Saskatoon Saskatchewan Pit Bull Ban is next!!

[Ironhorse]

From Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada newspaper Star Phoenix Mon. Oct25
Owen Fortosky city councilors "From what I've read and seen, pit bulls aren't at the top of my list of caring and kind animals"
Have you ever owned one ? I'm thinking no.
check this link out about pit bulls ...warning graphic
http://www.deviantart.com/view/11454716/

[Scales Zoo]

This is a suprise, the people at the Pit Bull rescue boothtold me that Saskatoon didn't have to worry, because the local SPCA, who handles the bylaws - did not support breed specific bans.

Guess the city councilors think differently.

Ryan

[crucified]

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/102504-oddity-pitbull.html#

people can be such @$$holes..

[capsicum]

That made me cry...and it takes a lot for me to cry. Just reaffirms my belief that all animals deserve a second chance.

TK

[Vanan]

Just a reminder on who we decide to vote for. Guess we always think that electing the dummy is a safe option. :p

[beth wallbank]

That video alone made me sick. I own and breed pitts, and I think the human race should be ashamed of themselves. Sick is my only comment.

[Tim and Julie B]

That vid is sad. They are talking about a ban in the Okanagan as well. There is a pro pitty rally next weekend. We are going. I hope there will be a good turn out.

[crucified]

not only does the video make me sick.. but knowing that people like that can exist out there makes me sicker...
i hope they catch those people even though we all know they wont..
great PR at the end of the video too with the news caster holding the poor girl.. *thumbs up to that news caster*..

its unfortunate this breed gets it the worst on both ends... number one breed of dog to get abused.. and number one breed of dog to be feared by the general public..

poor guys :(

[Scales Zoo]

I haven't gotten into the pitbull debate on the many other threads posted already about them, but here is my 2 cents on the whole thing.

The media is responsible for turning this dog into a demon.

Back in the 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's - pitbulls weren't widely known about, and "dog men" used to match pitbull to pitbull. The fights had more safety rules than boxing, and weren't really vicious at all. If a dog turned it's head while fighting, it was brought back behind a line (scratch line) and then let go, to see if it stormed the other dog in a set amount of time. If it did not, it lost. The matches were designed to test the "gameness" of the dog (The determination to keep on going) rather than it's fighting ability. Very few dogs every died, and most of these guys actually loved their dogs a lot, much more than most hunters love their dogs. Dogs were matched till they won 3 times, then they were condsidered "champions" and could be bred, and retire from the fights.

Then, in the mid to late 80's, tabloid t.v shows like A Current Affair, and others, started running stories about these dog fights. They made up stories about people beating their dogs, fighting to the death, using kittens, puppies, and dogs from other breeds as practise - and many other things.

Guess what, 1/100 people in this world are idiots (slightly higher fraction in North America, unfortunately) and a whole waive of young men who saw this thought it was "cool" and this is where they got their information from.

In a couple of years, dogs were being fought to the death in backyards, people were treating dogs badly to make them tougher, other breeds of dogs were being stolen to train pitbulls on, and pitbulls were being trained to attack people.

See, back in the day, any pitbull that showed human agression was either put down, or neutered - to never breed. Because of these breeding practises. Because of this practise, pitbulls were about the most trustworthy dogs around humans and kids - but not other dogs. I have many dog books, that suggest pitbulls above other dogs for family pets in homes with kids. Their high pain tollerance goes well with kids who like to rough house - the same can't be said for many other breeds.

Since the 80's, people are breeding pitbulls to any other pitbulls, just to make more puppies. People are also breeding pitbulls to other breeds of dogs, which in my opinion is dangerous. Mix the willpower and strength of a pitbull, to other breeds like chows and shar peis that are frequent people biters - and you've got a potentially dangerous dog.

So, Idiots and gang members (who are also idiots) - started breeding these tough dogs, and using them for backyard fights, and protective dogs. More recently, gang bangers have been using these dogs as disposable weapons, against police, other gangs, and people who owe them money.

I used to defend sanctioned dogfighting. I'm not even sure if any of these sanctioned matches are still being held - I think it is mostly idiots doing it now. Farmyards of dogs on chains, so they can almost get at one another, in groups of 20, being thrown some food daily, or every second day - and being bred to produce puppies to sell to other idiots - well, there is a problem. It is a people problem, and not a breed problem.

In some places in Europe, 60 breeds of dogs are banned. They started with the pitbulls and rotweillers, but as soon as dogs started attacking, they were added to the list. Yorkshire terriers are responsible for human deaths, and are in certain places (I've heard including yorkshire, which would be ironic if true.)

I don't agree with breed specific bans, but do agree that it would be nice to keep certain animals (including some reptiles) out of the hands of idiots. As Sheila says "you need a license to drive a car, you need a license to get married, but anyone can reproduce, and have as many kids as they want" This has been happening for years. Idiots pairing up with other Idiots, and having kids, that are idiots or super idiots. Those kids go on to find more superidiots.... Back in the days where there weren't so many different safety regulations - these people would have been taken out of the breeding program through natural selection, but in todays age, Idiots are able to survive, and in some cases - become President of the USA.

So, ban pitbulls - do you not think another breed will just take their place. I predict you'll see more mastiffs, great danes, cane corso's, and other dogs with the potential to cause harm - try to take the place of the pitbulls being kept by idiots in every city in Canada.

Pitbulls are not like other dogs, and in my opinion need to be fenced or leashed at all times (see Mark Isbells, Controlled and Contained beleifs). But I also know, that pitbulls are making many great pets for many good people - and it is a shame that they will be banned anywhere.

I bet the people like Richard F. Stratton, who started promoting the breed in the late 70's and early 80's - now wish they'd have just kept the secret to themselves.

The video link above, is a very good link - send it to anyone you can think of. It gives me goosebumps every time I see it. They show 2 really skinny dogs. I've seen more photo's of these 2 dogs, and can't beleive they were still alive. Only a pitbull would be able to be that skinny and undernourished, and still have the will to live - any other animal would have been be dead for days, I'm sure.

Ryan

[spiderlovebites]

Pittbull breeds are highly restricted here in Windsor now. Its totally unfair and disgusting. My roomates bf has a pittbull and she's the sweetest dog in the world! And now she has to be kept in a kennel and on a muzzle, electronically tagged and insured with a $1million liability insurance thanks to stupid people in town who can't control their own animals! It burns me up! And not only that, but all pittbulls have to be neutered or spayed. Animal genocide!

[Nicky]

People just love to point the finger. Very sad movie made me cry. If only the media showed things like that one the media than everyones mind would be so tainted.
Thanks for sharing
Kayla

[crucified]

ryan... very good post...
good stating of facts...
its nice to know you know your stuff and maybe some other people too... if only people take the time to read and learn... and not just fear...
alot to understand.. just no one wants to find the time..
as for seeing more bigger breeds... someone is ottawa 2 days after the ontario ban has been proposed has listed Cane Corso puppies for sale in the paper...
now im just waiting for the Presa Canarios to hit the papers.. *eye roll*..
those 2 alone can do much more damage to a human than 3 pits on one person..

[Kimo]

Such is the way of society, The Ignorant, And The Stupid always seem to outweigh the Educated, and open minded.. go figure!

good Post Ryan, and that aint even the tip of the Iceberg with this breed, it's been selectively bred into what it is today dating back into the early 1800's..the result? A Breed of dog that excels in any and all sporting events, has a higher intelligence for commands ie. can comprehend up to 30 whistle commands in the span of 43 seconds ( acknowledge one command while running to acomplish it, and subsequently ignoring, and following the next given command, while still pursuing its original task, up to 30 times. By the way, this is the only breed proven to do this) as stated above the ability to keep going, regardless of outcome. un-paralleled strength (they have weight pulling competitions for this breed) in essence this breed is the definition of "Mans Best Friend" and as it were a "Super Dog".

Lets All Hope the Ignorant and Un-Educated do not prevail!

"Punish The Deed, Not The Breed"

Josh

[Oliverian]

Tim, Julie.. where is the rally going to be at?
-TammyR

[Napeesh]

I live here and i dont have any problems with pitbulls