Thank you Connie, but I actually meant suggestions from members who commented here that licensing was crazy or would not work, or that they'll be damned to be told what kind of dog to own. Not to be confrontational in any manner whatsoever, but I would just like to hear a real game plan. I happen to think licensing to own a powerful breed or known to be a threat, and enforcing fines and I mean outrageous fines will deter a lot of people (who have no buisness owning dogs) from owning dogs. It just won't be worth it. At least a dog that can do some damage. Let them be stupid with their lil ankle biters!

 Quote: jenni williams

 Quote:

overflowing with loose, intact dogs

Sounds like my house!

What you're describing, Kristin, sounds a bit like some other country I certainly wouldn't want to live in. Animal control doing random sweeps and taking animals? Maybe there's more to it, but unless they were severely neglected, I have a huge issue with the government telling what kind and how many dogs I can keep. BTW, when did leaving a dog as nature intended constitute a criminal activity?

Jenni, the situations I was referring to were not like to yours or any other responsible pet owner. I know you are very responsible with your dogs reproductive capabilities. These owners were the kind who let their dogs roam and breed at random. The only reason they were neutered when AC came by was because the owners didn't want to pay the higher licensing fees for intact animals. They also could have kept the additional dogs if they had paid for a kennel license ($250). They simply didn't care that much.

My parents' own dogs were not licensed at the time and AC was very reasonable.

These roaming dogs had killed at least two of my next door neighbors' dogs and chased me on my way to school multiple times. Though these incidents were reported, AC was stretched too thin and could do nothing. When they finally visited the neighborhood, the problems went away almost overnight, but gradually returned over the next ten years.

 Quote: connie sutherland

 Quote: alex corral

... I'm interested in hearing suggestions on how to improve the BSL situation from members who don't agree with owner licensing. Besides saying "don't put up with it", but a real live solution.

http://www.leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=133&Number=76622&Searchpage=1&Main=8252&Words=%26quot%3Banimal+control%26quot%3B+Will+Rambeau&topic=0&Search=true#Post76622

I think Connie (and Will) have it right. We have to work with and through local authorities like AC. If the existing laws are upheld, problems will decrease, and drastic, completely bad bills will be kept off the books (like breed bans or the California mandatory spay and neuter law).

Tougher penalties for criminals might work, but they also have to be enforced and wouldn't prevent a public outcry against big dogs when a tragedy occurs.

Passing a test to own a dog.......... Is just wrong.
I like the idea but... It will never work.

It's like saying people who drive cars, and have a license will not get into an accidents.

I do agree something has to be done, if only I was George Bush.
Wait take that back, that would be a step down in life. hahaha

 Quote: ted efthymiadis

Passing a test to own a dog.......... Is just wrong.
I like the idea but... It will never work.

It's like saying people who drive cars, and have a license will not get into an accidents.

Yes, and who is going to decide what the test should encompass, and what's a passing score? There aren't a lot of differences of opinion on how to steer a car; there are a lot of differences as to how to raise/train a dog. Do we want only ONE way to be legal? Whose way? The way developed by a committee of government bureaucrats who may or may not have ever had dogs of their own?

The problem with legislating behavior is that you're dealing with humans. And humans are, well, human. They don't always react the "right" way. Until we perfect humans, any solution is going to be imperfect.

I like best the idea of "Do what you want, but if your dog hurts someone, we'll throw the book at you." Punish results, not methods. Let everyone use the method that works best for them, but have no tolerance for dog abuse or damage caused by dogs (whatever the breed). Yes, I know - there are lots of differences of opinion on what constitutes dog abuse - but I think there can be some generally accepted guidelines.

(Did I mention I'm a flaming libertarian? )

Until ALL owners show that they have enough individual responsibility and control over their dogs, laws should be in place to protect us up to and including mandatory spaying/neutering and breed limitations and bans.

I understand that all breeds of dogs can attack and bite. I am 6-3 and 235 pounds. I feel confident that I can protect myself from all types of dogs, but I don't think I would fare as well against a Bully, GSD or Rottweiler. Where I live and walk my GSD and RR every day, I see plenty of women out walking their GSD's, Pit Bulls, labs and poodles and show absolutely no control over their dogs.

I strongly feel that potential dog owners should attend training and be certified before purchasing a dog. In order to register your dog or take to the vet for the first time, etc., this certification should be mandatory. And if you fail to provide this information, the other party should be required by law to contact the authorities and report you.

I've had to deal with enough bonehead owners of dogs that I would be willing to accomodate this type of regulation.

You have to take drivers education to get a license, you have to attend safety coursed to purchase a gun, you should have to have dog training to own a dog.

I agree, Anita. We have to punish the results, not try to standardize one method. The recent increase in pit bull attacks is not real, the perception is simply insinuated by the media to stir the pot, IMO. I think there should be a show called "The Alex Correl Show" which documents Alex and his dealings with PB upon PB with amazingly no vicous attacking, killing, or maiming happening! Of course, we won't see that anytime soon, for we are to be terrified 24/7, and dog attacks are scary.

Perhaps if some of these owners understood a bit about pack structure and how to properly contain the dogs when they aren't around, these issues wouldn't occur very often at all. Most people listen to the radio and watch TV so:

How about a public information campaign of some sort, where we set up a website that is dedicated to solving this problem. Then broadcasting on the radio/TV about the general problem, and direct people to the website? Also, you could make ads that would be banners on pet sites that link to the website as well. Is this feasable?

Make it well known and law, that if serious injury happens, the owner of the dog will be jailed.

Dogs can be weapons, and if you handle a weapon incorrectly you are still responsible for the outcome.

The government needs to take a stand and up the laws, and enforce them.

 Quote: rick miller

I agree, Anita. We have to punish the results, not try to standardize one method. The recent increase in pit bull attacks is not real, the perception is simply insinuated by the media to stir the pot, IMO. I think there should be a show called "The Alex Correl Show" which documents Alex and his dealings with PB upon PB with amazingly no vicous attacking, killing, or maiming happening! Of course, we won't see that anytime soon, for we are to be terrified 24/7, and dog attacks are scary.

Perhaps if some of these owners understood a bit about pack structure and how to properly contain the dogs when they aren't around, these issues wouldn't occur very often at all. Most people listen to the radio and watch TV so:

How about a public information campaign of some sort, where we set up a website that is dedicated to solving this problem. Then broadcasting on the radio/TV about the general problem, and direct people to the website? Also, you could make ads that would be banners on pet sites that link to the website as well. Is this feasable?

Don't know if PB attacks being on the rise is real or not...but anything with PB in it certainly is news. Lets see if the slaughter of my friends leashed PB by an unleashed attacking lab's owner makes the news...bet it won't. Either way our laws should advocate accountability. Our governent should if not by the letter, should embody the spirit of accountability of ones actions, or in the case of a danegrous dog..perhaps no action.

Would it not be great if justice was served by our laws.

 Quote: ted efthymiadis

Make it well known and law, that if serious injury happens, the owner of the dog will be jailed.

Dogs can be weapons, and if you handle a weapon incorrectly you are still responsible for the outcome.

The government needs to take a stand and up the laws, and enforce them.

While I agree, and deeply *wish* the laws, at least common sense laws would be enforced. They aren't and probably won't. What I see as far as getting licensed to own a powerful breed is, the key word: EDUCATION. A lot of people would benefit from "learning to own a dog". You can't necessarilly throw the book at someone and punish them with the harshest law available for something they don't know is wrong. We talk about it all the time on this site. "Don't correct your dog for something it doesn't know". A big key in licensing is education, and if we add & enforce strict laws, there just might be a chance things improve. Just maybe.

That's basically the way I raised my kids. I told them I wasn't going to control their every move, but if they screwed up, they WOULD be sorry. Soon after he got his license, my son was stopped for speeding. The officer called me and then had to talk me out of insisting Steven be hauled off to the slammer. My son's almost 20 now and has a clean driving (and criminal) record. My daughter's a Marine. They did it their way.