Animal Racism Rears its Ugly Head in College Park

[Coito ergo sum]

http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2011/06/06/ ... lege-park/

College Park (WAOK) Saying it’s acting in the interest of public safety, College Park officials will enact a “dangerous dog” registry next month that some critics say is very close to canine profiling.

Residents owning dogs that have, without provocation, bitten someone during the last 12 years, will be required to register their pet with the city clerk’s office. Pit bull, Doberman, Rottweiler and German shepherd owners, will also have to register their dogs whether they have ever attacked someone or not.

Registration will cost a $25 annual fee. Those who fail to register their dogs will face fines and confiscation of their pets.

Profiling breeds of dogs? What's next?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

A law against carrying concealed Chihuahuas?

[Coito ergo sum]

A law against carrying concealed Chihuahuas?

Concealed, I don't have a problem with....it's the ones we have to look at that are the problem.

[Mysturji]

Is that a dachsund in your pocket or are you just glad to see me?

[Feck]

All dogs and therefore owners should be registered ! Nationally .

[mistermack]

The only problem I can see is that there aren't enough breeds on that list. It should be that every breed of dog is on it, and it's up to the dog people to prove that their breed should be taken off.

And life bans on keeping dogs for people who's dog bites someone.
If you can't train a dog not to bite, you shouldn't be keeping one.
.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

It would be better to own a mongrel than a pure-bred in that town, I think.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

A law against carrying concealed Chihuahuas?

Concealed, I don't have a problem with....it's the ones we have to look at that are the problem.

[Coito ergo sum]

The only problem I can see is that there aren't enough breeds on that list. It should be that every breed of dog is on it, and it's up to the dog people to prove that their breed should be taken off.

And life bans on keeping dogs for people who's dog bites someone.
If you can't train a dog not to bite, you shouldn't be keeping one.
.

Exactly what good does registering one's dog do?

(lol -- dog do)

[laklak]

Well, most counties in the U.S. already have a mandatory registration program for all breeds (i.e dog license). Most places I've been it's done by the vet or clinic when they get their legally required rabies vaccinations. I've no problem with that. However, requiring additional registrations (and money, don't forget the fucking 25 clams) for specific breeds is ridiculous. Also, most jurisdictions have laws already in place to handle dangerous animals. Here they euthanize them, no questions asked, if they attack someone without provocation.

Thus is just scare mongering. OH MY GOD IT'S A BABY EATING PIT BULL!!!!!!!

What's a "pit bull", anyway? It's not a recognized breed. Some namby-pamby places like Miami and Ontario already prohibit several bulldog breeds AND dogs that look like them. Fucking ridiculous. Any dog can be dangerous. My daughter's miniature wiener dog is a little bitch (literally and figuratively) and will attack anyone walking, jogging or biking down the street. She's a goddamned liability. My "pit bull", OTOH, is soft as putty and loves everyone.

[Twoflower]

In my personal experience with walking dogs at the animal shelter, I've had more problems with "good" breeds like retrievers, labs, and collies than I have with the "bad" breeds like pitt bulls, german shepherds, and rotties.

[Coito ergo sum]

Well, the statistics don't lie about the breeds that are more dangerous. Yes, any dog can bite, but not all dog breeds are as aggressive (or strong) as every other breed. I.e. - there are differences in temperaments in the various breeds.

However, it seems really silly to "register" them beyond the normal dog license (which is basically just a method to make sure people get the dogs their rabies shots, etc.). And, a dog license is a one time fee - you don't have to pay some annual fee to the county.

I don't see as this makes anyone safer, and it just sets up another revenue stream for the local government. If a breed of dog is considered statistically more dangerous than other breeds, then make statute increasing liability on the part of the owner if it bites someone. Making people register the thing doesn't mean the dog isn't going to bite anyone.

[Feck]

The only problem I can see is that there aren't enough breeds on that list. It should be that every breed of dog is on it, and it's up to the dog people to prove that their breed should be taken off.

And life bans on keeping dogs for people who's dog bites someone.
If you can't train a dog not to bite, you shouldn't be keeping one.
.

And how do you propose to deal with mongrels ? and as you are giving no second chances to the owner what are you going to do with the dog ?

[Millefleur]

All dogs and therefore owners should be registered ! Nationally .

At a minimal fee to cover initial costs, for paperwork.

[laklak]

Why do you need increasing liability? Liability is based on the injury inflicted, so the owner of a large, powerful dog is already going to pay more than the owner of an ankle-biter in a biting incident. I'm willing to bet that College Park already has leash laws and laws against biting dogs, enforce the existing laws or perhaps increase the penalties across the board. There is no excuse for allowing your dog to run loose, none at all. It's your responsibility to insure your fences are in good repair and of sufficient height to keep them in the yard. Making new laws because you can't enforce the existing ones never works.

Here we pay every time the dog is vaccinated, a percentage of the vaccination cost goes to Animal Control. I've no problem with that, I prefer this sort of "user fee" to an across the board tax. Why should someone who doesn't keep animals have to pay to enforce the law against those who do?