animal racism

although i am not a pitbull owner, i was fairly disappointed when i found out last night that the proposed pitbull ban in lakewood, oh passed. for a seemingly progressive city, they have taken huge steps in the wrong direction by allowing this legislation to pass. and this is only the beginning. ohio is considering a bill that will ban all pitbull breeds from the state!

i do not disagree with breed regulation, but a breed ban is merely a quick fix to the real problem: irresponsible owners. banning pitbulls will not stop dog fighting. banning pitbulls will not keep dangerous dogs from harming or killing other people. owners who use their pitbulls in illegal dogfighting will simply find another breed they can use to meet their needs. then the cycle begins again.

it does not make sense to me to ban a whole breed based on the actions of some. when a group of teenage boys attacks, and nearly kills an innocent man, do we then propose a ban on all teenage boys to solve the problem? when i was a young child, i was bitten by a german shepherd, resulting in a hospital visit and a painful rabies shot. i don't blame the dog for its unacceptable behavior, and i wouldn't think twice about owning a german shepherd myself. i blame the owner.

dogs, much like small children, live in the present. their reaction to a situation is merely a conditioned response. a dog who has been conditioned to react aggressively will become dangerous. a young child who is not consistently corrected for hitting other people, will soon learn that hitting is okay. as parents, we are responsible for teaching and training them to be positive, contributing members of society. as dog owners, we have to be responsible for our pets and be educated about our dog's breed. owning a dog, unlinke most other "house" pets, requires much more time, committment, and attention. a powerful breed, such as a an american pitbull terrier, should not be owned by an inexperienced or irresponsible person.

we MUST go to the root of the problem by holding irresponsible pitbull owners accountable for their actions. it may not be the most cost-effective method or easiest method, but it will provide the long-term results lawmakers are looking for.

if you reside in ohio, please consider siging this petition against the proposed Ohio House Bill 568, even if you're not a dog-lover or a pitbull fan. if you prefer to go directly to the source, contact Rep. Tyrone Yates of Cincinatti here.