Bill would let Florida cities and counties ban pit bulls, other...

In Edna Elijah's Lauderdale Manors neighborhood, the growing population of pit bulls has her so jittery she often carries a stick for protection during strolls.

[Taylorblue]

Does anyone know where I would find a list of "dangerous breeds"? I'm curious which breeds are on the list.

[POP]

If we could just ban the thugs that goes with the dogs, then you would have something REALY useful for the people for a change.

[etbmfa]

LET'S STOP CANINE RACIAL PROFILING!!! Did you know that there is NO such breed as "pit bull"? There is no breed of dog that is recognized, or registered as "pit bull". The term used to mean any dog whose owner used it for pit fighting. It has become corrupted into an umbrella for banning numerous pure-bred registered breeds of dogs, and any mixed breed that even remotely resembles them. The American Kennel Club recognizes a breed known as the American Staffordshire Terrier and the United Kennel Club recognizes a breed known as the American Pit Bull Terrier. Neither of these breeds was EVER bred or intended to attack humans. They were used in pit fights against bulls in the 1800s and any dog that bit a handler would have been put down immediately. A dog that bit a human was not considered reliable enough for the pit. This attack training is something that has only come about in the past few decades and is done by BAD owners NOT bad dogs. As it now stands there are at least seventy-five recognized breeds of pure-bred dogs that are prohibited from ownership, or restricted from ownership, and any mixed breed of dog that looks like a banned breed of dogs is fair game under these regulatory takings of privately owned animals. That is fully 1/5 all recognized breeds. The United States of America is on the fast track to taking away our most ancient property, animals, and the destruction of one of our most ancient occupations, that of animal husbandry. When I was a child growing up every dog attack was attributed to a German Shepherd. In fact there were more dog bites from Labrador Retrievers last year than from "pit bulls" because there are far more Labs than the "alleged pit bulls". Blaming an entire breed for the stupidity and greed of a few human beings is nothing more than discrimination. Many law makers are not animal oriented. Passing or proposing any legislation aimed at specific breeds of canines is very much like human racial profiling. Our laws should identify illegal activities and define the penalties associated with breaches of the law. Domesticated canines are considered personal property and present problems in society only when owned or tossed out by irresponsible people. Our laws should address irresponsible canine ownership and should never refer to specific breeds. Breed specific legislation is an intolerable form of discrimination that has many undesirable far reaching consequences, including economic ones. Breed specific legislation is expensive and difficult to enforce. It impacts people who both live in and visit jurisdictions (ie., tourists); impacts vets, breeders, dog food manufacturers, and, in many cases, canine divisions of various law enforcement agencies. To make matters worse, canine racial profiling (breed specific legislation) is a total waste of time and money, as it will NOT turn irresponsible dog owners into responsible dog owners. Irresponsible canine ownership can only be prevented by addressing the problem directly: define the problem, define the penalty or penalties, and ENFORCE the laws. Most urban jurisdictions have laws on the books now that, if enforced, would eliminate most dog aggression disasters. The dog, regardless of breed, is in violation of leash laws if running loose and the owner should be penalized - end of story. The problem is at the other end of the leash and any laws should be addressed to that end.

[Melancholy Voter]

Sounds like the problem is dogs running around loose.

Just make the fines large -- and then direct the money toward additional animal control to collect the other loose animals.

[Dirty White Boy]

Property taxes and insurance relief is what the legislature SHOULD be concentrating on instead of NON-issues such as this being put forth by a green newby freshman legislator. Hopefully, he gets his priorities straight for the benefit of his constituents. I had a pit bull. Best, kindest, gentlest pet I ever had. All these people have no idea what they are talking about.

[T Man]

Oy. Where is Cesar Milan when we need him.

[DAS]

WHAT BOUT OTHER NASTY BREEDS ? Here we Go Again.Flat out discrimination.Just like against Smokers,A flagrant Violation of ones rights,Yet BOOZE is allowed almost everywhere,Theme parks,ballgames,plane flights,casinos,restaurants,wh ere kids are present.Pitbulls are about as dangerous as a DRUNK DRIVER ??????? I dont think so,Typical FLorida NEOCON BIGOTS..........

[DAS]

etbmfa wrote:

LET'S STOP CANINE RACIAL PROFILING!!! Did you know that there is NO such breed as "pit bull"? There is no breed of dog that is recognized, or registered as "pit bull". The term used to mean any dog whose owner used it for pit fighting. It has become corrupted into an umbrella for banning numerous pure-bred registered breeds of dogs, and any mixed breed that even remotely resembles them. The American Kennel Club recognizes a breed known as the American Staffordshire Terrier and the United Kennel Club recognizes a breed known as the American Pit Bull Terrier. Neither of these breeds was EVER bred or intended to attack humans. They were used in pit fights against bulls in the 1800s and any dog that bit a handler would have been put down immediately. A dog that bit a human was not considered reliable enough for the pit. This attack training is something that has only come about in the past few decades and is done by BAD owners NOT bad dogs. As it now stands there are at least seventy-five recognized breeds of pure-bred dogs that are prohibited from ownership, or restricted from ownership, and any mixed breed of dog that looks like a banned breed of dogs is fair game under these regulatory takings of privately owned animals. That is fully 1/5 all recognized breeds. The United States of America is on the fast track to taking away our most ancient property, animals, and the destruction of one of our most ancient occupations, that of animal husbandry. When I was a child growing up every dog attack was attributed to a German Shepherd. In fact there were more dog bites from Labrador Retrievers last year than from "pit bulls" because there are far more Labs than the "alleged pit bulls". Blaming an entire breed for the stupidity and greed of a few human beings is nothing more than discrimination. Many law makers are not animal oriented. Passing or proposing any legislation aimed at specific breeds of canines is very much like human racial profiling. Our laws should identify illegal activities and define the penalties associated with breaches of the law. Domesticated canines are considered personal property and present problems in society only when owned or tossed out by irresponsible people. Our laws should address irresponsible canine ownership and should never refer to specific breeds. Breed specific legislation is an intolerable form of discrimination that has many undesirable far reaching consequences, including economic ones. Breed specific legislation is expensive and difficult to enforce. It impacts people who both live in and visit jurisdictions (ie., tourists); impacts vets, breeders, dog food manufacturers, and, in many cases, canine divisions of various law enforcement agencies. To make matters worse, canine racial profiling (breed specific legislation) is a total waste of time and money, as it will NOT turn irresponsible dog owners into responsible dog owners. Irresponsible canine ownership can only be prevented by addressing the problem directly: define the problem, define the penalty or penalties, and ENFORCE the laws. Most urban jurisdictions have laws on the books now that, if enforced, would eliminate most dog aggression disasters. The dog, regardless of breed, is in violation of leash laws if running loose and the owner should be penalized - end of story. The problem is at the other end of the leash and any laws should be addressed to that end.

PERFECT ARTICLE..PERFECT,BUT THE BIGOTS DONT UNDERSTAND REASON...Fools that they ARE

[DAS]

Dirty White Boy wrote:

Property taxes and insurance relief is what the legislature SHOULD be concentrating on instead of NON-issues such as this being put forth by a green newby freshman legislator. Hopefully, he gets his priorities straight for the benefit of his constituents. I had a pit bull. Best, kindest, gentlest pet I ever had. All these people have no idea what they are talking about.

SI have I,never ever had any INCIDENTS..ALL HIPPOCRATES in FLORIDA.....FOOLS

[Proud Shepherd Owner]

Animals are just that.. without the proper environment, they will act imporper.. just as many people do who were not raised well. Any breed given love and training can be the perfect pet. Hold parents accountable - for their animals, and their children. This would be simple discrimination. Imagine if to deter crimes against people we banned people of certain race, ethnicity, or the sort? Taylorblue - check out the CDC and/or http://www.dogbitelaw.com/Dog%20Attacks%20198...

[dog daze]

Gather them up, put them down.

[Hal C]

We Should!!!

Proud Shepherd Owner wrote:

Animals are just that.. without the proper environment, they will act imporper.. just as many people do who were not raised well. Any breed given love and training can be the perfect pet. Hold parents accountable - for their animals, and their children. This would be simple discrimination. Imagine if to deter crimes against people we banned people of certain race, ethnicity, or the sort? Taylorblue - check out the CDC and/or http://www.dogbitelaw.com/Dog%20Attacks%20198...

[billybob]

Its ok to put sexual crimials and killers back on the street. I am sure they are not going to hurt anybody again. I guess a pitbull is worse then these crimials. What are these people thinking?

[Moved to NC]

Can you imagine what a home would smell like if the occupants never wiped their butts, took a bath. Well folks, that's what also happens when you let a large dog occupy the home. Pit bulls? Those are owned by men with small weiners who cant get a second date with the same woman. Losers.

[Victor J]

I was attacked in my front yard by a pit bull who got loose I was bitten and had to jump on top of my car these dogs are dangerous and should be banned they are not family pets and are totally unpredictable.I live in broward and hope that these animals will be Illegal to own.

[ElizabethJoy]

Ignorant people believe that specific breeds are inherently dangerous and will attack without provocation. For the most part, an animal behaves a certain way because they were socialized and trained to act that way.
We need to penalize the owners who turn these dogs into monsters instead of the dogs.

[PLM]

Having seen my dog nearly ripped apart and myself bitten by these beasts, by uncaring owners of which I had to actually sue to for the cost of there actions I vote to ban or the rite to kill those animals

[Rob]

Clinton suxxxx wrote:

I'm more afraid of black people than I am a pit bull.....
Let the pit bulls stay and kick out the blacks !
Thanks

You kinda have a point here. Parents of kids who commit heinous crimes are no different than owners of dogs who bite someone. They are both irresponsible. There are laws on the books for irresponsible dog owners, why not irresponsible parents? This applys to all races of people.

[Ricky]

Pits bulls have bad bites when they finally snap. I carry my concealed weapon when on walks, and will kill any pit bull that approaches.
These are bad dogs and need to be put down. They attack little dogs and children . If you deny this fact you are not being intellectually honest
with yourself or us. These dogs are
a-----sholes and so are their owners.
When taking your pit bull in for his next check up at the vet,ask that it be given "FATAL PLUS" injections. Its good for them.

[Peety the Pit Bull]

I love my master and will do anything for him. Break into his home and I will tear you apart. Our kind prevents crime but you don't hear about that in the news. I am better than an alarm system and my owner does not need to have a firearm in the house for protection. The insurance companies should give my master a big credit for having me around. The crimes we prevent go un-noticed and that happens far more often than when a another Am Staff bites someone. I also am very smart as I typed this all by myself. Ruff.