geisthexe

Location:

Virginia Beach, Virginia, US

Occupation:

Dog Trainer, Handler, Massage Therapist & Vet Tech

Name:

Deb

Your dogs name/s:

Drago, Conan, Harlie, Spirit, Saphira & Bootsie

Breeds owned:

Presa Canario & Staffie Bull

Other Breeds owned or previously owned:

American Bulldogs, APBT, Great Perynese, Bull Mastiff, and a wolf

Has owned dogs for:

More than 20 years!

Dogs Owned:

6

Number of dogs owned over the years.:

25+

I have trained dogs to:

A high level (more than 20 different commands)

Believe in using positive training methods?:

Yes

Have you ever shown any of your dogs?:

Yes have been for8 - 15 years

Have you ever bred your dog?:

yes - I am an ethical breeder who breeds an occasional litter to further my breed only

Other Animals I own:

• Reptile/s

Marital Status:

Married

Children / Grandchildren:

Drives:

Dodge Ram

My Story:

Introduction to Breed-Specific Legislation (BSL)

BSL affects dogs based on APPEARANCE ONLY. It has NOTHING to do with temperament. The alleged purpose of BSL is to increase public safety, but it can not do that because it completely overlooks temperament.

Breed-specific legislation (BSL) comes in many forms, from extra insurance policies and special licenses, to outright bans of particular breeds. It usually comes about after a critical or fatal dog attack. It generally targets a small set of dog breeds. It attempts to curb dog bites and dog attacks by implementing policies focused specifically on those breeds. And it is always a complete failure - technically and morally.

It's astonishing that BSL continues to spread even after studies have proven its fatal flaws. BSL is ruinously expensive to implement and enforce. Determining a dog's breed or mix is extremely difficult, often resulting in mistaken identities and ensuing lawsuits. BSL does not stop dog attacks or bites. It increases the financial burden on taxpayers, animal shelters, and animal control agencies. It doesn't stop irresponsible owners or dissuade criminals. It doesn't educate anyone about proper dog care. In the end, the punishment is doled out solely on responsible owners and good dogs. Good dogs are confined to their homes, unable to gain valuable social skills and training opportunities - or they are simply killed. Law-abiding owners are the only ones who end up shelling out money to pay for special licenses or souped-up fences, and they are the ones whose hearts are ripped out when their sweet dog is arbitrarily deemed "dangerous" and euthanized.

BSL exists because people are looking for an easy way out. It's easy to point fingers at a group of voiceless dogs and call them "dangerous". It makes for great sound bites on the evening news, and it gives politicians a way to distract people from real worries. It saves us from having to address the core problems - irresponsible, ignorant dog owners, bad breeders, criminals, and an uneducated public.

Some people mistakenly believe that owners of these so-called "dangerous" breeds do not care about public safety because they object so strongly to BSL. On the contrary, these owners are acutely aware of the need for strong non-breed-specific dangerous/vicious dog laws, and they fully support efforts to strengthen and enforce those laws. However, these owners also realize that the problem of dog bites and dog attacks does not lie within a single breed or group of breeds. The problem ultimately lies with the individual owner, and that is where the focus of dangerous dog laws should be.

I hope you will find these pages filled with information and resources you can put to use in your fight to stop the madness.

http://www.stopbsl.org