Marty
02-26-2008, 07:58 PM
British Columbia,Canada -- There are pit bull people and non-pit-bull people and rarely will they see eye to eye on matters relating to the breed.
Pit bull people see their dogs as misunderstood victims of prejudice by the non-pit-bull majority.
Non-pit-bull people have heard enough horror stories to convince them there should be restrictions placed on the dogs, from muzzling to an outright ban.
The latest brouhaha over pit bulls erupted last week on Oak Street when a cat, accompanied by its owner, was killed by one of two pit bulls. The cat's owner was also nipped and scratched while trying to fend off the dogs.
The dogs' owner conceded it was the third time they had killed a cat, but pleaded to have the dogs returned by the city's animal control department.
Clearly, the dogs' owners haven't learned any lessons.
First off, pit bulls fall under the city's dangerous dog bylaw, which stipulates they must be safely confined to their yard.
The owners failed to live up to their obligations when the powerful dogs scaled a six-foot fence in a break for freedom and mayhem.
Nor was it a first offence.
Despite the owner's pleas for mercy, there is no way these dogs should be sent home. They should be destroyed.
Through the owners' negligence their dogs have terrorized the neighbourhood. Christine Cantrill and her family left Oak Street last year after the family cat was killed by one of the dogs.
The dogs' owner said last week she would give up the dogs if they were allowed to live at a home in a rural area. But guess what? People in the country don't want a couple of pit bulls moving nearby either, for fear they'll attack their children, pets or livestock.
Their time is up.
The city's bylaw was drawn up specifically to avert situations such as the one on Oak Street. Pit bull owners have been given latitude to keep their pets as long as they abide by a simple set of rules, which include leashing and muzzling in public.
Further attacks will only spark more calls to ban the breed -- a step already taken in Ontario.
With pit bulls' reputation and the public's general disdain for them, it's puzzling when owners don't take the necessary precautions that would prevent attacks.
Those who don't should not get second chances.
-- Editor Dave Paulson
http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=120177&Itemid=592
Pit bull people see their dogs as misunderstood victims of prejudice by the non-pit-bull majority.
Non-pit-bull people have heard enough horror stories to convince them there should be restrictions placed on the dogs, from muzzling to an outright ban.
The latest brouhaha over pit bulls erupted last week on Oak Street when a cat, accompanied by its owner, was killed by one of two pit bulls. The cat's owner was also nipped and scratched while trying to fend off the dogs.
The dogs' owner conceded it was the third time they had killed a cat, but pleaded to have the dogs returned by the city's animal control department.
Clearly, the dogs' owners haven't learned any lessons.
First off, pit bulls fall under the city's dangerous dog bylaw, which stipulates they must be safely confined to their yard.
The owners failed to live up to their obligations when the powerful dogs scaled a six-foot fence in a break for freedom and mayhem.
Nor was it a first offence.
Despite the owner's pleas for mercy, there is no way these dogs should be sent home. They should be destroyed.
Through the owners' negligence their dogs have terrorized the neighbourhood. Christine Cantrill and her family left Oak Street last year after the family cat was killed by one of the dogs.
The dogs' owner said last week she would give up the dogs if they were allowed to live at a home in a rural area. But guess what? People in the country don't want a couple of pit bulls moving nearby either, for fear they'll attack their children, pets or livestock.
Their time is up.
The city's bylaw was drawn up specifically to avert situations such as the one on Oak Street. Pit bull owners have been given latitude to keep their pets as long as they abide by a simple set of rules, which include leashing and muzzling in public.
Further attacks will only spark more calls to ban the breed -- a step already taken in Ontario.
With pit bulls' reputation and the public's general disdain for them, it's puzzling when owners don't take the necessary precautions that would prevent attacks.
Those who don't should not get second chances.
-- Editor Dave Paulson
http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=120177&Itemid=592