against bill 568

As a responsible owner of several dogs of different breeds, I am in full support of keeping the public safe from vicious dogs. No one wants to see anyone injured or be injured by a situation that could have been avoided.

However, just as I need effective laws to keep me safe from dangerous dogs, I also need effective laws to protect my freedom to own a dog of my choice and to protect my family from being broken apart. I, as a responsible dog owner, do not want to be reprimanded by the law for owning a certain breed of dog. Vicious dog laws need to target irresponsible owners, NOT certain breeds. Dogs of any breed can bite. I want to be protected from vicious dogs of all breeds, shapes and sizes.

Breed specific legislation targeting certain breeds instead of the true problem of irresponsible ownership, such as proposed in Bill 568, is motivated by fear and lack of relevant knowledge. It is discriminatory, impractical, unenforceable and costly to implement and maintain. Worst of all, it will NOT solve the problem, but rather distract from the root of the problem which is irresponsible owners.

Owners whose dogs roam unsupervised, live out at the end of a chain isolated from human contact, are left unaltered resulting in higher testosterone levels and aggression, participate in illegal dog fights, are encouraged to attack or are involved in other abusive situations need to be targeted. Not only are these people less likely to abide by breed restrictions (they are already not abiding by other laws), they do not care what breed they have to abuse. They will simply move on to another, then another.

In addition, breed-specific laws punish those who have done no wrong. Dogs that are properly confined, trained and socialized to be companions and loving members of the family pose NO threat to the public. Their owners are more likely to abide by the laws and should not be reprimanded because they happen to own the same breed as someone who does not abide by the laws.

Breed specific laws could even create a new strain of people breakings the law so that they do not have to give up or pay extra fines for a cherished member of the family.

Please, I urge you, oppose Bill 568 in favor of a better solution.