Portland's dog loving social network
BSL in Dogtown, U.S.A?
Is it true? Is BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) really coming to what is known as Dogtown, U.S.A?
Lately the news has been all over it, in-your-face reporting and hyped-up accounts of beating dogs to death with baseball bats are quite hard to ignore. Sadly, the facts were ignored (surprise, surprise) and instead the fire was fueled by fear and ratings.
Did anyone read the Oregonian's call for a statewide ban? A Shorter Leash for Pit Bulls
"A few years ago, a vicious dog attack in Aloha prompted a state senator to introduce a law aimed at pit bulls. He got barked down by pit bull owners, whose mantra was, "It's the deed, not the breed." This is a nice slogan, but it irresponsibly silences reasonable conversations about prevention and risk. Oregon shouldn't sit on its bureaucratic haunches until the next attack."
In that bolded sentence, they were very right. Oregon shouldn't sit and wait for the next attack, we as responsible dog owners shouldn't either.
As an owner of three American Pit Bull Terriers, the found and director of a Pit Bull Rescue, and a Humane Society employee come across all types of dog owners. More and more I'm saddened to find that while people often say enthusiastically "I own a Pit!", when I ask what they are doing to help improve the breeds image.... they look at me blankly. How could an owner of such a highly contriversial breed be so ignorant? How could they just sit idily by while laws are being passed to remove their rights to own their dogs?
Awareness and education is what the community is lacking, and awareness and education is what is going to stop BSL in it's tracks.
Please, take a moment to read these links and pass them on to someone you know who owns a bully breed:
Being a Responsible American Pit Bull Terrier Owner
General Myths
Managing a Multi-Dog Household
PNWPBR will be holding breed education classes in the near future as our part in educating the community at large. Have suggestions, literature, ideas? We would love to hear them?
What is your thoughts? As a dog owner, as a pit bull owner, as a resident of Dogtown, U.S.A? DO you think a ban is in order?
Ellena Thomas
Executive Director
Pacific Northwest Pit Bull Rescue
Lately the news has been all over it, in-your-face reporting and hyped-up accounts of beating dogs to death with baseball bats are quite hard to ignore. Sadly, the facts were ignored (surprise, surprise) and instead the fire was fueled by fear and ratings.
Did anyone read the Oregonian's call for a statewide ban? A Shorter Leash for Pit Bulls
"A few years ago, a vicious dog attack in Aloha prompted a state senator to introduce a law aimed at pit bulls. He got barked down by pit bull owners, whose mantra was, "It's the deed, not the breed." This is a nice slogan, but it irresponsibly silences reasonable conversations about prevention and risk. Oregon shouldn't sit on its bureaucratic haunches until the next attack."
In that bolded sentence, they were very right. Oregon shouldn't sit and wait for the next attack, we as responsible dog owners shouldn't either.
As an owner of three American Pit Bull Terriers, the found and director of a Pit Bull Rescue, and a Humane Society employee come across all types of dog owners. More and more I'm saddened to find that while people often say enthusiastically "I own a Pit!", when I ask what they are doing to help improve the breeds image.... they look at me blankly. How could an owner of such a highly contriversial breed be so ignorant? How could they just sit idily by while laws are being passed to remove their rights to own their dogs?
Awareness and education is what the community is lacking, and awareness and education is what is going to stop BSL in it's tracks.
Please, take a moment to read these links and pass them on to someone you know who owns a bully breed:
Being a Responsible American Pit Bull Terrier Owner
General Myths
Managing a Multi-Dog Household
PNWPBR will be holding breed education classes in the near future as our part in educating the community at large. Have suggestions, literature, ideas? We would love to hear them?
What is your thoughts? As a dog owner, as a pit bull owner, as a resident of Dogtown, U.S.A? DO you think a ban is in order?
Ellena Thomas
Executive Director
Pacific Northwest Pit Bull Rescue
Tags: bsl, bull, northwest, oregon, ownership, pacific, pit, pnwpbr, rescue, responsible
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Andrea Schneider on -
I think a good, strategic public relations campaign will help. Good information has to get out to the general public through multiple channels - Vet, Newspapers, Workshops, Educations and Hands On Opportunities, Classes, etc. There are different target audiences for this, they are not all the same and shouldn't be treated as if they were.
You might even consider working with the schools, these are just ideas. The cause is important. And if I understand what you are doing, it is to promote responsible ownership and breeding. I think the there is a lot the public needs to learn and I include myself in that group.
Maybe conduct a focus group to see what regular folks have questions about, that might influence a campaign. Education is key to lawmakers as well.
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Permalink Reply by peace4pits on -
Thank you for posting this. I am all for the community outreach and education, I think that if enough like minded people put there thoughts together we could come up with a very smart plan. And what Andera said below is a very good point, about getting the word out and educating not just the people who want to know. The majority of people are not going to come to you, you need to go to them.
Right now i know so many pit bull owners, that when i ask them what they think about all these bsl threats they kinda just shurg there heads, its like they dont care, belive or really understand what bsl means not just to them but to the breed and to oregon.
let me know how i can help you, i would love to volunteer for your organization.
thanks
jenna
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Permalink Reply by PNWPBR on -
Well, we will be starting a BSL group it seems and organizing a Pit Bull awareness day for lack of a better term. Out of all the letters I write to media, they have yet to pick up on a positive press story for this breed, so we are going to make our own!
Ill keep everyone posted.
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Permalink Reply by PNWPBR on
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If anyone is interested in joining our BSL group please send me your email. Thanks.
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Permalink Reply by Mia and Justice(+our human, Lindsey) on -
We need to network as much as possible. We can collectively begin contacting news channels, local papers, the dog/animal newsletters, and encourage people to be proud of their dog's breed. I'm planning on taking our dogs to as many animal events as possible. There are plenty of websites that offer dog shirts for sale with clever ANTI BSL slogans and PRO Pitbull sayings. It may sound small but every person that our dogs come in contact with are potential voters. Talking with our coworkers, friends, family members, and neighbors about the reality of BSL is a good start. I'm so nervous that the fate of our babies (their lives!) and our freedom of choice is being questioned. It's encouraging to see the amount of support for these dogs but we need to dramatically increase it!
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Permalink Reply by Kristina - The Active Canine on -
I don't own a pit, or even a bully breed, but i think a ban is ridicolous. Just a couple weeks ago a rottweiler on a bus attacked and killed a little dog that was also riding on the transit. Yet, no one is calling for rottie ban. I truly feel it is the people that are connected with the breed that people do not like, not the breed itself. I think if the public saw more Pit bulls doing Therapy work, owned by "nuclear" families, or the "pretty coed", it may help the breed's image. And i know tons of those types of people that do own pits, unfortunately the public doesn. Let me know if you want help...i feature a rescue group each month at my store...maybe we could do your Pit Bull Rescue one month, and even have some adoption events??? Let me know! Kristina
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Permalink Reply by Dani on -
I do "own" a pit-bull-type dog, and I of course oppose BSL. But opposing BSL in theory and being a responsible dog owner isn't enough. If people want to truly combat BSL, they need to speak at city council meetings and write their political representatives.
What would be helpful to include in a BSL forum on this site is info about city council meetings and agendas, and contact info for politicians.
I'll start:
Find your legislators: http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/
City Council info: http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?c=26979
-Dani
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Permalink Reply by PNWPBR on
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Come join our BSL group!!! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopwaorbsl
Dani said:I do "own" a pit-bull-type dog, and I of course oppose BSL. But opposing BSL in theory and being a responsible dog owner isn't enough. If people want to truly combat BSL, they need to speak at city council meetings and write their political representatives.
What would be helpful to include in a BSL forum on this site is info about city council meetings and agendas, and contact info for politicians.
I'll start:
Find your legislators: http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/
City Council info: http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?c=26979
-Dani
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Permalink Reply by destin on -
I think the BSL is a horrible idea.
Bad dogs are the result of bad owners.
The BSL is to ban Great Danes as well.
Danes are the most gentle dog I know.
I just wanted to say it seems irresponsible to ban dogs, instead there should be legislation to hold irresponsible owners accountable. Do not take it out on the dogs.
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Dogs and their owners are invited to close the summer season at the Mt. Hood Adventure Park at Skibowl with a fun run/walk through the Mt. Hood National Forest on Sunday, September 26.
Proceeds from this first ever “Dog Day at Skibowl” will benefit…
Dog Day at Mt. Hood Adventure Park at Skibowl at Skibowl, Government Camp, OR
September 26, 2010 from 10:30am to 3pm
Dogs and their owners are invited to close the summer season at the Mt. Hood Adventure Park at Skibowl with a fun run/walk through the Mt. Hood National Forest on Sunday, September 26.
Proceeds from this first ever “Dog Day at Skibowl” will benefit…
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