Breed Specific Legislation Ticks Me Off

What do German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Akitas, Greyhounds (yes, Greyhounds), and pit bulls have in common? They're all great dogs who have become the target of Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) in many countries around the world, including the United States.

And it burns me up. It makes me want to stomp my paws and bark at the mailman!

Often, if a dog is aggressive or violent, it's due to poor breeding, poor upbringing, or a combination of both.

BSL doesn't solve the root of the problem: Humans who have trained their dogs to be fighters or otherwise dangerous. Rather than addressing the need for responsible pet ownership, BSL ignores the human factor and punishes the animal.

It's time to hold owners responsible for their despicable actions. The Michael Vick case was a disturbing event that will hopefully show officials that it's the humans, not the animals, who are the responsible parties. Of the 49 dogs that were seized from Vick's property, all but one will be placed with families or live their lives in peace as loved members of sanctuaries.

And besides, how would you ban pit bulls with Breed Specific Legislation? We're not a breed! Us plain old pits are a mix of as many as 35 different breeds of dog including Presa Canarios, Cane Corsos, Spanish Alanos, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Bandogs, Dogues Brasileiros, Dogo Argentinos, Guatemalan Bull Terriers, American Bulldogs, Boxers, Bull Mastiffs, Bull Terriers, English Bulldogs, Rottweilers, Akitas, Chow Chows, and even Labradors. Look for a Lab with a purple tongue. They're quite common.

One Fine Brandy...

It never ceases to amaze me when my pretty friends are overlooked at PAWS. So I thought I'd tell you about a few now and then.

This is Brandy. And she's a beauty. She's been at PAWS for a couple of years now, and who knows why. Probably because she's not a puppy, or a small cuddly designer dog, or a Golden Retriever, or a who-knows-whatadoodle. She's just a dog's dog.

And she loves people! She just wants a home with a fenced-in yard, a dog bed to call her own, and a couple of toys. Just add water, and you have a family pet! More about Brandy.

Apply to adopt Brandy! (PAWS only adopts locally, within the Connecticut area. That way they can make sure you take good care of us and help you out if you need it!!)