This blog has endorsed an initiative to encourage President-elect Obama to ban breed specific legislation (BSL) nationwide. The message will be sent via Change.org, a social action website.
For those unaware, BSL is any law that targets a specific breed of dog with restrictions or requirements not placed on the general dog-owning population. Such laws range from requiring additional liability insurance, forcing dogs to be muzzled when in public, to outright banning, among other things. Some cities, like Denver, CO, have decided to confiscate and kill their citizens’ pets based on nothing other than the dogs’ appearance.
Since such laws are based on the physical aspect of the dog and have nothing to do with temperament or behavior, such laws are little more than racial profiling. The ASPCA, AVMA, National Animal Control Association and other experts oppose BSL.
Click here to read more.
I have a hard time consuming the idea of Breed Specific Legislation. My dog’s heritage would leave it open to being taken and killed. Now for the insane part; this dog is also a Registered Service Dog! I cannot leave my house without her. Yet, God forbid if it got out that she was what her breed heritage is. I want to definitely agree with whoever called it descrimination. I’ve had mine spayed, microchipped, current vaccinations; everything but a license. I’m afraid to let anyone know that she exists. Is this crazy or what! I’ve signed every petition about BSL and just don’t feel like I’m getting anywhere. When is going to stop? Will President Obama ever intervene in this issue? It seems with all other pressing issues to tackle, where is there room for us to fit in? If I lose my dog, it’s my life that’s affected. I will be more of a shut in than I am now. I need her more than she needs me. It wasn’t until I just wrote this that I see how serious this issue is. I know it sounds silly but my dog loves hamsters and cats. She has both for her pack mates. A neighbor has a Boston Terrier who is her best outside friend. I had to give her a real lame name to draw attention away from her. Just for arguements sake, let’s call her poopsie. How scary would a dog with the name of poopsie be? I love and need her so much that I would leave the State that I call home and I never thought I would ever have to say that. Thank you for being patient and reading this. I’ve never had the opportunity to say these things let alone think them.