Please Don't Take My Sunshine Away ::
Thursday, October 29, 2009

Personal Essay by: Hannah Powell

Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 1:19pm
 
It was a calm, quiet Saturday morning. The dogs had been walked, fed and were now napping on the couch. They had a nice life now, but it had not always been that way. Eddie, a Catahoula Leopard mix, was found as a stray. He had been dumped and unwanted. He was literally skin and bones when he was found, but he never stopped wagging his tail! Sunshine, an American Pit Bull Terrier, was found as a tiny one month old puppy along with her mother and sister. They were nearly frozen to death, and worms had taken over her entire little body, including her lungs. The entire little family was brought to the Tacoma Animal Shelter where they were scheduled to be euthanized. They were pit bulls. The staff knew people were less likely to adopt a pit bull, and the shelter was already filled to capacity with homeless dogs. A rescue group arranged to take the little family, but by the time they got there, the mother had already been euthanized. Both Sunshine and her sister were adopted out and now live very spoiled lives. 

A knock on the door startles the entire family. The dogs start barking at the door and wagging their tails. They love it when people come to visit! They do not know this man at the door, but that's okay. Eddie and Sunshine know no strangers; in fact, they would make pretty useless guard dogs. The man tells the family that a breed ban has been implemented in Issaquah, WA, and he is here because there is a pit bull named Sunshine registered to this address. The family is in shock. What happened? What do we do? The man says, "Well, there is no 'Grandfather' clause in the legislation, so you either need to move to another town or have Sunshine euthanized. If you decide not to follow either of the suggested options, then we will have to confiscate your pit bull, and she will be taken to animal control to be euthanized". In shock and disbelief, the family starts to discuss the options. Then *poof*, I wake up from this recurring nightmare. This time...it was just a dream. Eddie and Sunshine are sleeping on the bed by my feet, and the little family is safe, for now.

What is a breed ban? What is breed specific legislation (BSL)? Surprisingly, many people have not even heard of it. To pit bull owners worldwide, it is a topic very well-known, and a fear that could all too soon become a reality for some of us. Breed bans target one breed of dog or several breeds of dog that are thought to be aggressive. Some people think that by implementing breed bans, people will be safe and the number of dog attacks on people will go down. Currently, pit bulls are the breed of choice for breed bans, especially as their popularity is on the rise. It has not always been pit bulls. Rottweiler, Dobermans, German Shepherds, and Akita (the list goes on) have all been the center of this breed ban turmoil over the decades.

So what are you saying, pit bulls ARE dangerous dogs, right? Any dog has the potential to be dangerous. Pit bulls were bred and have been chosen by dog fighters all over the world because of their loyalty and non-aggressiveness to humans. Dog fighters will train these dogs to be aggressive to other dogs and fight. If the dog will not fight, some dog fighters will abuse the animal by nearly drowning them, stoning them, hanging them, shocking them, starving them, pouring acid on them, etc. These dogs are often kept in horrific conditions outside in small kennels or chained up in the cold/heat. If they still refuse to fight, sometimes they are used as bait dogs. Their muzzles are duct taped or their teeth filed down. They are helpless to defend themselves while other dogs attack them. Sometimes, as in the case of Snaps the pit bull, the owners will teach the dog to be aggressive to humans. If anyone is unfamiliar with Snaps' story, he attacked two women who were trying to rescue him from his abusers. The teens attacked the women and then ordered Snaps to attack them as well. They used him as a weapon. In this case, there were three victims, Snaps and the women. Snaps was scheduled to be euthanized, but one of the victims spoke out for him. In fact, many pit bull advocates, animal lovers, and concerned citizens spoke up on behalf of this poor dog. Snaps is now in a safe place and is thriving on all the love!

Why does BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) not work? BSL punishes all of us responsible pit bull owners. We have raised/trained our dogs to be good canine citizens. We leash them, we socialize them, they are family dogs, and they love children. Our pit bulls are part of the family! BSL punishes us. BSL does not punish irresponsible dog owners, dog owners who do not leash their dogs, dog owners who do not properly train/socialize their dogs, dog owners who intentionally train their dogs to be aggressive. Also, breed bans are extremely difficult to enforce. There are many breeds that fit the description of a pit bull. See if you can pick out the pit bull!  Denver has a breed ban. THOUSANDS of dogs and PUPPIES (regardless of age) are euthanized in Denver simply because of their breed. These dogs include people's canine companions...the family pet. This link shows what happens when a breed ban is implemented. I URGE you to look at this article. **WARNING: graphic photos**

What is a better alternative? Stricter laws regarding dogs being leashed. Laws regarding dangerous dogs regardless of breed. Stricter fines/punishments for dog fighters and animal abusers.

ANY dog can be aggressive. Please do not judge an entire breed and punish them for the bad deeds of irresponsible dog owners. There truly are no bad dogs, just bad owners.

Please don't let them take my Sunshine away. I thank all of the pit bull advocates out there. Thank you for not giving up! Thanks to everyone who read about my opinions on this matter; feel free to leave your comments!

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