Marty
07-07-2005, 08:03 PM
Huntington, WV -- Breed bans are not the answer to dog bites. There is substantial fact, evidence and experience, presented at four days of public hearings in Ontario, Canada, proving that breed-specific legislation is ineffective, unworkable and expensive for taxpayers.
The United Kingdom is unwinding its breed specific legislation after 14 years; it was a failure.
In contrast, the city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada has a sterling record of public safety in relation to dog bites due to its non-breed specific by-law, public education, and a zero-tolerance attitude toward licensing and enforcement. Calgary also has a self-sustaining animal control department; there is no cost to the taxpayer.
Intelligent, effective, workable dog-control law is based on behavior, not breed. Irresponsible and criminal owners will just change breeds and through neglect or abuse continue to produce dangerous dogs and allow them to bite. Meanwhile, responsible dog owners will labor under draconian legislation, attempting to keep their beloved pets safe.
Taxpayers should ask why a municipal council or state legislature is wasting their tax dollars discriminating against unoffending dogs with responsible owners. Legislators would be better advised to pass law based on the dogs’ and the dog owners’ behavior, not the dogs’ breed. This is the best choice for public safety.
The United Kingdom is unwinding its breed specific legislation after 14 years; it was a failure.
In contrast, the city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada has a sterling record of public safety in relation to dog bites due to its non-breed specific by-law, public education, and a zero-tolerance attitude toward licensing and enforcement. Calgary also has a self-sustaining animal control department; there is no cost to the taxpayer.
Intelligent, effective, workable dog-control law is based on behavior, not breed. Irresponsible and criminal owners will just change breeds and through neglect or abuse continue to produce dangerous dogs and allow them to bite. Meanwhile, responsible dog owners will labor under draconian legislation, attempting to keep their beloved pets safe.
Taxpayers should ask why a municipal council or state legislature is wasting their tax dollars discriminating against unoffending dogs with responsible owners. Legislators would be better advised to pass law based on the dogs’ and the dog owners’ behavior, not the dogs’ breed. This is the best choice for public safety.