Suki
08-20-2006, 10:19 PM
So, how would we all feel if this were the case? I'm not sure about you, but I believe it should be a personal choice, not, a decision made/imposed upon you.
Apparently, opinions vary, as expected, especially when the subject regards, the infamous "pit bull". (I hate that word).:(
I guess it must be that "locking jaw/ mechanism" theory???:confused:
Read on:
BTW (This article gives no indication of a state). Ripon law: Sterilize pit bulls
RIPON — Vice Mayor Dan Prince knows exactly how damaging
irresponsible pet ownership can be.
Two incidences, regarding "pit bulls" recently happened in his city
That's why he contacted City Attorney Tom Terpstra and Police Chief
Richard Bull about writing an ordinance that will force owners to
have their pit bulls spayed or neutered unless they can prove that
it's used for legitimate breeding purposes or it's an AKC registered
show dog — something that drew a fair amount of media attention
prior to Tuesday's City Council meeting.
"It's something that can be legitimately traumatizing to a pet
owner — not to mention the fact that it could have just as easily
happened to a person," Prince said. "In my neighborhood we have a
neighbor who has his grandson out in the front of his house all the
time.
"What would have happened if those dogs came when the child was
there?"
Because of the passing of SB 861 in August of 2005 by the California
State Senate local jurisdictions are now allowed to write and adopt
ordinances specifically geared towards particular breeds of dogs.
An excerpt of the bill reads as follows: "uncontrolled and
irresponsible breeding of animals contributes to overpopulation,
inhumane treatment of animals, mass euthanization at local
shelters...this irresponsible breeding also contributes to the
production of defective animals that present a public safety risk."
And while is currently law, it hasn't been met with great fanfare.
National pet owner groups like the American Kennel Club (AKC) and
the Pet Council are actively pushing for a repeal to the bill that
they think will devastate the very breeders and pet enthusiasts as
well as the very people it was written to protect.
When word began to spread about the ordinance being up for City
Council review late last week, Prince said a Modesto radio station
began calling for people to come protest the move at the meeting —
something that never came to fruition since nobody in attendance
used the public speaking time at all.
Given the history and ability of these dogs to commit these acts of
violence, Prince says, owners should understand that they are only
doing what they believe is in the best interest of the public.
"We don't want to specifically pick on Pit Bulls, but they do
possess the ability to kill a human being," Prince said. "With the
locking jaw mechanism there isn't anything you can do to combat them
when they want to attack."
According to Police Chief Richard Bull, his officers have had a
pretty clean track record when responding to calls where homeowners
keep pit bulls as pets — but that isn't always the case.
Aggressive dogs, he says, can be very dangerous for officers.
"Fortunately we haven't had a whole lot of instances where we've had
to deal with this but we have responded to cases where pit bulls
have scaled fences and attacked people's pets," Bull said. "The only
think that we're trying to do with this ordinance is make sure that
things like this don't happen.
"It's important for pet owners to be responsible and we feel that by
spaying and neutering these animals it will help with the
temperament and help prevent the unthinkable.
To contact Jason Campbell, e-mail jcampbell@mantecabu<WBR>lletin.com (http://us.f389.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=jcampbell%40mantecabulletin.com)
Apparently, opinions vary, as expected, especially when the subject regards, the infamous "pit bull". (I hate that word).:(
I guess it must be that "locking jaw/ mechanism" theory???:confused:
Read on:
BTW (This article gives no indication of a state). Ripon law: Sterilize pit bulls
RIPON — Vice Mayor Dan Prince knows exactly how damaging
irresponsible pet ownership can be.
Two incidences, regarding "pit bulls" recently happened in his city
That's why he contacted City Attorney Tom Terpstra and Police Chief
Richard Bull about writing an ordinance that will force owners to
have their pit bulls spayed or neutered unless they can prove that
it's used for legitimate breeding purposes or it's an AKC registered
show dog — something that drew a fair amount of media attention
prior to Tuesday's City Council meeting.
"It's something that can be legitimately traumatizing to a pet
owner — not to mention the fact that it could have just as easily
happened to a person," Prince said. "In my neighborhood we have a
neighbor who has his grandson out in the front of his house all the
time.
"What would have happened if those dogs came when the child was
there?"
Because of the passing of SB 861 in August of 2005 by the California
State Senate local jurisdictions are now allowed to write and adopt
ordinances specifically geared towards particular breeds of dogs.
An excerpt of the bill reads as follows: "uncontrolled and
irresponsible breeding of animals contributes to overpopulation,
inhumane treatment of animals, mass euthanization at local
shelters...this irresponsible breeding also contributes to the
production of defective animals that present a public safety risk."
And while is currently law, it hasn't been met with great fanfare.
National pet owner groups like the American Kennel Club (AKC) and
the Pet Council are actively pushing for a repeal to the bill that
they think will devastate the very breeders and pet enthusiasts as
well as the very people it was written to protect.
When word began to spread about the ordinance being up for City
Council review late last week, Prince said a Modesto radio station
began calling for people to come protest the move at the meeting —
something that never came to fruition since nobody in attendance
used the public speaking time at all.
Given the history and ability of these dogs to commit these acts of
violence, Prince says, owners should understand that they are only
doing what they believe is in the best interest of the public.
"We don't want to specifically pick on Pit Bulls, but they do
possess the ability to kill a human being," Prince said. "With the
locking jaw mechanism there isn't anything you can do to combat them
when they want to attack."
According to Police Chief Richard Bull, his officers have had a
pretty clean track record when responding to calls where homeowners
keep pit bulls as pets — but that isn't always the case.
Aggressive dogs, he says, can be very dangerous for officers.
"Fortunately we haven't had a whole lot of instances where we've had
to deal with this but we have responded to cases where pit bulls
have scaled fences and attacked people's pets," Bull said. "The only
think that we're trying to do with this ordinance is make sure that
things like this don't happen.
"It's important for pet owners to be responsible and we feel that by
spaying and neutering these animals it will help with the
temperament and help prevent the unthinkable.
To contact Jason Campbell, e-mail jcampbell@mantecabu<WBR>lletin.com (http://us.f389.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=jcampbell%40mantecabulletin.com)