[puppylove2009]

Okay I have a little 23 pound mix breed dog. She listed at the shelter as a Jack Russell Terrier/ Wire Hair Terrier mix but her paperwork from the shelter says Jack Russell Terrier/ Chihuahua mix

Anyways based on looks would she be at risk?

I ask based on looks because she does have a blocky head (but Jack Russells have blocky heads)

She won't be at risk will she? Will her shelter paperwork hold up if something does happen?

The big reason is I hear some places the Jack Russell is in Trouble so that is my fear (I know she is not a pit but I'm concerned if the Jack Russells keep getting negative attention what could happen)


I am proud to say our County is BSL free but if a statewide ban goes into effect it over rules the county.


The law makers have tried to pass a statewide ban twice. It would ban Pit Bulls
Pit Bull Mixes

Or any dog that has features resembling a Pit Bull (example: Blocky head and muscular)

Would have to be surrendered and euthanized


Here is what some of the counties near us already have:

Restrictions, 8ft fence, muzzles and 100k insurance


Dobes, Rotties, Pit bulls decalred vicious.
Banned, no new dogs allowed in city, current dogs face restrictions


Pit Bulls banned and no grandfather clause.


That is just a few of the bans in the area.

[puppylove2009]

I'm sure she wouldn't be at risk but I'm scared if they pass a law that bans breeds more and more breeds will be banned especially mutts and I worry

Thats just plain nuts and full of ignorance. Where do you live?

OK im confused- puppylove 2009 started the thread and answered her own thread?

Originally Posted by puppylove2009

I'm sure she wouldn't be at risk but I'm scared if they pass a law that bans breeds more and more breeds will be banned especially mutts and I worry

You worry yourself too much, my friend.

What they need to ban is ignorant owners....and ignorant "breeders". Between the two, many breeds are getting a bad rap.

Rotties and GSDs and Mastiffs and Akitas and yes, even Pitts are a victim of ignorant breeders who are intensifying negative attributes and ignorant owners who don't realize that these are dogs who will need major socialization and training and control.

I don't think your dog looks like it has pitt in it. I guess you could always pay to have a DNA test done to determine what breeds it has but I've heard that those are not THAT reliable.

[puppylove2009]

Yeah I don't trust the DNA Tests the reason I worry is because someone said it seems mutts are more at risk because any label can be thrown on them. I don't think she is.

We are getting her to take the Canine Good Citizen test once she completes her training though

[puppylove2009]

Originally Posted by 4paws-up

Thats just plain nuts and full of ignorance. Where do you live?

OK im confused- puppylove 2009 started the thread and answered her own thread?

Yeah I added to my original thread.....I wasn't replying to it

My concern is though I have been hearing a lot of negative stuff as well about Jack Russells. Are they next?

And she is bigger than a Jack russell so I don't want someone implying something and getting her in trouble...because her head is a little blocky and she is physically fit.


We were told the other day we need to be careful because she is a mutt....infact they said all mutt owners should be weary....was that person a little paranoid or should we be worried since we have a mutt?



Here is what that person said:

You need to be careful because you have a mutt and all mutts are just as much at risk because people don't know whats in them and if they can get away with killing purebred pit bulls it would be even easier for them to get a hold of mutts.

Like I said that person might have just been a bit paranoid

[puppylove2009]

We are in Tennessee and it didn't go through originally but we know we haven't seen the last of this.

This was the original bill: It did not go into effect

http://www.wbir.com/pdf/dogbill_01172008.pdf


Here is a link to the story about it:

WBIR.com | Knoxville, TN | State senator proposes pit bull ban


We do live in a BSL free county


We know it won't be the last of it.


Now we heard somewhere else that it could be amended to any dog with Pit like features as well

Originally Posted by puppylove2009

We were told the other day we need to be careful because she is a mutt....infact they said all mutt owners should be weary....was that person a little paranoid or should we be worried since we have a mutt?

Here is what that person said:

You need to be careful because you have a mutt and all mutts are just as much at risk because people don't know whats in them and if they can get away with killing purebred pit bulls it would be even easier for them to get a hold of mutts.

Like I said that person might have just been a bit paranoid

They are either a) parnoid, b) wanting you to get excited and what to help their cause, or c) both. Remember: Misery loves company. If they have a threatened breed, they will want everyone to be upset about the bill and help them fight it.

Does that mean that mutt owners can or should just sit back and ignore the bans because our dogs aren't purebred and/or don't look like a banned breed? My answer (amended from Martin Niemoller's poem):

"they first came for the German Shepherds, and I didn't speak up because I didn't own a German Shepherd. Then they came for the Doberman Pinchers, and I didn't speak up because I didn't own a Doberman. Then they came for the Rotteweilers, and I didn't speak up because I didn't own a Rotteweiler. Then they came for the Pittbulls and I didn't speak up because I don't own a Pittbull. Then they came for my mutt -- and by that time there was nobody left to speak up."

[puppylove2009]

Like I said I do my part to fight BSL but you are right that was probably exactly the reason

Good grief, the most popular breed known to families, the Labrador Retriever, has a big, blocky head and is muscular. My own spaniel has a big blocky head-- that is what I point out to people who mistake her for a Border Collie just because she is black and white (around here, any black and white dog is automatically id typed a bc)-- the blockhead is a common trait among the retriever/birding class dogs-- and like those dogs are going to be banned! Ha! I'm sure there are people out there who would like to see the entire canine species as a whole become extinct, because those people are terrified of dogs in general. Don't worry about it, Puppy Love-- there are just way too many mutt lovers out there to pass such irresponsible legislation. Especially when you look at how many mutts are actually rescued and trained to become service dogs! Even the police are rescuing mutts from the shelters and training them to become drug/bomb sniffers! And other mutts are being used to help the hearing impaired, therapy dogs, and perform other types of service for the disabled. No, there are too many talented mutts out there to pass a ban.

[Lara's mom]

I know this thread is old but since I live in a BSL province, I felt compelled to comment. Not only are pit bulls banned in Ontario but, pit bull X' , Staffordshire terriers and any dog someone from animal control feels even looks like it may contain some pit bull puts the onus on the owner/guardian to prove otherwise.

I have two problems with BSL. First, it punishes the entire breed for the bad deeds of some (I blame the owners) and, in the case of Ontario, no pit bulls have been allowed to be born since 2005 which means in a few years the breed will die out in this province. If any are found, they are euthanized - period. They don't have to ever have done anything wrong. In the mean time, other dogs, particularly large dogs have bitten people and attacked other dogs with little in the way of consequences. How is that fair?

The other thing which proponents of the ban seem to forget is that once you start banning ANY breed of dog, it becomes a very slippery slope. What breed will be next? It could be yours. Where does it stop? What originally caught my eye about this post is the reference to Jack Russell's because I have one - she often gets "put in her place" by my cat. Lara weighs 14 pounds. Could she be next? What about my Border Collie? Nobody knows who the next breed will be to be banned once we allow it to happen once.

Unfortunately, the media has gone out of it's way to destroy the reputation of the pit bull. It could just as easily happen to ANY breed. In Italy at one time, there were 90 banned breeds! Nobody wants to see that happen in North America. What can we do? Do some research. Arm yourself with facts. Then, write to every level of government asking them to enact Dangerous Dog Legislation instead of Breed Specific Legislation. That will ensure that the deed is punished - not the entire breed.

[sandyh]

I think the owners of the bad animal when it happens to attack someone should be euthanized not the dog. Maybe if they paid more attention to it instead of tying it up in the back yard for years and years where everyone can tease it everyday, instead of taken out and walk and played with and socialized with other people and other dogs should be the one to be put to sleep. we all know that we can do without those kinds of owners. I can just imagine how they raised their kids, or how they as kids were raised. Ya know thinking back as a kid, my dog lived in a kennel all day and was brought in the house at night. it was my dog, but i can remember always hating to walk it because he walked me. He was a golden retriever yellow lab and german shepard. he was a 125 pound dog. I dont know how i could have ever thought that way, and still turned out the way i did loving all pets. I have never met a unvicious ankle biter yet. (small animal) i think i must just rub them the wrong way when i meet them or something as i have never seen a nice one yet. i hope they never pass a bill like that in wisc cuz i will never give up my pits and my rott. The big dogs always get blamed. I wonder what exactly happened that the dogs attached the people.
I watched a segment on the not so famous tv show about a kid and his friends that didnt like this particular dogs that was behind a great big fence and everyday that they would walk past it the dog would bark at them so they would toss rocks over the top of the fence trying to hit it, this went on for months, then one day out of the blue the dog went nuts he jumped the fence and attached this kid, but he doesnt know why. And the way he was telling it at the age of probably 47 he sounded like he still really didnt know why he would do that all of a sudden. Well DAh? Once again stupidity of parents not educating there kids not to tease a dog for any reason. By the way the dog was a pit.

well gee that is sorta the pot calling the kettle black sandyh
I have 3 ankle biters.....maybe you should meet mine and a pit bull X.....we are quite a sight on walks........I do have one mean chi but I dont fault him. People fail to realize that when Paris and Brittney were toting them around like accessories all BREED TEMPERMENT and anything else that is done right went out the door and HUGE profits were made. Mine is a result of such puppymill BS and was abused to boot. I hate when people "stereotype" any dog. I used to be afraid of pit bulls- if you told me 5 years ago I would have owned one I would not have believed you.

I rescue so I rarely get the better of any breed when I take in a dog but I have really been blessed and my eyes opened up. When I volunteered at the shelter she loved getting little dogs cause she knew they would get adopted first needless to say I dont support her anymore

I hope you do meet a nice ankle biter one day...not trying to cause grief--just sharing

I hope someting can be done to properly open the eyes in regards to "bully" breeds

[Lara's mom]

Sandyh: I wish you had the chance to meet my Lara. She would fit into that category of what I think you referred to as vicious ankle biters? She weighs 14 pounds soaking wet and is smaller than my cat who "puts her in her place" on a regular basis. She is loved to death by everyone in my building because she's so friendly and personable. I too have met small dogs who are "terrors". I put the blame squarely on the owners. Just because a dog is small, doesn't mean that he/she does not have to learn proper manners. Lara is the first small dog I've ever had and I made sure she got the same training as Bailey, my beloved Border Collie X. They are both loved by my neighbours because they are friendly and people don't have to worry about their small children around them although I am ALWAYS right there when either one of them are interacting with a child. Even our mail carrier doesn't get alarmed when he knocks on my door to deliver a package and the dogs run out into the hall. They both adore him!

Cant always blame the owner.........if a dog is not bred for breed betterment then sometimes you dont have a chance..........not to mention mine was abused- Do you know how many people fault ME for my mean dog. I have had everything in my home from behaviourists to military trainers, etc. Nobody can "fix" him. He is what he is..........I got him at 11 mos

[Lara's mom]

I don't even want to imagine what that poor little dog must have gone through to make him that way. I can imagine the scenario though - your dog; your fault.

There is a woman in my building who rescued a severely abused little terrier X. She has to keep the little thing muzzled and leashed at all times because he is so aggressive toward both humans and other dogs. He is just fine with her because she's established trust with the dog just as I imagine you have with yours. I have no doubt that but for the decency of the two of you, both of those dogs would be deemed unadoptable and euthanized.

[sandyh]

Originally Posted by 4paws-up

well gee that is sorta the pot calling the kettle black sandyh
I have 3 ankle biters.....maybe you should meet mine and a pit bull X.....we are quite a sight on walks........I do have one mean chi but I dont fault him. People fail to realize that when Paris and Brittney were toting them around like accessories all BREED TEMPERMENT and anything else that is done right went out the door and HUGE profits were made. Mine is a result of such puppymill BS and was abused to boot. I hate when people "stereotype" any dog. I used to be afraid of pit bulls- if you told me 5 years ago I would have owned one I would not have believed you.

I rescue so I rarely get the better of any breed when I take in a dog but I have really been blessed and my eyes opened up. When I volunteered at the shelter she loved getting little dogs cause she knew they would get adopted first needless to say I dont support her anymore

I hope you do meet a nice ankle biter one day...not trying to cause grief--just sharing

I hope someting can be done to properly open the eyes in regards to "bully" breeds

That was the point i was trying to make they are all stereo typed especially the pits and rotts exc... have you ever heard of them banning little dogs from a state because one bit someone so they must all be terrible.

[sandyh]

Originally Posted by 4paws-up

Cant always blame the owner.........if a dog is not bred for breed betterment then sometimes you dont have a chance..........not to mention mine was abused- Do you know how many people fault ME for my mean dog. I have had everything in my home from behaviourists to military trainers, etc. Nobody can "fix" him. He is what he is..........I got him at 11 mos

If I had no dogs and I had to pick one from a humane society, and i had the choice of one that would be adoptable and one that was gong to be euthanized i would take the one that was going to be euthanized. So ya i would fit into that category of owners too. My hats off to you.

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

I don't even want to imagine what that poor little dog must have gone through to make him that way. I can imagine the scenario though - your dog; your fault.

There is a woman in my building who rescued a severely abused little terrier X. She has to keep the little thing muzzled and leashed at all times because he is so aggressive toward both humans and other dogs. He is just fine with her because she's established trust with the dog just as I imagine you have with yours. I have no doubt that but for the decency of the two of you, both of those dogs would be deemed unadoptable and euthanized.

yeah it breaks my heart - in fact he is starting to have a breakdown in vision......I shudder... when he cant see where he is going, what he is gonna be like?....... If people listen to me when I tell them leave him alone he is ok for the most part BUT they dont......