Giving Blood
“Can Copper come in today? We are doing a blood drive,” my technician asks the client. We like it when Copper comes in to give blood. He is big, he has huge veins, and with only a few bribes of biscuits, Copper hardly needs to be held when we poke his jugular to draw 250 ml of blood. He willingly comes in every six months or so. Of course, Copper is a “pitbull” (whatever that definition means). We always joke that dogs receiving Copper’s blood will be stronger. But he is a giant, kind-hearted mushball...
With September fast approaching, and new laws regulating certain breeds, now is the time to act. As a dog-loving community, if you feel strongly about this, we need to send emails, letters, tweets, and whatever else is necessary to put our democratic opinions into play. Here is my take on it.
We need to do something to appease the “non” dog-owning community and reassure them that good dog owners train their dogs appropriately, are proud of this, and will go the extra mile to prove it. Ideally, all dogs and owners should be tested—I would love it if dog owners had to pass an exam like driving, but this would be costly and difficult to enforce. However, if we don’t want breed-specific legislation to go through, communities and cities will have to come to some sort of compromise.
So why are dog owners so unwilling to shout and scream that breed-specific legislation is wrong? Sure, the damage of a bite by a larger dog, like a Great Dane, can be more severe compared to the bite of a poodle, but prevention is the key—not banning. Take Ontario, which has had a ban for years—their bite incidents have not gone down. In fact, bites have increased! I am convinced this is purely politics at play. A dog bites a person, perhaps with tragic results, and the municipality, city, or province can say, “Well, we have banned the breed, so it is not our problem,” and feel secure that their liability is reduced. However, is anyone looking into whether BSL was effective? Cities around the world are reversing their BSL because it has been shown to be unenforceable, costly, and completely ineffective at reducing dog bites. When responsible dog owners are vilified, innocent, adoptable dogs lose their lives—and dog bites still don’t decrease. How will the courts handle the inevitable cases where people sue their towns for their right to own any breed, bogging down our already overburdened legal system?
It would be easier and more effective to start a program where owners apply for dog ownership before having one of these deemed dangerous breeds. If they meet the requirements, they are licensed to adopt or purchase their dog. This would require some effort, but there are already courses and tests called the “Good Canine Citizen” program, which municipalities could implement through local dog clubs. Get a vet, a trainer, and a dog lover to moderate the exam, publicize it, and encourage responsible dog ownership. This would help people see good dogs in a new light. In fact, all dogs would benefit from this. Once a dog passes the test, he gets a tag and/or a brightly colored kerchief so people know he is well-behaved. There is no absolute guarantee with animals, but it would be a start. Programs that focus on prevention, community outreach, and responsible dog ownership are what actually work to make communities safer.
How can you help fight BSL?
Writing to your mayor and provincial ministers to state your concerns is the first step. Get your vet to write a letter. Here are links to copies of the letters our clinic sent. You are welcome to modify and use these:
Pit Bull Breed Ban Letter TVC – Montreal
Pit Bull Breed Ban Letter TVC – Quebec
Secondly, be ready to volunteer some time or resources to help start these programs. Dog licenses are often just another tax, and if cities don’t use the funds to promote responsible ownership, they’re a waste of time. Pay your license fee and ask what you get in return—dog parks, evaluation programs, or just bureaucratic red tape?
The OMVQ (my professional body) has a huge document stating that knee-jerk reactions like breed bans don’t help. Their 60-page report analyzes past bans and concludes that education and professional guidance for owners are proven ways to reduce incidents. It would be nice if cities actually consulted the professionals who work with these so-called “dangerous” dogs every day. I still have yet to have a problem with a Pit Bull. Copper is just one example—and I can tell you there are many other breeds I am warier of.
So get out there and make noise—because once one breed is banned, it’s only a matter of time before yours is next. We deserve legislation that truly reduces dog bites instead of creating stigma and irrational fear.