In Ohio, where lawmakers are considering a statewide ban on pit bull-type dogs, two pit bull owners have been criminally charged for failing to purchase liability insurance for their animals, which existing state law requires.

The state requires that a pit bull must be insured by its owner for $100,000 or more.

According to a blurb in the Canton Repository, Massillon Municipal Court records indicate the Stark County's dog warden is seeking misdemeanor charges against two Perry Township residents in two separate cases.

According to the records, the owners did not get insurance within the 30-day grace period allowed by law.

So here's my first question: If the state bans pit bulls, will all those who have insured their dogs get their money back? And here's my second: How many lawmakers in the state are in the insurance industry?

Posted by John Woestendiek at 3:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Turning in a dogfighter -- if the information leads to arrest and conviction -- can now get you a $5,000 reward, The Humane Society of the United States will announce in Baltimore County today.

The rewards -- formerly $2,500 -- have been doubled with the help of a $200,000 donation from the Holland M. Ware Charitable Foundation based in Hogansville, Ga.

"Were making a concerted effort to eliminate dog fighting," said John Goodwin, manager of animal fighting issues for the Humane Society of the United States.

The announcement comes at the anniversary of NFL quarterback Michael Vick's federal indictment for dog fighting in July 2007. Vick, now serving a 23-month sentence in federal prison, admitted to bankrolling Bad Newz Kennels on his property in Surry County, Virginia.

Since Vick's trial, the HSUS reports that arrests for dog fighting have tripled across the nation and that the HSUS has paid out 20 rewards this year alone. Goodwin said that many people are intimidated to come forward but Vick's indictment brought attention to the issue.

All tips are considered confidential.

To see more Sun coverage of dogfighting, click here.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 8:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Here we go again, this time in the city of Wapato in the state of Washington, which has banned several breeds of dog -- pit bulls, pit bull mixes, mastiffs, Rottweilers and American bulldogs, attaching a fine of up to $500 for violation of the new ordinance.

As the entry just below this one shows, it's not the breed, but the humans raising a dog that determine it's viciousness. But places like Wapapto aren't researching deeply enough to realize that, and instead are taking what they see as the politically popular approach.

Wapato's City Council members unanimously passed an ordinance Monday that outlaws ownership of those breeds and imposes a $250 fine for the first offense and $500 fines for each subsequent offense. The only exceptions are for trained service dogs and for dogs certified as Canine Good Citizens by the American Kennel Association.

Council members hesitated to act on the proposed ban earlier this month, the Yakima Herald reported, and had been exploring other ways to outlaw "vicious dogs." But support for the ban increased after a dog chased people and cars through town until it was shot and killed by police.

The city, which has no animal control office, has seen two children seriously hurt by dogs in the last four years. Last year, a 4-year-old girl was hospitalized after being mauled by dogs in an alley behind her home. In 2004, a 4-year-old boy nearly lost his arms after being viciously mauled by a pack of stray dogs that invaded his grandmother's yard, just outside the city limits.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
                    

For Pits' Sake, Inc. has teamed up with martial art fighters from the American Kickboxing Academy to "Knock Out Dog Fighting" by teaching kids that it is not a symbol of strength, power or greatness to abuse or fight animals.

Josh "The Punk" Thomson, Mixed Martial Arts Lightweight Champion, speaks out against dog fighting with a new public service announcement as part of the "Knock Out Dog Fighting" campaign by For Pits' Sake, Inc.

"Dog fighting is animal abuse, plain and simple," he says. "Torturing animals is not cool; nor is it a sign of being a real man. Real fighters stand up for what's right and protect those who are unable to do so."

For Pits' Sake is a nonprofit organization involved in animal rescue efforts, humane education and safety programs for children for over a decade. Founder Kris Crawford believes that one of the most effective ways to stop the cycle of violence is to teach young people about the proper treatment of animals.

"That's why we have recruited the American Kickboxing Academy, the premier Mixed Martial Arts training facility, to help," Crawford said in announcing the new campaign.

"Many children look up to these fighters and view them as role models. In addition to the PSAs, we visit schools and children's groups to teach children that it is not a symbol of power, strength, or greatness to abuse or torture animals."

To view the public service announcement go to http://www.knockoutdogfighting.org.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 7:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

According to his attorney, former NFL linebacker Steve Foley, who was charged with a felony after his pit bulls bit a woman and killed her puppy, kept the pits as "show dogs and pets, not fighting dogs."

"It was a tragic accident and Mr. Foley is very sorry that his neighbor and friend was injured, but these dogs were his pets. They had no previous history of aggression," his attorney Paul Nugent is quoted as saying in the Houston Chronicle.

A Fort Bend County grand jury indicted Foley, accusing him of failing to secure the dogs. The two adult pit bulls attacked neighbor Twana Schulz on March 26, causing serious bodily injury when they bit her on the arms and face, according to court documents.

Schulz, 36, was walking to the corner to pick her daughter up from the school bus when she and the puppy were attacked. Foley's dogs were seized by animal control officers and put to death.

Foley surrendered at the Fort Bend County Jail on Wednesday and was released on a $10,000 bond. The 32-year-old Foley played with the Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans and San Diego Chargers. His career ended after he was shot by an off-duty police officer in San Diego in 2006. The Chargers released him in March 2007 with two years left on his contract.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 9:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Under a bill proposed in the Ohio legislature, owners of any dog that "belongs to a breed that is commonly known as a pit bull" would have 90 days to surrender their pet to authorities for euthanasia.

Rather than me opine again on this topic, allow me to give you the proposal verbatim, in its dry and chilling entirety:

House Bill 568, Sec. 955.111

(A) Beginning ninety days after the effective date of this section, no person shall own, keep, or harbor a dog that belongs to a breed that is commonly known as a pit bull dog.

(B) Not later than ninety days after the effective date of this section, a person who owns, keeps, or harbors a pit bull dog on the effective date of this section shall surrender the dog to the dog warden. Not later than ten days after receiving the dog, the dog warden shall euthanize the dog.

(C)(1) Beginning ninety days after the effective date of this section, if an officer has probable cause to believe that a dog is a pit bull dog, the officer may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for a search warrant. The court shall issue a search warrant for the purposes requested if there is probable cause to believe that a dog is a pit bull dog.

(2) After obtaining a search warrant, an officer shall seize the pit bull dog and surrender the dog to the dog warden. Not later than ten days after receiving the dog, the dog warden shall euthanize the dog.

The proposal comes from state Rep. Tyrone Yates, who introduced it last week. It has been sent to the legislature's State Government and Elections Committee.

While numerous local governments have adopted pit bull bans -- like the two towns in the Dakotas we referred to earlier this week -- this is the first proposed statewide ban with which I'm familiar. It's a highly revolting development, and one that -- though, granted, it pertains to exterminating breeds of dogs instead of races of people -- is reminiscent of some shameful times in world history.

I'm hoping this can't happen in 21st Century America, but then again, on a local level, it already has.

Even the American Kennel Club -- normally focused on purebred breeds, of which the pit bull is not one -- is urging citizens to voice their opposition to it, as you can see here.

The Animal Law Coalition is mobilizing opposition as well.

Let's hope such organizations are successful, and the death march in the Buckeye State is avoided.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 10:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (18)
                    

It's not a good time to be a dog in the Dakotas.

Voters in Leola, South Dakota, have upheld a decision by the city council to make it illegal to possess pit bulls, bull mastiffs, Rottweilers, Doberman pinchers and German shepherds, and any dogs that are mix of those breeds.

The banned breeds -- get this -- are exempted from the law if they help or are being trained to help people with disabilities. How generous.

Mayor Dean Schock says the ordinance was passed due to concerns from people who walk and bike or whose children bike around town. Residents voted 103-27 last week to endorse the council's action.

Meanhwhile, up in North Dakota, officials in the town of Kenmare, which approved a similar ban last month, decided the proposal needed more review. The town has a scheduled a special meeting tomorrow night to discuss it.

The Kenmare council has been considering a ban on American Staffordshire terriers, Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers, pit bulls or crosses of any of those breeds. Officials said the ordinance was drafted due to fears of vicious dogs, but some dog owners threatened to move because of it.

For both these towns, I'd recommend doing a little homework on the issue. I'd recommend they meet my dog -- a combination of two "vicious" breeds -- but since that's not possible, maybe they could at least watch his movie, "Hey, Mister, What Kind of Dog is That."

Then I'd recommend they stop here. And here.

A dog's bloodlines don't make him dangerous.

Stupid humans do.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 9:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
                    

Our snarl of the month goes to Kenmare, N.D., where the city council – which had already voted to keep the town safe from “pit bulls” – has now added American Staffordshire terriers, Doberman pinschers, Rottweilers and any cross of those breeds to the list of banned dogs.

All of this was precipitated by … absolutely nothing. The mayor and council say they were being “proactive,” according to this article in the Minot Daily News.

The council passed the ordinance April 14. Another meeting was held this week to hear from residents opposed to the law, some of whom have threatened to move out of town should the law be upheld.

“He’s our pride and joy. It’s like coming in and taking one of our kids,” said Brandon Peterson, who owns a 140-pound Rottweiler named Diesel. “They shouldn’t make somebody get rid of somebody in their family. I think we all need to work together to come up with something and not kick somebody out of town because that would be just crazy.”

Peterson said he will move before he gives up his dog. “He’s a good boy. I will never ever get rid of him.”

The city wasn’t taking action against dog owners before the May 12 meeting. If it upholds its ordinance, affected dog owners will have 10 days to remove their animals or face fines.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 10:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

Mutts is quickly approaching the 1,000-comment mark, and few topics have drawn as many of them as pit bulls and breed-specific legislation.

Here is the latest, No. 968, posted by a guy named Brian in response to an entry about a pit bull ban under consideration in Michigan:

"We also live in a democratic society and if the majority in any community think that any property (yes dogs are property and have no rights) should be banned due to danger or high potential of danger then the majority rules through the democratic process.

"I would like to see a state ban on this breed as well as several other breeds. I support these near 80 people in their effort."

I'm hoping that Brian is wrong -- that (A) The majority does not support banning pit bulls, and (B) If so, more than a simple majority vote is needed to rid earth of an entire life form.

I'm also guessing that at least 32 people will comment on Brian's comment, sending Mutts over the 1,000-mark. There is a high potential the 1,000th Mutts commenter will receive a high definition flat screen TV. (There is an even higher one they will receive absolutely nothing. Hey, times are tough.)

For more entries and comments about pit bull type dogs, visit our category "Pit Stop: Tales of Pit Bulls."

You might notice a new category today -- our categories are listed down the righthand side rail of this page -- entitled "Dogs of Our Lives." If you're wondering what that's all about, tune in Monday.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)
                    

Here's a powerful, even-handed, disturbing-without-getting-too-gory look at dogfighting, produced by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), which is now offering rewards of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in dogfighting or cockfighting.

The rewards were doubled by HSUS last year as efforts to quell dogfighting operations intensified after the Michael Vick case.

To qualify, tipsters -- though they can remain anonymous -- must report the operation to police or local animal control agency, tell the agency about the rewards program and, if the perpetrator is convicted, get the law enforcement agency involved to write a letter to the HSUS stating that their tip led to the arrest.

For more information, click on the link above, or contact the Animal Fighting Reward Program,
Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L St. N.W., Washington, DC 20037

Posted by John Woestendiek at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

A Pennsylvania appeals court has muzzled an out-of-control Reading city ordinance that required pit bulls -- and other dogs deemed "dangerous" on the basis of their breed -- be subject to restrictions that included being kept on three-foot leashes when outside the home.

The divided Commonwealth Court decision sided with two pit-bull owners -- Stacie Stankiewicz and Kenneth Steeves Sr. -- who have been fighting the city ordinance since it passed eight years ago.

The court threw out the law because it conflicted with, and was preempted by, a state law defining what makes a dog "dangerous." The state law is not "breed specific."

The Reading ordinance was among the strictest and most backward in the country, defining aggressive dogs as those that are -- even partly -- of a breed that accounted for 40 percent or more of dog-bite incidents reported in the city during the prior year. It required such dogs, when outside the home, be muzzled and kept on a leash shorter than three feet, and required their owners to pay higher fees to register them.

Violation of the ordinance was punishable with fines of up to $1,000 or 30 days in jail.

"The absurdity was that dangerous dog breeds changed from year to year, based on the dog-bite statistics -- that was the crux of the lawsuit," Al Kauffman, attorney for plaintiffs, said in an Associated Press account of the ruling.

Pennsylvania's state Dog Law classifies as "dangerous" an individual dog that has attacked someone without provocation, one that killed or badly injured a domestic animal while off the dog owner's property, or one that has been used to commit a crime.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
                    

(Photo courtesy of www.bombshellpinups.net)

Deirdre Franklin of Bucks County, Pa., is a mild-mannered mortgage counselor by day, a burlesque queen by night, and, ever since childhood, a confirmed lover and rescuer of dogs, with an especially soft spot for pit bulls.

She has two pit bulls of her own, she traveled to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina to assist in pet rescue and recovery efforts, and she once worked as a volunteer at a privately operated Philadelphia animal rescue center.

It was in her work there -- specifically, when she learned that the shelter regularly euthanized pit-bull type dogs, based more on their appearance than anything else -- that her empathy for the breed was born.

She quit after trying to take home a particularly friendly one that arrived one day. The shelter said it was against their policy. Then they euthanized the dog.

The outrage she felt during that episode -- "How can you call yourself a rescue organization, if you're not willing to save a dog's life?" she asks -- was rekindled in more recent years, first with continuing tales of pit bulls being abused and used for fighting. Then came the movement to pass "breed specific legislation" that often requires their owners to chain and muzzle pit bulls -- not because of any bad behavior, only because they are pit bulls.

That made her mad enough to gather some pit bull-owning female friends, shed some clothes, outfit herself and friends in stilettos, bikinis, tight nurses uniforms and the like, strike some provocative poses (often with their dogs) and put together the first "Pin-Ups for Pit Bulls" calendar in 2007 -- the proceeds from which go to organizations that rescue and shelter pit bulls.

Continue reading "Pin-ups for Pit Bulls" »

Posted by John Woestendiek at 8:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)
                    

A bill to increase penalties for people who attend illegal dogfights has been unanimously approved by the Maryland Senate, the Associated Press reported yesterday -- but it's a watered down version of what was originally proposed.

The original bill would have made it a felony to knowingly attend an illegal dogfight or cockfight, but the Senate decided to keep the crime a misdemeanor. The original bill would have increased the maximum penalty from 90 days in jail to three years in prison. Instead, the amended version increases it to one year in prison and a $2,500 fine.

A separate animal fighting bill has been rejected by a House committee, leading to some doubts about whether Maryland lawmakers will agree on a bill this year.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 2:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Another battle over breed-specific legislation is coming to a head – this one in a Detroit suburb, sparked by controversy over a dog who has hurt no one.

The city commission of Plymouth, Mich., (population 9,000) says it won’t take any action until at least March 17, the Detroit Free Press reported.

The center of the controversy is Gage, a 2-year-old, 72-pound “red nose pit bull,” who has not been accused of any vicious behavior.

But the family next door feels intimidated by the dog’s appearance. And 77 others have joined in signing a petition encouraging the city to ban pit bulls or develop a dangerous dog ordinance to ensure better control of the breed.

"How can you say all pit bulls are bad?" asked the dog’s owner, Kyle Kosmyna, 23, who said Gage has always been gentle with his children. "That's like saying all people are bad.”

Within the past six months, three people have been killed in dog attacks in southeast Michigan, including an infant. In those incidents, the dogs involved were not pit-bull types.

The petition asks that pit bulls be banned or properly secured. Another petition is circulating against banning pit bulls. To read the Detroit Free Press article, click here.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 2:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)
                    

More than 150 dogs were seized and at least three people were arrested today in Tucson in what investigators say was one of the largest fight-dog breeding operations in the nation.

Continue reading "150 fighting dogs seized in Arizona" »

Posted by John Woestendiek at 7:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

The Maryland SPCA announced the opening of its new low-cost spay-neuter clinic today and said the new program will initially be directed at pit bulls and feral cats.

The new clinic seeks to help “the two most vulnerable pets that end up in shelters -- pit bulls and cats -- by providing services to reduce their numbers,” said Mary-Ann Pinkard, president of the Maryland SPCA board of directors.

The theme of yesterday’s opening – keyed to Valentine’s Day – was “Show your Pit the Love. Neuter Him.” (That's 2-year-old Will O'Dell to the left, meeting Cleo, one of two pit bull type dogs attending yesterday's announcement.)

The clinic, in a refurbished pump house on the grounds of the Falls Road shelter, replaces the SPCA’s “Neuter Scooter,” a brightly painted bus that traveled the city for four years, providing the surgery at no cost to dog and cat owners.

The Neuter Scooter stopped making its rounds in 2005 –- after providing more than 10,000 surgeries -- when the cost of operating it became prohibitive.

Continue reading "Pit bulls targeted in spay/neuter program" »

Posted by John Woestendiek at 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

A 5-year-old pit bull mix that scared away a San Jose woman's attacker has been honored by the Animal Miracle Foundation as its Hero Dog of 2008.

The 25-pound mutt, named Maya, "is a testament to the fact that the pit bull breed can be hero dogs just like any other breed," Colleen Paige, founder of the group, said in a statement.

Based in Washington. The foundation is a nonprofit that works to improve public awareness about pet and wildlife issues. It sponsors National Dog Day on Aug. 26 and National Mutt Day on Dec. 2 to highlight the high number of dogs in shelters that need homes.

Angela Marcelino, who adopted Maya from her local Humane Society when the dog was 3 months old, said she was attacked at her front door one morning in June. 

"I opened my front door and was about to walk inside when I saw someone's shadow out of the corner of my eye," Marcelino recounts on the Animal Miracle Foundation’s web site. "I turned my head just as a man pushed me inside."

Marcelino said the man was choking her when she shouted the words, “Maya, get him.” While the attacker tried to fight the dog off, Marcelino struggled free, and the man walked out.

Later, police procured a drop of blood above Maya's right eye and tested it for DNA, which led to the arrest of Anthony Easley. His preliminary hearing is pending. Marcelino's entire account can be read here.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 8:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Carey Hughes says the two years she spent taking care of a friend's pitbull mix are what's behind her petition drive against the breed specific legislation that has been proposed in Baltimore County.

"I was also leery of pitbulls thanks to all of the negative media attention they receive," said Hughes 31, who works as a billing manager for an outpatient surgery center, and runs her own hand-made jewelry business.

Then a close friend asked her to take care of her dog, a pitbull mix named "Balto."

"Balto taught me that 'pitbulls' are the most loyal dogs in the world. He taught me that they like to sleep under the covers and love to lay out in the sun. He taught me that they look forward to training sessions and would do back flips for you if they could just figure out how. Most importantly, he taught me that dogs WANT a pack leader and someone to answer to. They WANT to be good.

"Balto quickly became everyone's favorite dog," she added. "He left my house in May and
the neighborhood children still ask for him every time they see me. My mother, who was bitten by dogs as a child and never really liked dogs in general, was more upset than I was when he left. He loved to lick her face constantly. The more she laughed, the more he licked. She would laugh and say 'I can't believe I'm letting a pitbull lick my face!'"

Balto is living in North Carolina now, and Hughes has her own dog -- but it was her experience with Balto that led to her campaign, in which she trying to gathering as many signatures as she can by Thursday to present to the council.

"I took on this unfair legislation on Balto's behalf and on behalf of every other well-behaved, well-trained 'pitbull' in Baltimore County," she said.

To see the petition -- they are available and being collected at Dogma, the pet shop at 3600 Boston Street -- click below.

Continue reading "A petition against breed specific legislation" »

Posted by John Woestendiek at 6:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

(A) Pit bulls

(B) Humans

We bring you two videos today (for best results, play them simultaneously) -- on the eve of a council meeting in Baltimore County to discuss a proposal to require pit bulls be muzzled in public and caged in private.

The proposed "breed specific legislation," as it has become known, provoked the most comments ever received on this blog, all of which, as of today, have been passed on to all seven county council members via email. The council's work session is scheduled for 2 p.m. tomorrow in Towson.

Almost unanimously, those commenting here -- including several from jurisdictions that have passed such laws -- agreed that the proposed legislation is a foolish pursuit.

When a pit bull, or any dog, behaves violently, it's almost always because that behavior was instilled and encouraged by a human -- and if anyone belongs in a cage, it's the latter.

I would even go so far as to say a pit bull -- raised with love -- is a much more predictable animal than a human.

As a society, we've never been much for looking into the causes of violence. Politicians prefer grandstanding; with or without the facts at their side, which is one reason for my earlier tongue in cheek proposal that they, not pit bulls, be caged and muzzled.

Once we get that accomplished, we might want to move on to professional athletes.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 6:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
                    

Today, inspired by recent events in Baltimore County, I would like to propose some legislation.

Whereas, politicians have repeatedly screwed things up, and aforementioned mistakes often have long-lasting negative effects on the rest of our lives, and;

Whereas, politicians have again and again been caught up in illegal, corrupt and illicit activities and affairs that reflect poorly on the rest of our species, and;

Whereas, while all humans are capable of inflicting harm, politicians are stronger and have more of a bite, leading to the infliction of greater damage;

Therefore, be it resolved that the following bit of "occupation-specific" legislation is hereby enacted, requiring (A) politicians to be kept in a wire mesh enclosure at all times, and;

(B) When not occupying said wire mesh enclosures, all politicians shall be muzzled while amongst the public to prevent the spread of lies, deception and empty promises, and;

(C) When inside their homes and/or offices, those premises must be clearly marked with signs that say "Beware of Politician," or "Vicious Politician Inside" and ...

OK, maybe that's going too far, but that's exactly what two Baltimore County Council members have done by proposing a bill that would require pit bulls -- for starters, anyway -- be muzzled in public and kept locked up in private. The bill, which also calls for extra licensing fees, mandatory insurance and inspection of homes with pit bulls, is scheduled for a vote next month.

Not only is that cruelty to animals, it's racist.

Or at least breedist. Because a dog is, or contains amounts of, what we generally refer to as pit bull is no reason to single it out to a caged and muzzled life.

As anyone who has seen my movie (plug coming up), "Hey, Mister, What Kind of Dog is That?" knows, the percentage of various breeds that might be in a dog is mostly meaningless.

Both the city and county have seen some tragic incidents this year involving what have been described as pit bulls. But breed-specific legislation in neither a reasonable nor humane response to it. The answer is tracking down and arresting the Michael Vicks of the world is -- those that would instill and encourage vicious behavior in dogs for their own sick enjoyment.

Those are my thoughts, anyway. Yours' are welcome. Comment by clicking the button immediately below this entry. If we get a good sampling, we may even pass them on to Baltimore County.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 7:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (34) | TrackBacks (2)