Share Your Story

Are you a dog owner that's been impacted by breed bans and other anti-dog laws?  Or are you someone who cares deeply about saving animals?

Whether out of love for your own dog, or wheter out of concern for helping others, your presence here is a testament to the love we have and share for our dogs.

Just by talking about breed bans will make all of us stronger, so that together we help save our innocent dogs, and ourselves from these awful laws.

Please share your story here and tell us how you feel.

Comments

[Trevor D'Gabriel]

I am an Animal Care Specialist at a Florida county animal shelter. On average, I euthanize about 100 (yes, you read that correctly - one hundred!) animals per week, including both cats and dogs. First, I'd like to mention that, on an average day, up to eighty percent of the dogs in our facility are Pit Bulls, clearly illustrating that these are the breed most commonly owned by irresponsible pet owners. This is not the dogs' faults, it the the fault of the owners, and of a lack of regulation of the owners, instead of the dogs! Banning a breed solves nothing, as has been proven everywhere that breed bans have been implemented. Breed bans only lead to underground breeders and more banned breeds running loose on the streets, because owners are afraid to admit that they own them.
But this is not what I came here to say. My point is much more relevant.
The most common reason for euthanasia is "lack of resources". This means that a healthy, friendly, young animal must die, simply because we don't have the room to keep it any longer, due to the number of new dogs coming in every day. For those of you who think this is heartless or cruel, I say this: I love every animal that comes under my care. I treat them as I would my own friend, and in some cases, I am the first experience the animals have ever had in which they are truly loved and happy. By law, we are required to keep stray animals for at least three days, and those three days are the best of each dog's life. Vicious dogs are befriended, scared dogs are comforted, starving dogs are fed and every one of them learns, at least briefly, that life isn't all about pain and fear and suffering. They see that, sometimes, it's all about sharing, love and friendship. Then I put a leash on them, take them to a small room, hug them, stroke their heads, tell them what a wonderful dog they've been... then I tranquilize them, put a needle in their heart, and watch the life seep out of them.
And, only because there are still others who need the love, who have suffered, who have lived in fear, who are totally hopeless and despairing... I come in to work again the next day. When you think you've done all you can to help these animals, think about what I do every day, and ask yourself if there isn't something more you can do. If you really want to stop the useless killing of animals, support your local shelters. Volunteer.
Adopt from shelters and make certain all of your friends do, too.
Most importantly, have your pet spayed or neutered, obey leash laws, and spread the word about responsible pet ownership. If the animals don't come into my shelter, I won't have to kill them, and maybe I'll sleep a little better once in a while.

[Allie Renar]

BSL makes me sad in the deepest place in my heart. We have 4 APBTs and theyre the most loving and sweet dogs we've ever known. Thusfar nothing has come between us but I have to stay vigilant every day. I watch for potential laws to ban my babies and I make politicians feel guilty by attaching pictures of my beautiful pits in letters to them.

PUNISH THE DEED, NOT THE BREED!!!

It's sick how people want to push the blame onto the dog, the victim.

Being aware, spreading the word, and above all- being the best owner you can is the way to fight this. We have to show them that we are good people with awesome dogs. Show them how great your pit is. And, expose the media when they report sensationalist things that aren't true.

[tammy t]

this is just not right.. its all on how you raise your dog i have 2 pitbulls did have 3 and we have a 1 1/2 year old daughter and them dogs are her best friends and would never do anything to hurt her.