Pit bull ban in Tennessee
By Cindy WolffJanuary 18th, 2008
There's a bill in the Tennessee Senate that would make it illegal to own a pit bull or any mix of the pure-breds that get that label. It's SB2738.
This is crazy. If we don't contact our lawmakers this could become a law. Whether you love the breed or not, you must know that it isn't the breed that is the problem, it's the owner. It's just like people who want to ban guns. Law-abiding citizens would surrender their weapons and criminals, who have no regard for law, will continue to use them.
I am a law-abiding citizen. I will not break the law, but I will not live in a state where law enforcement refuses to do its job and go after these people that abuse, neglect and train this breed and send them to prison. If it instead forces its citizens to surrender family pets and innocent animals, then my house is going on the market. If anyone thinks Michael Vick's dogs deserved to die the way they did, then they don't know anything about canine behavior and man's dominion over animals. They are defenseless and are at our mercy.
Please tell me what you think and get on the phone and email and get this this bill killed before it ever gets out of committee. I'll tell you one law I would be in favor of regarding pit bulls. Mandatory spay/neuter. that would eliminate them as breeding stock so people wouldn't be apt to stake out 10 or 12 in a back yard and just keep them like livestock. Also, why isn't someone going after these people for not having a business license or paying taxes on earned income? There are other ways to go after these criminals. Al Capone went to jail on tax evasion.
And like I keep saying, if you find someone who is involved in criminal activity with pit bulls, it will just be the tip of the iceberg. People who break the law with these animals probably have all sorts of other criminal activity going on. They aren't on the straight and narrow except for this one thing!
Stop the insanity.
January 18th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
I think doing something about the folks selling pits on street corners and empty lots might be a decent start. I see the same people in the same places month after month, always with pit puppies!
You might be able to ban pit bulls from Tennessee, but another breed of dog with irresponsible owners will take its place. What's next? A Chow ban? What about a German Shepard Mix ban? Those, with pits, are the three breeds I see most commonly roaming the Memphis streets.
While I don't agree with the bill, I can understand why they presented it against the dog instead of the owner. It's easier to make a dog do something(i.e. banish them from the state) than it is to make thousands of lousy owners step up and become responsible.
January 18th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
This is the dumbest idea ever! While were at it, why dont we ban White people, black people, or any other race? I mean come on how can you take my 2 loving pit bulls away from me because John trained his 2 pit bulls to kill? My dogs have no aggression what so ever! I treat them like babies and thats exactly how they act. If the bill passes and some surrender their dogs to the humane society ( cause Im not) what will happen to them there? Will they kill them? Isnt that animal cruelty. Im sorry Mr. Kilby that your friend was killed by a dog I really am and I think thats terrible and my prayers go out to you and your family but my dogs didnt do it and they dont associate with such dogs.....What about my family?
January 19th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
This is very ignorant. This bill will ensure that the only people who owns pit bulls will be the crimnals who mistreat them. I am a pit bull owner, and law, or no law I will not be getting rid of my dog, or handing him over to the humane society.
January 20th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Pit bulls have a lineage as very aggressive animals. They are bred to be fighters, watchdogs, etc.
The vast majority of "people" who own pit bulls are absolutely irresponsible.
They should be looked at as bears, lions, wolves, etc.
Granted, they can be fine family pets if kept on an owner's property. BUT, LOOK OUT if you are a "stranger", or happen to be walking in your neighborhood when one is on the loose.
I've witnessed the "friendly" pooches threatening walkers & joggers in Countrywood.
Due to the lax enforcement of very weak animal ordinances, it's next to impossible to have a owner cited and the vicious animals permanently removed.
Call Animal Control ... they may, or may not, show up ... if they do, it's hours after the episode. They say they have to actually see the "pooch" running loose.
IF, they do happen to see the "pooch" runnibg loose ... they will take it to the pound. Now, here's the laugh ... the irresponsible owner pays a small fine and retrieves his "pooch" ... and, we're right back where we started.
Cindy ... wake up. Do a google news search for pit bulls in the news. Then do a search for ANY other breed. Let me know what you find.
I already know. I've done one.
January 20th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
i think this is the most ridiculous thing i have ever heard of. i have a pit bull who is about 5 years old and her name is Baby and for good reason i think its stupid to take peoples family pets that they have had for years and "humainly" uthinize them when they havent done anything to deserve to die. if its passed how are they going to prove you own or knowingly own a pit bull. what if i call her a mutt am i a liar? she doesnt have papers. i dont understand how this invasion of rights can be passed. i think its ignorence of people who have never been around on that was raised correctly or for that matter have probly never been around one at all.
January 21st, 2008 at 9:54 am
The sponsor of the bill says that he has no intention of pushing for a breed ban; he wants to use the proposed law to draw attention to the problem, and negotiate for a law which would increase penalties on those whose dogs attack humans.
There is no one trying to ban pit bulls; read the entire news article before overreacting to it.
January 22nd, 2008 at 8:46 am
I think we have much bigger problems than to ban someone who adors these specially beautiful (if you like slobber, wrinkles, baggy eyes and doggy smells) dogs from responsible owners. Should we ban problematic people who rob, cheat and rape? That sounds more reasonable, but they have public defenders getting them released all the time. There's something wrong with this picture. Last time I looked, I lived in America, home of the free and brave.
January 22nd, 2008 at 8:50 am
This is wrong
January 22nd, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Pit bulls were originally the "nanny" dogs. They are very easy to train because they have an innate love for people. They desperately want to please their owner. When their owner teaches them the wrong things, then the animals can turn bad. Blame the deed, not the breed. If pits are banned, then the criminals that don't ignore the law will return to some of the other abused breeds like Rottweilers and Dobermans.
January 22nd, 2008 at 6:50 pm
That has got to be the most ridiculous thing that I have ever heard before in my life...I am a pitbull owner and I have been one since I was 17 and believe me every pitbull that I have owned has never never done anything wrong nor have they ever shown any kind of aggression towards anybody and when I say anybody I mean anybody. I have been pulled over by the cops with my dog in the truck with me and thats a stranger and my loving female pit never once tried to "attack" as a matter of fact the police officer even petted my dog....me and my male pit has been outside when the mailman came by my house and he absoulutely loved the dog and my dog loved him back....i have been to several drive thrus with my dog and each and every time we went my was in the window trying to get the peoples attention just so he could get petted. I dont disagree with taking the dogs away from owners that mistreat their dogs and train them to do evil things. Not all pitbull owners do this...I own my pitbull because he is my guardian...I live in Memphis and lets face it; memphis isnt exactly the safest city in the world and my dog makes me feel safe not because he is going to attack somebody or knows how to attack somebody but because i know that i will never have to worry about the lowlifes in this city ever messing with me or trying to pick me up...my dog is the best thing that has evr happened to me like I said he is my guardian angel...I will never give my dog up to be inhumanely euthanized....how about this idea lawmakers why dont ya'll worry more about the drug dealers and rapists that are in this state that are killing these innocent children or adults...i love my dog and my dog loves me and anybody else that he comes in contact with....PUNISH THE DEED NOT THE BREED!!!!!!!!
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:05 am
I absolutely disagree. I don't think we need more mauled, disfigured children just to satisfy someone's affinity for a peculiar dog breed that is the poster child for the coarseness overtaking this country.
There are plenty of fine, peaceful dog breeds out there to pick from that don't have such a track record of viciousness and causing harm to children (and grownups too).
January 23rd, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Cindy,
Hear, hear! Thanks for speaking up on this issue. We do NOT need breed specific legislation, banning "breeds."
Lori
January 23rd, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Oh, my. Before you believe everything you "hear" about pits, think about it. And learn.
This is quoted from a reputable website:
"The answer to dangerous dogs can be found in generic Dangerous Dog Laws which address the underlying cause of most dog-related deaths and injuries – irresponsible dog ownership.
Any dog can bite – Any dog can be made aggressive and be trained to attack.
Good Dangerous Dog Laws place the owner in the position of ensuring that their dog(s) comply with all state and local requirements. Fines for violations can vary, but the leading principle is that dog ownership should be more costly to the irresponsible individuals. Experience has taught us that most bite incidents are examples of irresponsible ownership, not the specific dog breed involved. In other words, we need stricter regulations on dog ownership, no matter what the breed.
...The important thing to remember is that breeds change. In the 70's, the German Shepherd was the number one target of BSL, in the 80's, it was the Doberman. For those of you who don’t currently own one of the above listed breeds - READ ON - IT COULD BE YOUR BREED NEXT! Bermuda recently banned 23 breeds of dogs. Italy also passed bans and restrictions against 92 breeds. So, if you are in Italy and want to walk your Border Collie, you will need to have him muzzled in public! ..."
from www.blessthebullys.com
This site also covers some of the myths about pit bulls.
Even precious Jack Russell Terriers can be vicious little dogs. They're wonderful, and capable of some serious damage. Pound for pound, there's not a tougher dog out there.
And are cocker spaniels still statistically the most often to bite children? But they are great dogs! Each owner should be aware of what they are adopting, and work accordingly with the animal.
January 30th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPEAK FOR OUR OWN SELVES AND NOT ANYONE ELSE. MY OPINION .. THEY ARE LIKE HUMANS.. WE CAN'T HELP THEY ARE THAT BREED BUT WE CAN HELP HOW TO TRAIN. iTS LIKE HUMANS WE WOULDN'T GET RID OF CERTAIN HUMANS WE JUST NEED TO FIND A COMPROMISE AND LOOK AT ALL THE POINT OF VIEW. LIFE IS TO SHORT TO WORRY ABOUT TAKING SO MANY LAWS ON.. WE NEED TO LOOK AROUND US AND REALIZE WHAT WE CAN FIX.
February 1st, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Do you own and love a dog? If so, you better wake up and smell the javaroast people! Breed bans affect every dog owner, not just the targeted breed! I suggest that the public educate themselves on B.S.L. and realize this is the first step in banning ALL breeds! Because as soon as another Pomeranian kills a child again (oh yes, I said another)
Yes, a Pomeranian killed a 6 week old infant but we failed to hear about that because it wasnt a pitbull! Heres the link:
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/10/09/pomeranian.kills.ap/
So what is next? They will try to ban Pomeranians? You see, until the real problem is addressed ~BAD OWNERS~, there will continue to be attacks by ALL breeds.
I know over 700+ people who own multiple pitbulls, and children, and have NEVER had a problem, because NO breed just turns on ANYBODY without warning unless there is a underlying medical problem. My sister lets her 2 year old daughter ABUSE her dog, and by that I mean pull her tail, pull her ears, hit on her, and so forth to her Golden Retriever mix. She thinks it is funny that the dog takes the abuse and does nothing. But, that is because my sister is in the room. As soon as that dog gets a chance, she WILL bite my niece,(god forbid), any dog would. That doesnt mean they all should be banned.So you see, if we go around trying to ban a breed for the acts of some, then eventually we will have none left, because ALL dogs have bitten, and alot of breeds have killed! From a pitbull, down to a Pomeranian. If we ban everything that can kill, we will be left with nothing in this world but air! Oh wait, polluted air can kill, so will we ban that too?
February 1st, 2008 at 2:29 pm
To Mayor Bill! I hope you dont rely solely on a google search for all of your information. Thank God your not my mayor, I wouldnt want someone ignorant like you making important decisions for my city!!!! Pitbulls were not bred to be aggressive to people, quite the opposite is true! They are noted for their love of people and especially children!You are going to breed bashing websites to get your info, google American Staffordshire Terrier to get reliable info , as pitbull is a generic term used to encompass several different breeds commonly refered to as pitbulls.
Also, its funny to me how the people who hate this breed never knew one personally, and all the people on here who have known one personally talk about how sweet and gentle pitbulls are. Hmmm. maybe the people who have owned them or worked with them on a daily basis may know a little more about this subject!!!
Also Mayor Bill, I just googled the name Mayor Bill and guess what came up?
some stuff about Bill Clinton, and Mayor Bills' daughter was arrested for suspicion of driving while intoxicated, and.... Do you see where Im going with this? You cant base your perceptions of someone based on a google search!
February 1st, 2008 at 4:05 pm
To all you who oppose: Tell your arguments to my cat that died on my kitchen floor after being attacked by 3 stray pit bulls early this morning. Wow, next time i hope it's not my neighbor's toddler playing with his train in the yard.
Come on people. As sweet as your dog may be, something needs to be done.
February 1st, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Greyhounds will show aggression towards small prey ALL DAY EVERY DAY! But just like pitbulls, they know the difference between animals and humans. I have a pitbull who lives peacefully with a chihuahua, so dont tell me ALL pits are mean to other animals, so the dogs that killed your cat could have been trained to do so by people. Or even a better idea, they could have just been being dogs, and doing what comes naturally to most dogs!!!! Most dogs dont like cats. What planet are you living on??? But, because they were pits, their being vicious. No, they are being dogs!!!
Look at this, yeah thats a real vicious pitbull, heh? My pitbull Princess Star
www.myspace.com/starsweetness
February 2nd, 2008 at 3:39 am
whos to say all pitbulls are vicious my pit was not vicious towards people only dogs but he got in two fights and look what happend there fixin to put him down come on even crimanals get three strikes how jacked up is that and on top of that kids kick at my fence
February 20th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
W#ell said, Cindy. The problem is indeed the owners, and a breed can not be effectively banned any more than alcahol or drugs can be outlawed. Even if pit bulls were to disappear, the thuggy dog abusers would just move on to brutalize dogs in some other powerful breed--shepherds, dobies, chows, rottweilers, etc. etc. etc.
If breed discrimination ever kicks in numerous fine breeds that inspire foolish myths will be at risk. For almost 29 years, my best friends have been a series of wonderful and gentle dobermans--and ignorant people keep asking me if I'm not afraid these loyal companions will "turn on me".
My current friend is a 100+ pound giant who has earned his therapy dog certification as well as the AKC good citizenship award. We make regular calls at nursing homes where he is greeted with absolute joy by elderly folks, many of whom are smaller than he is, and who love to let him take treats out of their hands.
Which brings me back to pit bulls. The national head of our particular therapy dog group makes her visits with a pair of large, gentle pit bulls
who bring delight to her numerous clients. I meet many such fine representatives of the pit bull breeds while exercising my own dog.
Legislators should stop filing bills on subjects where they display total ignorance. Instead of stereotyping breeds, they need to prosecute humans like Vick who turn gentle dogs into monsters.
March 10th, 2008 at 11:43 am
i love pitbulls i dont fight my dogs, they are protective family pets and i think it would be an injustice to ban these animals...
April 25th, 2008 at 1:40 am
I own 13 pitbulls, and if this law passes I will NOT get rid of my dogs. I love my dogs like they are my children. They need to worry about more important things besides a breed of dog like rapist and killers. I think that might be a little more important than a dog besides if you have never owned a pitbull than you will NEVER know how sweet and gentle they really are. Mine a just like little children. The one that stays in the house is like my number one priority, I have had him since he was 3 weeks old and no matter what he will not go anywhere even if that means going to jail. If the cops got off their lazy butts and did not sit in the police station all freaking day and got out there looking for the kind of people that make them aggressive then maybe this would not be such a problem. Never in my life have I ever heard of something so stupid. Any dog can be trained to fight but the only thing about a pitbull is their jaws a really strong but any dog can kill somebody so senator get off your butt and do some research before you make the stupidest bill ever made in the United States.
June 26th, 2008 at 1:17 am
I feel that the pit bull is a very dangerous animal and as one person said, they should be treated as any wild animal. You can take a wild animal out of the wilderness and teach it tricks that isn't part of breeding and nature, but it will always returns to instint . I think it has went way to long without any reasonable restriction on this animal. For years the bit bull has been bread to fight, to be very aggressive.You might think your pet pit is trained and harmless, but it will return to it breeding to fight and be aggressive. I know people who take no care in trying to protect other from what could and very well happen. Our neighbors as of one. In fact they have tried to threaten us with their pit. I have had the pit bull enter my yard and try to attact my small dog. We have alearted the animal control, they were no help at all. All we wanted is for the animal to be restained as our small dogs are. It got to a point that we could not take our dogs out doors The last day or two we have put them out doors.we do keep our dog chained, in fear we watch closly, but in hopes that the pit bull will not harm them.
when walking my dog the neighbors dog started to run toward my dog onto my property. it was distarcted by the owner and grabbed. With in a few minutes it went towards the other neighbors yard and had to be retreaved.
We were told as long as the dog was under control the neighbor did not have to have the dog on a leash if it was in his yard. I ask you how do people controll a dog without a leash? There is no way, a dog is like a child, you turn your head for a split second and the dog is gone.
I think the state should become stricter on any dog that was bread for fighting and guarding. I feel that all dogs should be leashed when out doors or pinned in an enclosure or have to submit the animal to officials to be placed in a home that is guarded by the state. Most people are not responcable enough to own such a animal that was bread to attack or fight. It is a shame that we have to endure people moronic way of handling such animals and not respecting others and their safty and rights. I know, I am having this problem now. THE OWER WAS ASK TO PLEASE USE A LEASH WHEN HAVING THE DOG OUT DOORS, HE STATED, "MY DOG WILL NEVER BE ON A LEASH OR CHAINED AND NO ONE CAN MAKE ME, NO ONE." HE ALSO SAID HE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT ME ( AS A PERSON ) which says he didn't care if the dog attacted me, but then again why would he care if the dog attacted me, if has threatened me a few times himself.I view him as more of an animal than the dog! I THINK THIS IS THE MENTALITY OF MOST DOG OWERS, THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT THEMSELVES!!!! THERE IS NO RESPECT FOR OTHERS AT ALL. NOW PEOPLE WANT TO WONDER AND ASK WHY THEY ARE BEING PUT UNDER PRESSURE ABOUT THERE PET PITS.
The biggest fact is the neighbor that has this pits next to us really doesn't care about the dog either or they would restain the animal. FOR THE ANIMALS SAFTY. Your pet pit hurts someone, he is GONE and GONE forgood. JUST AS IT SHOULD BE AS WITH ANY DOG!!!!!! I hope some of you will see where you let you pet down and really have np respect for the pet. I have to say as things stand, I am all for the bill!!!!!