Ah, for the days of blissful ignorance as a child running through the fields and woods with my Labrador/Beagle mix, Major. Life was a simple pleasure then not weighed down with worries about the declining rights of dog owners. Legislation is not discriminating these days regarding the rights of responsible dog owners vs. the rights of irresponsible dog owners. They are the same with the laws banning breeds, muzzling breeds, limits on number of dogs owned, eliminating parks for leashed dogs, and making off leash access almost non existent.
In 2003 professional dog enthusiast Internet boards were talking about the legislation trend sweeping many nations, including our own states. Many thought the alarmists were Henny Penny types. Many dog enthusiasts could not believe the sky was actually falling or to continue would continue it's fall. Instead it was believed that these isolated trends would soon go away. Unfortunately, the fallout from this has not stabilized into more reasoned actions or stopped altogether the way many hoped it would.
Some examples of this:
· September 2010 Worcester Massachusetts City Council members approve legislation requiring the so-called "pit bull" breed to be muzzled outside of their homes and/or property. The specifics are to general to list, and the actual new ordinance is not out there in public yet. April 1st of 2011 is when this new rule will take affect.
· Worcester Massachusetts does not allow dogs in parks leashed or not. (Paragraph 14 and unless a service dog)
· The infamous HEART legislation of Albuquerque New Mexico. Your dog must be on an eight-foot leash in this city any time you are not in your house OR in your own fenced in yard. Yard doesn't have a fence? Dog gets to enjoy time on 8' leash in your own yard. Not a long line or flexi, but at the most 8'of fun.
· Pawtucket Rhode Island has banned the so-called "pit bull" breed.
· Ontario Canada not only bans breeds, but it is totally okay for the dog warden on his authority alone to confiscate and kill dogs.
· No dogs on many if not all New Hampshire State parks leashed or not.
Here is the bottom line, the hysteria and continued deluge of animal legislation and banning of breeds is not slowing down nor will it in the near future. That is, unless dog owners, citizens, victims of irresponsible dog owners, and legislators really start to get a clue. The individuals following the example of Henny Penny were NOT wrong. Sky still continues to rain down on the rights of responsible dog owners. The warnings went largely unheeded and still are not paid attention to by the dog owning contingent, unless it crops up in their community or affects their breed. The trick would be to be proactive and block this kind of legislation and make the legislation seem very silly to introduce in the first place. A proactive approach has been started but needs to be encouraged in the dog community to expand beyond the professionals in the dog field.
Here are some contributors to the current climate in dog law legislation:
· Dog owners who do not really want dogs, and do not care for their dogs and the surrounding environment properly.
o Do not pick up their dog's waste.
o Allow their dog to roam the neighborhood freely.
o Do not properly train or socialize their dog.
o Neglect their dog.
o Excuse or deny issues that they are having with their dogs until something happens. Sometimes not even then.
o Allow their dog to indiscriminately run up to humans or dogs that may not want their attentions.
o Allows their dog to create noise pollution in the neighborhood.
o Do not spend time with and/or exercise their dog on a regular basis.
o Does not allow their dogs to be mentally challenged.
· A climate of "science" (not so much, and not what general public would assume it to be) in dog training, veterinarian practice, and animal behavior professionals that no longer recognizes dogs as individual in temperament, size, strength, age, and prior experience. The art of dog training to a reliable standard where a shared communication develops the relationship of trust and partnership is slowly and surely being lost, when it is needed the most.
· Irresponsible dog ownership that threatens the safety and well being of the public as well as family members.
· The diminishing of areas where dogs can go to socialize makes it guaranteed that fewer dogs would be socialized. Keep in mind what correct socialization really is.
· Dog owners, who own large "power breeds", who do not recognize their duty and responsibility to be the best ambassador possible for their pure or mixed breed.
Here are some actions that may help protect our rights if implemented in a careful and knowledgeable way:
· Dangerous dog legislation needs to put management steps for the handling or disposal of the dog and keeping them safe within the environment. However irresponsible dog owners or custodians need to be fined, penalized, or jailed as well. So many irresponsible people could either care less that their dog may be put to death or may be a danger unchecked to others alive, untrained, and unsupervised. Real consequences to the owner would, hopefully, in the place and reduce the likelihood of an irresponsible owner choosing to get a canine in the first place.
· An irresponsible dog owner liable under legislative fines, penalties, or jail time needs to be defined thoroughly but carefully.
· Off leash access should be given to responsible dog owners who can demonstrate their training work with their dog to a certain standard. Also, the dog and owner should be able to pass temperament tests before off leash access is given. Perhaps also a written exam to test whether owners know when off leash would be acceptable in a common sense way and not acceptable by use of common sense. In this way, dog owners who are want to or are responsible can regain their right and privilege back.
· Related to above, insist on standards being able to be demonstrated and proven in the dog training industry. If certification and licensing is later needed, insist that the traditional obedience (off lead) tests that have been available through the AKC for very many years are the measure to which a professional dog trainer is held. Dog trainers should be held to a higher standard than a simple Canine Good Citizen, Rally, or Therapy Dog Certificate.
· As a dog owner, always take the responsible and right action. Keep in mind of the surrounding people, and give them no real reason to fear your dog. The less ammunition out there the better. Prepare and train your dog to be calm and sure of themselves in all public areas.
There are probably more points I could make on the causes and possible solutions of the not-dog-friendly legislation that is sweeping the world like wildfire. Hopefully, this is enough for dog owners present and future to consider.
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MAINE DOG TRAINING SERVICING DOG TRAINING NEEDS IN MAINE AND BEYOND. www.maindogtrainer.com
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Unfriendly Canine Legislation Trends
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