Quote: Howard Knauf

Whenever one of our K9s gets a street bite the dog is put on a 10 day working dog quarantine. Howard

Wow what the (*&% logic is behind that one. I'm always sorry authorized people are under such restrictions but our irresposible citizens can do what they please. UGGHH!

Lynn

They didn't print my letter...no response as to why but I'm assuming it's because it was much longer than their 200 word limit.

Here's the follow up article to the first story though.

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070605/NEWS/706050320

Be sure to glance at the reader's comments below the article.

My blood is boiling about it on so many levels.

Thanks for posting the followup article. I just read it and the comments below. I don't even know what to say. The owner of the dogs (in the comments) isn't doing much to help herself.

I'm not trying to beat this thing to death, but I did want to post the article published today. It's a semi-bright spot because at least there's a chance that the Rottie puppy won't be euthanized, anyway.


http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070606/NEWS/706060331/-1/NEWS01

I will say that on Cape Cod, the selectmen are generally pretty calm and not reactive when it comes to dog-related issues. This is understandably a situation where people are acting on passion and not logic since children were hurt. I do understand that. I just think the blame is misplaced.

I'm glad that the owner is appealing the decision to have the dogs euthanized. As far as I can tell, almost everyone involved in this situation acted badly. It's completely understandable that the parents of these children are blind with fear and/or anger about the situation, but I hate it when that fear and anger is directed soley at the dogs.

Why is it that the selectmen can't do anything other than cite the owner and kill the dogs? They have to power to order the dogs to death, but not to remove them from the owner's custody?!?! (See the second article) It's not within their power to prevent her from further dog ownership? I smell a civil suit on the wind...

I understand being bound by the laws that exist...but obviously it's time for some new ones. They have the power to euthanize the dogs, they have the power to ban breeds on Cape Cod if they choose. They have the power to insist on fences and "house arrest" for the dogs...but they don't have the power to ban her from future dog ownership? Or do anything more than charge her a small fee? If I were the parent of a child that was attacked by her dogs just days after the dogs had attacked another child, euthanasia of the dogs would NOT satisfy me. I would file a civil suit, for sure.

The owner is claiming that two dog attacks in two days was just a freak accident. Unlikely that there wasn't negligence there, but even if we believe that for the sake of arguement, there are still consequences for accidents. If I crashed into someone with my car by accident, I still have to pay for the damage. And what about if I accidentally crashed into someone else's car the very next day? How about if I keep doing it for the rest of my life? Shouldn't my right to own a car be questioned since I can't drive it safely?

I'm tired of the taint all of this brings on certain dogs and their responsible owners. And I'm tired of the dogs being the only ones who have any conseqences.

I have 5 days until my wedding. After that I am going to become MUCH more active in changing some laws than I ever was before. I may not succeed, but we responsible dog owners will at least be given some press and attention.

It's important for the reactionary public to know that responsible owners are, in fact, in the majority -- despite how much attention the bad ones get.

Simply awsome! Way to go!

Amber, I'm just in awe of your passion and desire to change an obiously ill guided system - the world, and politics, needs more people like you!

You keep good company here, let us know if we can help.

And congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

~Natalya

 Quote: Amber Morgan

... And I'm tired of the dogs being the only ones who have any conseqences....

Same here - time for some changes. With changes in laws needs to come enforcement. That's where it seems most laws regarding pet owners would go south (like already in place loose dog and leash laws).

Count me among the supporters. Anything I can do to help, for real. Dog laws have needed to be changed for a long time. Maybe if enough people got together to change them, something positive would happen. I'm behind this 100%.

Congrats on your upcoming nuptuals, btw Amber .

 Quote: Sandy Moore

Same here - time for some changes. With changes in laws needs to come enforcement. That's where it seems most laws regarding pet owners would go south (like already in place loose dog and leash laws).

So true about the enforcement. But it would be nice to have something more severe than a ticket for owners to think about BEFORE kids (or adults or our dogs) get attacked.

Catching people who are responsible for allowing these situations to happen isn't usually the hard part...the media screams for attention in these cases. It's just having something to do to them once they have them that's the problem.

Absolutely! I agree.