FL SB 1276 now in Agriculture Committee

2 Responses to FL SB 1276 now in Agriculture Committee

1. krisztina | April 13, 2010 at 9:02 am |

   i sent a new set of letters and here is a copy if anyone wants to copy and paste go ahead. Though change the first part of it please lol. I also believe that if any rep. sen. wants to use the stats from CDC than we need to attack (so to say) them for requiring them to accurately divide the “Pit Bull Type” breed. I started a letter and will see what happens.
   Dear Agriculture Committee Members

   I’m writing this letter to you as a Florida resident for over 20 years and a dog lover of big and small. I’m asking you to oppose bill S1276 which would be detrimental to RESPONSIBLE “Pit Bull Type” owners. As a Florida resident, i believe that this bill will not only punish those who care for their pets but it will also punish the innocent dogs that have NEVER or will ever do harm to anyone or anything. According to Florida law, dogs are “property” and if one should be restricted, controlled by what “property” they posses ALL who own “property” HAVE to abide by the same rules and regulations. I also believe that, this bill is discriminatory, not only towards dogs but towards people. Many have commented that “only” thugs, drug dealers and people with ego issues own these dogs. However, this is to the contrary; I’m neither of those things. My husband is a Corporal for a local sheriff’s office, and i myself have done many volunteering as well as work for a nursing home. This is from Amendment 14 “No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
   I also would like for you to look at the stats of the so called “pit bulls” (by the way “pit bull” is not a breed) according to the
   American Temperament Test Society, Inc which conducts the following test shows this: Because of breed-specific dog legislation and negative publicity associated with many breeds of dogs, temperament testing has assumed an important role for today’s dog fancier. The ATTS Temperament Test provides breeders a means for evaluating temperament and gives pet owners insight into their dog’s behavior. It can have an impact on breeding programs and in educating owners about their dog’s behavioral strengths and weaknesses as well as providing a positive influence on dog legislation.

   What is temperament?
   W. Handel, German Police Dog Trainer, in his article, “The Psychological Basis of Temperament Testing,” defines temperament as:

   “the sum total of all inborn and acquired physical and mental traits and talents which determines, forms and regulates behavior in the environment”

   The ATTS test focuses on and measures different aspects of temperament such as stability, shyness, aggressiveness, and friendliness as well as the dog’s instinct for protectiveness towards its handler and/or self-preservation in the face of a threat. The test is designed for the betterment of all breeds of dogs and takes into consideration each breed’s inherent tendencies.
   The test simulates a casual walk through the park or neighborhood where everyday life situations are encountered. During this walk, the dog experiences visual, auditory and tactile stimuli. Neutral, friendly and threatening situations are encountered, calling into play the dog’s ability to distinguish between non-threatening situations and those calling for watchful and protective reactions.

   APBT aka: American Pit Bull Terrier 665 tested 567 passed and 98 failed that’s 85.3%

   AMSTAFF aka American Stafford Terrier 570 tested 478 passed and 92 failed that’s 83.9%

   Staffie aka Stafford Bull Terrier 92 tested 81 passed and 11 failed that’s 88.0%

   The CDC has published a statement that the single-vector approach in “Breeds of Dogs” does not “identify specific breeds that are most likely to bite or kill, and thus is not appropriate for policy-making decisions related to the topic.” The AVMA has published and distributed a comparable statement.

   The AVMA Task Force went further: “An often-asked question is what breed or breeds of dogs are ‘most dangerous’? This inquiry can be prompted by a serious attack by a specific dog, or it may be the result of media-driven portrayals of a specific breed as ‘dangerous.’ . . . singling out 1 or 2 breeds for control . . . ignores the true scope of the problem and will not result in a responsible approach to protecting a community’s citizens.”

   Dr. Randall Lockwood, one of the authors of the CDC’s “Breeds of Dogs,” as well as a member of the AVMA Task Force, submitted an affidavit in 2007 in opposition to the breed ban currently in effect in Denver, Colorado. He stated, in part: “Focusing on a single breed as the ‘source’ of the dog bite problem reflects a 19th century epidemiological mindset that attempts to identify the vector of a public health problem and eliminate that vector. . . The dog bite problem is not a disease problem with a single vector, it is a complex societal issue that must address a wide range of human behaviors in ways that deal with irresponsible behavior that puts people and animals at risk.”

   In fact, all of the professionals involved in these earlier studies have come to the same conclusion: breed attributions yield no useful understanding of fatal attacks that have occurred, and do not offer a way to reduce such incidents in the future.

   I would also like to point out that
   Portuguese Water Dog 148 tested 114 passed 34 failed 77.0% (President Obama Owns one)
   Beagles: 63 tested 51 passed 12 failed 81.0%
   Border Collie 248 tested 200 passed 48 failed 80.6%
   Chow Chow 94 tested 67 passed 27 failed 71.3% (btw Ms Rhonda Storms owns 2 of these and voted for the “pit bull” bill isn’t that ironic)
   Even a Greyhound’s temp is worse than a so called “Pit Bull”. I would also like to point out that the stats that the CDC has makes no sense at all. They list Pure Bred and then “Pit Bull Type” dog. The last time i checked “Pit Bull Type” is not a pure bred dog as it has listed Rottie and Dobie, GSD etc. If we were to use stats then lets use ACCURATE and PROPER stats, which break it ALL down NOT just some.
   Also, please read this about Miami-Dade Research

2. al hicks | April 17, 2010 at 11:49 am |

   anybody can make any dog mean my most loveable dog was a pitbull that i rescued from bein a fighter after i got him he was didnt even care about attackin a cat a dog is what u make it