will euthanize any pit bull found to be aggressive toward humans.
Fines are appropriate for owners who won't comply with licensing. Continued education is needed for spaying and neutering. And funding should be increased for the monthly clinics now run with mostly volunteer help.
Banning pit bulls is not the answer. Some cities in the area, such as Kansas City, Kan., and Grandview, have gone that route. But new breeds will always emerge as the dog of choice for bad owners. Rottweilers suffered this fate about a decade ago.
And the Presa Canario, a beefy and swaggering breed with a massive head, seems to be the new dog of choice for those seeking a little extra manhood from their canine companion.
The city will never be able to stop some people from abusing their animals. But it sure can "fix" a lot of them with fines.
To reach Mary Sanchez, call (816) 234-4752 or send e-mail msanchez@kcstar.com (msanchez@kcstar.com).
Owners' cruelty creates canine brutes
By Mary Sanchez The Kansas City Star
http://www.kansascity.com/images/kansascity/kansascitystar/news/op_Sanchez02.IMG_05-02-2006_R8L6R23.jpg
Responsible pit bull owners know to "never let the dog fail." The phrase refers to the fact that the dogs should not be allowed to run loose because genetically they have been bred to attack other dogs.
Pity the pit bull, not its irresponsible owner.
Nearly half the dogs at the Kansas City shelter are pit bulls. They amount to a large percentage of the 7,000 animals that the city euthanized last year.
What a cruel truth. Kansas City kills more pit bulls than any other breed.
Some might say good riddance, given the dog's reputation. But the dog is not the problem. The dogs didn't ask to be bred to be aggressive toward other dogs.
Pit bulls are not responsible for the people who think it is cool to strut around town with their dogs on massive links of chain.
Responsible pit bull owners know to "never let the dog fail." The phrase refers to the fact that the dogs should not be allowed to run loose because genetically they have been bred to attack other dogs.
Responsible pit bull owners do not haphazardly chain their dogs in backyards from which they can escape and roam the city to find breeding partners.
Pit bulls have large litters, often up to 12 puppies. As a result, portions of Kansas City are overpopulated with pit bulls.
Ten ZIP codes produce the most problems. Several are in the Northeast area, and others cluster around the U.S. 71/Prospect Avenue corridor.
These ZIP codes produce a vast majority of the calls for service: dog bites, strays picked up and other violations. On Monday, teams of workers began canvassing the areas, checking for licensing, rabies shots, etc. Where they find violations, owners will receive fines up to about $150. The fines are the last resort.
A consortium of pit bull rescue volunteers, Kansas City animal control, the veterinary school at the University of Missouri-Columbia and area animal shelters also has been working on the problem.
They can barely keep up. In the last three years, more than 10,000 reduced-cost spays and neuters have been performed at monthly clinics. Large-breed dogs, pit bulls in particular, have been the target.
At a clinic Sunday in a midtown warehouse, about 60 dogs underwent surgery. The dogs' owners deserve applause for complying, although it's sad to say the $20 incentive was necessary to lure some of the pit bull owners.
A largely volunteer staff ran the dogs through the surgeries like an assembly line. Rows of pit bulls and other large dogs lay tranquilized, flat on their backs atop metal operating gurneys, ready for the much-needed spaying and neutering.
Sunday was play-nice day. Monday brought the fines.
The number of pit bulls has reached a plateau at the city shelter, but numbers are still too high.
No one is allowed to adopt pit bulls from Kansas City animal control. The city staff can not adequately screen potential owners. The dogs have to be protected from the people who far too often desire them.
Worthy pit bull owners can go through a screening process and obtain pit bulls through Missouri Pit Bull Rescue. The organization turns down about half the people who request pit bulls.
And the organization will euthanize any pit bull found to be aggressive toward humans.
Fines are appropriate for owners who won't comply with licensing. Continued education is needed for spaying and neutering. And funding should be increased for the monthly clinics now run with mostly volunteer help.
Banning pit bulls is not the answer. Some cities in the area, such as Kansas City, Kan., and Grandview, have gone that route. But new breeds will always emerge as the dog of choice for bad owners. Rottweilers suffered this fate about a decade ago.
And the Presa Canario, a beefy and swaggering breed with a massive head, seems to be the new dog of choice for those seeking a little extra manhood from their canine companion.
The city will never be able to stop some people from abusing their animals. But it sure can "fix" a lot of them with fines.
To reach Mary Sanchez, call (816) 234-4752 or send e-mail msanchez@kcstar.com (msanchez@kcstar.com).