New York City Councilman, Peter Vallone Jr., is pushing for a city ban on Pit Bulls and celebrity Pit Bull owner, Rachael Ray, is not happy about it.
The day after Christmas, Vallone, called for the ban explaining that the dogs pose a threat to public safety. “It’s our job to get this done before another child’s face is ripped off.”
Two days later, celebrity chef and dog lover, Rachael Ray, took a very different stand on her talk show. She held up a copy of the 2007 Unexpected Pit Bull Calendar, which features color photographs of Pit Bulls doing what might be the unthinkable to some - cuddling with children - and declared, “I support this.” (All proceeds from calendar sales go to New Jersey’s Liberty Humane Society. For more info, go to theunexpectedpitbull.com)
What are your thoughts about the ban and about Pit Bulls in general? Having grown up with another breed that gets a bad rap, (Rottweilers) I’m opposed to the ban as well. I don’t think it’s the breed that’s dangerous, it’s the people that own them that really don’t know how to train these animals and to help focus their energy correctly so their frustration doesn’t turn to aggressiveness. Cesar Millan calls these dogs (along with other breeds) “gladiators”. They’re not meant to stay behind walls and fences 24 hours a day.
[Source]
Hi all - if you want to do something about this, please read the open letter to Peter Vallone, Jr., posted by North Shore Animal League America and send him an email encouraging him to reconsider his campaign to ban pit bulls from New York City.
Read the letter:
http://www.animal-league.org/pitbull
If you are in the camp that agrees with the ban (or know someone who does) please read this:
The Real Problem with Pit Bulls: http://www.nsalamerica.org/pitbull/realproblem.html
Please pass the information on to others who need to know what’s really going on. It matters.
Jorin Hawley
January 11th, 2007 at 7:50 amNorth Shore Animal League America
I have 3 dogs, A pit, a half pit, half boxer mix, and a beagle. Neither of the three are disobedient or harmful to anyone.
I agree with those that are emphasizing the fact that it’s the owners that are at fault for the bad name on pits. How can you ban a breed of dog? I tell you, prejudice is still alive and well is all shapes and disforms! What am I suppose to do if they actually go through with this? RELOCATE my dogs? Put them to sleep?
I know this is a country that is dependent on mere statistics, but apparently there are far more important things to dwell on in this world besides the MINOR 15% of dog bites caused by pits!
There are much larger statistics on pending issues that mean alot more to our welfare than a specific breed of dogs that this councilman so loathes!
I am just awed and confused at who we put in charge to run things right… seems like we can’t depend on any politician to prioritize anything!
January 24th, 2007 at 7:46 amBanning a dog based on its breed is akin to racial discrimination, in the animal form.
January 24th, 2007 at 9:00 pmI am a pitbull owner for over 13 years now and I am here to say that I will do anything to stop this pitbull banning law. Banning pitbulls is not only breed discrimination but also cruel to think that people can be such savage beast. They speak about pitbulls being cruel but the only thing my family and I received from my pitbull is love for 13 years now. He loves to play with children and sometimes the kids find it hard to keep up with him. Yes I know that the media loves to broadcast when pitbulls attack but they do not broadcast how the dog has gotten to this stage. Most of these dogs are trained to be vicious by starving them, keeping them in cold dark environments, beating them, setting parts of them on firing, and other mallicious forms of abuse. Now I know that anyone or any breed that has been brought up this way is and can be eventually become a danger to anyone. So I ask that we can educate the congressman as to how to help these animals that are being abused by their owners, to help them, instead of punishing them. Thank you for your time and understanding and I hope we can all come together to help the pitbull breed before it is to late. I am happy that Rachel Ray can use the media to influence congress to stop the banning against pitbull breed extermination. I only hope that other pitbull celebrity owners, such as Jessica Biel, and other celebrities, will come forward and fight against this law.
sincerely proud pitbull owner
March 28th, 2007 at 5:43 pmWe need help here in South Florida. We need to stop the ban on pitbulls in Dade county and I’m afraid it is moving to Broward and Palm Beach counties soon. I am tired of people bashing this breed of dog and others that have been tagged as bully dogs. If you can please contact as many people as possible and get involved. We are stronger in numbers and we need to be heard. My e-mail address is dslyder522@aol.com. Please send an e-mail that we can add to our file. PS I have never met a pit I didn’t fall head over heels in love with.
October 24th, 2007 at 9:54 pmDogs are not the problem. Pit bulls did not invent pit bull fighting, bloodthirsty people did. I don’t like to call them pit bulls because that is what their tormentors labled them, but if you call them a Staffordshire terrier, hardly anyone knows what you are referring to. I’ve rescued dogs for 35 years, many of them were “pit bulls,” and the pit bulls are just as loving and grateful as any other. Banning breeds is not getting to the root of the problem, which is the PEOPLE.
November 24th, 2007 at 8:11 amI am a pit bull owner and it turns me red when i read about pit bull bans …they are great dogs and they love people… its the people that make them bad ….any breed can be turn the wrong way with the wrong owner….but the breed called “pit bull” has been negative portrayed by the media and that make people fear them with no real reason
November 30th, 2007 at 9:28 pmI applaud Rachel Ray for her stand. I currently own two pit bulls and one rhodesian ridgeback.
January 1st, 2008 at 7:16 pmAll three of our dogs are loving and obedient. We have taken them to puppy, socialization, and fun classes. Other dogs come to our home to play. We have many friends that have pit bulls that consider them family as we do. We love, cuddle,
sleep with, and take our dogs everywhere. I wish more laws were enforced to punish the people who train pit bulls to fight. Any breed can be
taught or bred to fight. Wake up people!!! Banning a breed does not stop wicked people.
I love my dogs,
Mary
I LOVE THIS BREED. They are absolutely beautiful and loving. My immediate family owns three Pit Bulls, two of which I rescued from the streets (along with several other pit bulls who went onto wonderful furever homes) and they are the sweetest, most intelligent dogs I have had the pleasure to rescue and/or own. I don’t believe there is such a thing as an aggressive breed, there is prey-driven, but they don’t prey on humans and can be found in any breed. The problem is not with the breed, but on an individual basis as to how they were treated. This is certainly a breed that I, nor should anyone, adopt out to anyone who has a criminal background or is unemployed or any male under 25. This is for the protection of the dog. This is where backyard breeding comes into play as a serious problem in America. I say if you ban backyard breeders (who are trying to make a few bucks and/or breeding fighters) and each and every person who owns or goes to adopt a Pit Bull have a background check and employment verification then you eliminate the problem. The problem is not with the breed, but with some breeders and owners.
January 14th, 2008 at 1:28 pmIt is good that people are speaking up about banning breeds. I agree that it isn’t the breed that is bad but the people that train or don’t, abuse or neglect the animals.
February 29th, 2008 at 10:48 amWE have three cattle dog mixes, another strong, thinking breed. The first one we got had been in a couple different homes and when we met him was chained with a heavy car chain. I promised him I would never do that to him.
My husband calls them his puppies. We don’t usually let them interact with people too often. We let them herd the cows and help with the goats and chickens.
We consider them working dogs but they have a life of luxury as house dogs.
I am disabled and they help me remember chore time, make me laugh, and give us lots of outdoor exercise.
thank you
I can’t believe the city is wasting their time on such nonsense as banning pitbulls. I have been raised with dogs all my life. By far, my pit bull is the most loving, obiedent and socailized out of all of the breeds we have had. The most agressive dogs that we have come in contact with are not Rottwielers, German Shepherds, or even other Pitt Bulls…..it’s small toy breeds. Dogs are going to be dogs no matter what breed. It takes a responsible owner to understand their breed and be in control of their dog period. I am quite concerned that a councilman is trying to make decisions based on pure ignorance and emotion. I wonder what other completly ignorant decisions he is making with regards to our city and how we live. New York City has so many pit bull owners that I don’t think he even knows who his constituents are.
March 6th, 2008 at 11:33 amUnfortunately, so many of us accross the country are facing this terrible proposal [of banning pit bulls; And sometimes even other “powerful breed” dogs]. It’s infuriating that these incredibly loving, sweet, obedient, sensitive, courageous, strong, intelligent dogs should be so maligned by ignorant politicians. It certainly is reflective of so much about their approach, which is to find the quick and easy fix at the expense of real understanding and seminal change. My pit bull, hundreds of dogs and people (including the mailman!)and dozens of children later, is the most respectful, friendly, careful, perceptive dog I’ve ever seen. And he’s not alone!!! I will fight with everything I have (and if you think you pit puppy is tough, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet) to STOP this injustice. Of COURSE the problem is all about the owner!! So many of the comments in this column offer wonderful and creative ideas about addressing the real core of the problem: Just think of what we could do if the politicians really listen to the people who want to make positive and lasting change, instead of dumping on these innocent animals with their reactionary bigotry?
March 21st, 2008 at 1:32 pm