Military Ban on Pit Bulls and Big Dogs: Best for Families or Completely Cruel?

vrijdag 23 augustus 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Maressa Brown 3 hours ago

Angel the pit bull makes a plea to the POTUSThis week, President Obama introduced the world to Sunny, the First Family's new dog and Bo's new playmate. But he's also making headlines for news related to a whole bunch of other dogs! The White House has come out against breed-specific legislation, or any regulations and laws that restrict ownership of dogs by breed. Pit bulls are usually the most common target. And ironically, one of the highest profile organizations to enact these sorts of bans is none other than the U.S. military ...

The Marine Corps bans "large dog breeds with a predisposition toward aggressive or dangerous behavior," including pit bulls, from on-base housing, and many Air Force, Army, and Navy installations have followed suit. (DogsBite.org has a list of bases and municipalities that have banned certain dog breeds.)

As if that wasn't enough, in Prince George's County, Maryland, pit bulls are banned altogether. According to the Maryland Dog Federation, those found within the county are usually either put down or donated to families in other areas. Ugh, horrible! No wonder the White House felt it necessary to speak out on this.

Families -- military or otherwise -- should be able to have whatever dog they want. The issue is not so much about the breed as it is about dog owners being responsible and informed. As the White House notes in their full statement, "The simple fact is that dogs of any breed can become dangerous when they're intentionally or unintentionally raised to be aggressive." Sad, but true! In fact, the White house notes that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found it "virtually impossible to calculate bite rates for specific breeds." Hello, that's definitely a case to keep the military and any other community from targeting specific breeds!

The solution, then, to guard against dog bites should be as the CDC suggests -- a "community-based approach," which would help "build stronger communities of pets and pet owners." Sounds like a win-win plan for every person -- and every dog.

What are your thoughts on the White House's statement and bans on specific dog breeds?

Image via Rebecca Corry/StandUpforPits.us

Click "Like" if you love someone in the military! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Maressa Brown

has enjoyed reporting and writing for a variety of entertainment and women's magazines and websites. More often than not, you'll find her blogging, hitting the gym, reading, researching something on her iPhone, laughing, chatting at an above-"normal" volume, or getting her caffeine fix.

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Grandfather Whose Pit Bulls Killed 2-Year-Old Grandson May Only Get 10-Year Sentence

donderdag 22 augustus 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Jeanne Sager 3 hours ago

The fate of a step-grandfather accused of leaving his two young grandsons at home unsupervised with his dangerous pit bulls is in the hands of the courts now. Steven Hayashi's 2-year-old grandson, Jacob Bisbee, died when he was attacked by the dogs while the step-grandfather was out playing tennis.

According to prosecutors, Hayashi is to blame for not only knowing his dogs were dangerous, but leaving the door to the garage where the dogs were located unlocked and un-child-proofed when he left Jacob and his 4-year-old brother home alone with their sleeping grandmother. And for all of this, for alleged involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment, Hayashi is facing just 10 years in prison.

Ten years?

For knowingly leaving a child in serious danger that resulted in his death?

Is that really enough?

Let me back up a second and address the elephant in the room: not all pit bulls are dangerous. It would be irresponsible of me not to mention that in this anti-pit bull climate. Frankly, that's a kettle of fish that's much too deep for me to get into in just one blog post, but it must be put out there (and if you want more info, check out this great post from the ASPCA on pet behavior and pits).

Now.

Moving on.

Although not every pit bull is dangerous, in this step-grandfather's case, police say his weren't just vicious, but he knew it! The dogs had already killed two family pets and showed aggression toward little Jacob. Prosecutors allege Hayashi had ignored family members' requests that he get rid of the dogs, stating:

But as he told his wife, the dogs were his, and the children were his step-grandchildren, and they should leave before the dogs.

Unfortunately, little Jacob did leave. He died while his grandma was sleeping, while his grandpa was out playing tennis.

The case is still in court, so Hayashi is innocent until proven guilty, but it certainly sounds like he cared nothing for this little boy's safety. Is it really so hard to put off your tennis game until a responsible adult is awake and ready to watch the kids for you? Is it really so hard to LOCK a door?

And if this case proceeds as it stands; if his grandfather is convicted; the message the court sends is that his life is only worth 10 years in prison.

What do you think of the charges and potential punishment here? Is it enough?

Image via v1ctor/Flickr

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jeanne Sager

writes articles for The Stir by day, slays closet monsters and bounds through bedtime stories with her elementary schooler by night. The Phineas and Ferb soundtrack reverberates through her brain.

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