Ohio towm may define every dog as vicious

[sea4th]

crossposted with permission

 

Ohio Town May Define

Every Dog As `Vicious'

 

HSUS `Pit Bull' Scare Tactic Being Used Nationwide

 

by JOHN YATES

American sporting Dog Alliance

http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org

asda@csonline.net

 

This report is archived at

http://eaglerock814.proboards.com/index.cg...l&thread=45

 

AVON LAKE, OH - The sky is not falling in this tranquil suburban town on the

outskirts of Cleveland, but local animal rights activists are trying to

convince the Avon Lake Municipal Council that a tough ordinance is needed to

control "vicious dogs."

 

What's happening in Avon Lake this week also is happening now in dozens of

communities across America. Thus, we urge dog owners everywhere to read this

report and be aware that what's happening in Avon Lake may - and probably

will - happen to you someday.

 

In the Avon Lake draft ordinance, all dogs are by definition declared

"vicious," simply for acting like dogs. Normal and even desirable canine

behavior would entrap a dog of any breed under this doomsday category. Even

chasing a chipmunk or barking at a stranger would cause a dog to be declared

vicious, under the terms of the latest draft ordinance.

 

The entrapping language is very deliberate, and reflects one of the current

tactics being exploited by radical animal rights groups, such as the Humane

Society of the United States (HSUS).

 

HSUS has nothing to do with local humane societies, despite its misleading

name. Instead, HSUS is the political arm of animal rights extremist groups.

It seeks the gradual elimination of all animal ownership in America, which

it sees as exploitation and slavery.

 

Relying on an emotional campaign and the fear of "pit bulls" that has been

carefully cultivated in the media, HSUS supporters are advancing so-called

dangerous dog ordinances in many towns, cities, counties and states all

across America. HSUS has been very successful at painting a picture of dog

owners that is associated with criminal dog fighting rings, the drug and

gang underworld, barbaric ethnic traditions, and mauled children.

 

Facts are not the friend of HSUS, which relies only on emotion in swaying

the media and public. The facts show a 200-percent reduction in reported dog

bite incidents over the past 20 years, but HSUS does not want you to know

this. The facts show that dog bites do not even rank in the top 20 causes of

injury or death to children, and HSUS doesn't want you to know that, either.

Nor to they want you to think too hard about a very simple truth: probably

99-percent of all Americans have never even seen a dog fight or even heard

of one where they live, and have never seen a drug gang on its home turf.

 

The HSUS tactic, however, is to exploit emotion and fear to make people feel

threatened by a problem that simply doesn't exist. It's a canine version of

the swine flu pandemic scare, which has millions of people living in terror

of a disease that has actually killed fewer people than the average January

head cold.

 

Avon Lake is a portrait of the American Dream. Its streets are lined with

trees, and its parks provide islands of tranquility in every neighborhood.

In a town of 18,145, the median family income is comfortably middle class at

just under $100,000, and its 33 police officers assure that it is one of the

safest small towns in America.

 

It is not a place to find drug gangs, dog fighting rings or large numbers of

"pit bulls." It is heartland America at its best. The town has a dog warden,

too, and any problems with pets are promptly addressed, residents tell us.

 

The sky is not falling in Avon Lake.

 

Some animal rights activists in Avon Lake would like to ban the so-called

"pit bull" breeds from the town, but this has been declared unconstitutional

in Ohio and other states. The only permissible dangerous dog laws are based

on the actual behavior of a dog, not on its ancestry or appearance.

 

Moreover, there is no such thing as a "pit bull." It is a slang term that

encompasses several recognized breeds of terriers, as well as various

crosses with other breeds that resemble bull breed ancestry. "Pit bull" bans

simply cannot adequately define the reality that some dogs are 50-percent

bull breed and 50-percent of a different breed, others are only 25-percent

bull, and still others only a tiny percentage. But they all might "look"

like someone's idea of a "pit bull."

 

In fact, some dogs look the part even though they have no bull breed

ancestry at all: Cross a Boston terrier and a Chihuahua, or a pointer and a

pug, and the results would look like a "pit bull" to anyone.

 

Dogs of the bull breeds are popular in America, although they represent far

less than 10-percent of the total population of dogs and dog owners. Their

owners say they are very loyal and affectionate, and appropriately

protective of their families. No evidence exists to suggest that a

disproportionate share of bad behavior exists in these breeds, despite HSUS

emotional propaganda.

 

HSUS and its adherents want to sentence bull breeds to death by turning the

law into a kangaroo court: No evidence is required, and the jury is always

out to lunch.

 

To get around the unconstitutional nature of breed bans, the Avon Lake

ordinance attempts to define a vicious dog by behavior. Unfortunately, the

definition is so brad that every dog in America falls under its net.

 

The draft ordinance defines a vicious dogs as any dog that has "approached

in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of attack, or has

attempted to bite or endanger any person, cat, other dog, or animal

(domestic or non-domestic)."

 

Under that definition, a dog could be declared vicious if it:

 

· Chases a chipmunk or squirrel.

 

· Points a robin.

 

· Barks at a burglar breaking through a window.

 

· Acts threatened if a stranger approaches its kennel.

 

· Defends its owner from physical attack by a mugger or rapist.

 

· Chases the neighbor's cat out of the flower garden.

 

· Defends itself when attacked by a stray dog.

 

· Or hunts rabbits legally with its owner.

 

In other words, all normal and much desirable canine behavior would be

defined as viciousness.

 

Nuts!

 

Get real!

 

Moreover, this kind of definition is certain to provoke situations that

result in innocent dogs being declared vicious. If two neighbors are having

a squabble, for example, it would be tempting for some people to taunt and

tease their adversary's dog into showing aggressive behavior. Yelling at the

mildest mannered dog, or throwing stones at it, could prompt behavior that

may appear aggressive, even though it really is in self-defense. Other

people simply may be irrationally afraid of all dogs, and misinterpret

normal barking.

 

On a more sinister note, animal rights fanatics also could taunt and tease

dogs, and then call the animal warden to "prove" that the dog is vicious.

Once again, the dog actually would be reacting only in self-defense against

someone who has been threatening. This vicious tactic already is being used

in some places, and many good and beloved dogs have been unfairly and

unjustly euthanized.

 

The real viciousness in Avon Lake comes from the animal rights fanatics who

are trying to deceive Municipal Council into targeting all dogs. The HSUS

strategy is to paint dogs and dog owners as threats to public safety that

must be eliminated through stigmatization and by imposing scary liabilities

and penalties that are irrational and unjust. The proposed Avon Lake

ordinance does exactly that.

 

If a dog is declared "vicious," the ordinance would require the owner to

place a sign in his or her yard stating that a vicious dog lives there,

muzzle the dog in public, purchase insurance, fence the yard to a height of

five feet and have two more feet of fencing buried underground.

 

Because the dog chased a chipmunk!

 

The American Sporting Dog Alliance is very concerned about this ordinance's

impact on every dog owner and all breeds of dogs. However, we are especially

concerned about its impact on hunting dogs and their owners. Hunting dogs

are specifically bred to pursue wild animals and birds. That is what hunting

is all about, and making these traits illegal is in opposition to the

tradition of hunting in Ohio and every American state.

 

This proposed ordinance is both hostile to hunters and deeply offensive. In

reality, it is a thinly veiled legal attack on hunting and hunters.

 

We also remember too well that recent failed federal legislation singled out

"hunting dogs" for especially intense regulation and enforcement. Thus, ALL

breed-specific legislation concerns us deeply, because it sets a dangerous

precedent.

 

It must be emphasized that Ohio already has tough laws governing dangerous

dogs, and that any local ordinances are completely unneeded and redundant.

Local police officers and dog wardens already can enforce the state law.

Here is a link to the actual state law: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/955.22 .

 

The American Sporting Dog Alliance is asking Avon Lake and Ohio dog owners

to do several things to help the people in Avon Lake to stop this ordinance:

 

1. Please contact Municipal Council and express reasoned and polite

opposition to this ordinance. Contact information for individual council

members is available from this link:

http://www.avonlake.org/EZ_Staff_List.aspx?d=11 ; also, a general email

address is contactus@avonlake.org .

2. Please write a letter of thank you to Councilwoman Jennifer Fenderbosch,

who has been very helpful to dog owners. She is opposed to this ordinance.

Her email is jfenderbosch@avonlake.org .

3. Because the meeting is only two days away, please contact everyone you

know in Avon Lake and inform them of this situation. Ask them to get

involved. It also is vital to contact members of sportsmen's clubs in Avon

Lake.

4. If you can help, please contact Jean Keating of The Ohio Coalition of Dog

Advocates, which is helping local residents in Avon Lake. Her email is

amstafflover3@yahoo.com .

5. And, if possible, attend Thursday's meeting of the Avon Lake Safety

Committee to support local dog owners and voice opposition to this proposed

ordinance. The meeting is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. at Municipal Council

Chambers, but there have been requests to make it later.

 

In addition, we urge all dog owners in America to be very vigilant about

what's happening in their own communities. This could happen to you, too!

 

The American Sporting Dog Alliance represents owners, breeders and

professionals who work with breeds of dogs that are used for hunting. We

also welcome people who work with other breeds, as legislative issues affect

all of us. We are a grassroots movement working to protect the rights of dog

owners, and to assure that the traditional relationships between dogs and

humans maintains its rightful place in American society and life. The

American Sporting Dog Alliance also needs your help so that we can continue

to work to protect the rights of dog owners. Your membership, participation

and support are truly essential to the success of our mission. We are funded

solely by your donations in order to maintain strict independence.

Please visit us on the web at http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org .

Our email is asda@csonline.net .

 

PLEASE CROSS-POST AND FORWARD THIS REPORT TO YOUR FRIENDS

[Jeanne Joy]

If a dog chasing a squirrel, pointing at a bird, barking at a burgler breaking into your house can be considered vicious – what do you think a dog eyeing sheep or gripping a recalcitrant ram is?

[Jeanne Joy]

If a dog chasing a squirrel, pointing at a bird, barking at a burgler breaking into your house can be considered vicious – what do you think a dog eyeing sheep or gripping a recalcitrant ram is?

[desertranger]

Wait, that means that every time Jin rushes Mookie in play fight is really showing his viciousness and every time he chases the cat across the yard he's out to kill it. [sarcasm] Oh! help! I have a vicious dog who chews on my hand (gently) and might take off a few fingers. [/sarcasm]

 

 

The park Nazi's get on my case when I'm training the dogs telling me that my dogs are loose and out of control. This despite the fact both of them are sitting on a down stay and attached to 25ft drag leads while we talk.

 

 

IDIOTS!! You can't train a dog to come to you from several hundred feet away if he's attached to a 6ft lead held in your hand.

 

 

I wonder why people do this kind of crap.

[sea4th]

A caveat here. Although this group's (American Sporting Dog Alliance) intentions appear to "represent" the opposing side to PETA -- which is good --- I feel that they might be going about it the wrong way, in that with fear-mongering and sensationalism, their approach is not unlike who they are opposed to -- i.e., PETA, HSUS.

 

I posted this here, but I think it's too over the top to be all accurate. Maybe beneath all of the scare tactics, peel away layers, there might be some truth underneath, which has been manipulated and exaggerated to drive home their agenda.

[Jeanne Joy]

Yes, maybe, but without groups like these - sounding the alarm, the general public wouldn't have a clue to all the nuances and being written into these policies and how our rights to own animals are being taken away by increments.

 

AR extremists work endlessly to get their legislation passed. Animal control advisory boards are often staffed by the "animal advocates." Here is one of the ways the Humane Society (another front of the HSUS) is training their task force who can earn degrees - better equipping them to infiltrate all aspects of our society to legislate away the rights of animal ownership.

 

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/06...ociety#Comments

 

Here is a link to the Humane Society University:

 

http://www.humanesocietyuniversity.org/

 

Jeanne

[border_collie_crazy]

good grief..guess Electra..my little bird dog is "vicious", after all..she caught and ate a wild bird once..watch out folks! and that Toller scream sure sounds like Xena's attack cry..she is out to kill you!

 

paleeze..Electra is the most tempermentaly sound dog I have ever owned in my life, and lord knows I would not trust her to protect me from anything lol.

[painted_ponies]

A caveat here. Although this group's (American Sporting Dog Alliance) intentions appear to "represent" the opposing side to PETA -- which is good --- I feel that they might be going about it the wrong way, in that with fear-mongering and sensationalism, their approach is not unlike who they are opposed to -- i.e., PETA, HSUS.

 

I posted this here, but I think it's too over the top to be all accurate. Maybe beneath all of the scare tactics, peel away layers, there might be some truth underneath, which has been manipulated and exaggerated to drive home their agenda.

 

As I remember, the ASDA was posting on all the dog and horse boards right before Oprah's show on puppy mills. They were foaming at the mouth saying she was in league with the HSUS and PETA and probably voted for George McGovern for President.

 

I hate it when groups use scare tactics and hyperbole. I usually tune out to the whole message when that happens.

[Shetlander]

I hate it when groups use scare tactics and hyperbole. I usually tune out to the whole message when that happens.

 

I'm with you. The tone was so histrionic, I stopped reading less than half way through. Who knows what is true and what is exaggerated or made up and who wants to research all that to figure it out? I don't like being manipulated by anyone, no matter how good the cause or where my sympathy lies.

[desertranger]

We must remember that the selling of anything today is usually done through scare tactics and fear. That all started with George Bush selling us a war based on WMD in Iraq. Since then fear has become a major method of instruction, sales and everything else. I effectively use fear to keep people form touching a certain plant. It works. However what I'm doing is using fear truthfully since simply touching that plant lightly with a single finger is extremely dangerous. Unfortunately most people use fear based in junk science and untruthfully, the war in Iraq is the best example there is.

 

Those of us who teach anything that has an element of danger and death, rock climbing, trail safety, firearms) use fear and scary stories to enhance the instruction while sticking scrupulously to the truth. But to use fear to sell lies and junk science under the guise of honesty and truth is more than disgusting. It teaches people the wrong things. They believe wrongly and when they try to apply what the learned results can be tragic.

 

To see real junk science in action visit DMHO.org

 

What they say is true. Yet it is a pack of lies built around a chemical called Oxidane, Di-hydrogen Monoxide. A compound we call water.

 

 

Among the many commonly-sited DHMO-related environmental impacts are:

 

* DHMO contributes to global warming and the "Greenhouse Effect", and is one of the so-called "greenhouse gasses."

* DHMO is an "enabling component" of acid rain -- in the absence of sufficient quantities of DHMO, acid rain is not a problem.

* DHMO is a causative agent in most instances of soil erosion -- sufficiently high levels of DHMO exacerbate the negative effects of soil erosion.

* DHMO is present in high levels nearly every creek, stream, pond, river, lake and reservoir in the U.S. and around the world.

[lexio2]

I wish i had seen this sooner as i live a short distance from Avon Lake. I would have gone to the meeting. Anyone know of any outcomes from the meeting?

[Jeanne Joy]

No, but here is a link to some of what is going on in the state of Ohio:

 

http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=128_HB_124

[sea4th]

I wish i had seen this sooner as i live a short distance from Avon Lake. I would have gone to the meeting. Anyone know of any outcomes from the meeting?

 

I went on Avon Lake's website and in the Council meeting of June 8, the only thing mentioned in the minutes is that it was sent on to the Safety committe which met June 18. Can't find anything to that meeting.

ETA:

local articles on the subject:

http://stopbsl.com/2009/06/04/avon-lake-oh...s-dog-laws-bsl/

[geonni banner]

One thing that stood out for me in the OP was the statement that the "bull breeds" or "pit bulls" make up only ten percent of the dogs in this country. I don't know how it is in Ohio, but where I live (SF Bay Area) if you go to the shelters, all-breed rescues, dog parks or just out for a walk, you "can't swing a dead cat" without hitting a pit bull. And I must say, only a very few of them seem to be dog-aggressive. I've had much more trouble with the GSDs and Labs around here. I suspect that any pit bull that is a fierce fighter is kept under wraps - too valuable to let him or her go out and get snagged by a chance encounter with a dog that could damage him.

 

A recent story in a bay area publication estimated that pit bulls and Rotties outnumber all other purebred dogs combined in the 3-county area (SF, Alameda & Contra Costa counties). This publication defined pit bulls as being dogs of primarily Am. Staff., Staffordshire Bull, Bull terrier breeding.

 

Like it or not, fairly or unfairly the media snaps up any incident, however trivial, that involves one of these pit bull type breeds to get people worked up about dogs. I know of situations where a serious dog attack occured, and the first question was, "Was it a pit bull or a Rottweiler?" If the question is answered in the negative they drop the story like a hot rock. Not scary enough - doesn't push the media-installed panic button in viewers/ listeners. Try telling someone you were attacked by a Golden Retriever and they roll their eyes and tell you you're being hysterical.

 

While it is certainly true that PETA and HSUS have an agenda to do away with all domestic and captive animals, I think that concerned dog owners in most communities can head off their attempts to take away our dogs by keeping abreast of local politics, educating people about Peta & HSUS, and above all, presenting a positive image of the pet or working dog by being a courteous, responsible dog owner.

 

I'm not saying it can't happen here. It can happen and does happen. But there are ways to combat it. We just need concerned dog owners to work as hard as PETA and HSUS does to insure that the dogs we love and rely upon stick around.