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Big things happening in the fight to #endBSL

02•17•14

Big things happening in the fight to #endBSL

When a Denver-area suburb is considering repealing its breed ban, I consider that a sign: Changes are coming!

And did you see the Huffington Post article, Six More States May Outlaw Breed-Specific Legislation, Making Everything Better For Pit Bulls, which ran about two weeks ago? The article reports that, “Seventeen states have already passed laws that stop localities from discriminating against dogs by breed. The six now considering similar prohibitions are Maryland,Vermont, South Dakota, Missouri, Utah and Washington state.” So not only is that GREAT news in the fight to end breed-discriminatory laws, it’s also wonderful that it’s in an outlet as mainstream as HuffPo!

If you read the comments in that article, though, it’s clear that we have a lot of educating left to do…

But there’s another huge piece of related news that, I think, wasn’t heralded loudly enough.

The Farm Bill has made it a federal crime to attend a dog fight. If you take the spectators away from a “spectator event,” well then, the event becomes unprofitable, which is why dog fighters fight dogs in the first place. This is HUGE, and I only wish it got the media attention it deserves! Here’s a brief write-up from Victoria Stilwell.

There have also been repeals of breed-discriminatory legislation in places like Garden City, Kansas, and Clayton, Missouri.

All these individual actions are like single pieces to a big puzzle, and a lot of people are working very hard to put it all together. I’m trying to keep up with it as much as I can and share it out on Facebook, but if you see any victories or articles we should all know about, please share in the comments on in the FB community!

A random, newsy post for today, but I just had to share these awesome stories and accomplishments in the fight to end breed-discriminatory legislation! Hope you’re having a great Monday!

Photo courtesy of  petsadviser.com. This is Mike, a pit bull / boxer mix, from a shelter in Louisiana. He was adopted in 2012. 

12 Comments
Filed Under: OMD!, Positively Pit Bull Tagged With: #endBSL, breed bans, breed-specific legislation, pit bulls

Comments

  1. Jessica says

    02•17•14 at 2:12 pm

    Of course, local laws aren’t the only problem. I live in a state that bans breed-specific laws (possibly the only good thing that comes from our libertarian streak) and people still struggle with insurance and finding rental properties. It’s a great step, though.

    Reply
    • Maggie says

      02•18•14 at 2:32 pm

      It’s so frustrating, isn’t it? There are so many MORE things that need to change, but I’m glad we’re on the right track and making progress. My hope is that, as laws change throughout the country, policies will change, too. All we can do is keep fighting the good fight until we get there!

      Reply
  2. Jackie Bouchard says

    02•17•14 at 2:59 pm

    That is good news, and I hadn’t heard that about dog fighting in the Farm Bill. Fantastic!

    Reply
    • Maggie says

      02•18•14 at 2:32 pm

      YES! And I should have mentioned that the Farm Bill also made it a crime to attend cockfights AND to take children under 16 to an animal fight. All steps in the right direction from a somewhat unexpected place!

      Reply
  3. sofia says

    02•18•14 at 6:50 am

    I know this post is about the victory of the Farm Bill but seriously I can’t believe people attend these things with their children!!!!! ” we were going to see the new Disney movie but decided to go to the illegal dog/cock fight instead” I can barely look at a picture of an abused or injured dog but to actually take my child to the live dog/cock fight. Dog fighting evolved from bull baiting which was outlawed in the early 1800’s so my question is why are we so behind with these laws?

    Reply
    • Maggie says

      02•18•14 at 2:36 pm

      Ugh. I know. It’s insanity to me. Just completely unimaginable. This certainly isn’t to defend him in ANY way at all, but I remember from the Michael Vick trial, he said that he had been taken to dog fights since he was a boy. Kids exposed to that level of violence become desensitized to it. It’s heartbreaking and totally PREVENTABLE. Hopefully this will help!

      Reply
  4. sofia says

    02•18•14 at 6:53 am

    I know this post is about the victory of the Farm Bill but seriously I can’t believe people attend these things with their children!!!!! ” we were going to see the new Disney movie but decided to go to the illegal dog/cock fight instead” I can barely look at a picture of an abused or injured dog but to actually take my child to the live dog/cock fight. Dog fighting evolved from bull baiting which was outlawed in the early 1800’s so my question is why are we so behind with these laws? they were all so quick to develop laws to exterminate bully breeds but a law to stop the cycle and protect pit bulls takes centuries?

    Reply
  5. Jodi says

    02•18•14 at 11:21 am

    That is good news!! I had heard about the farm bill and I’m so glad they got that through.

    When we were on vacation in Tennessee last year, the folks we stayed at told us how the feds had broken up a huge cock fighting ring a few years before. The events were held on Sunday right after church and folks came right from church with their children. It made me sick.

    Reply
    • Maggie says

      02•18•14 at 2:37 pm

      Oh, my gosh. That is just unbelievable to me. I can’t even imagine!! It’s just such a relief that we’re finally heading in the right direction to put a stop to this stuff.

      Reply
  6. Janie says

    02•18•14 at 3:58 pm

    Pit Bulls are not an acknowledged breed by the AKC. The closest woudl be the American Staffordshire Terrier. If people wanted to get around these ridiculous regulations, they might be able to say that their dog is NOT a Pitt. It is an American Staffordshire mix. Also, according to the ADA (Americans with Disability Act), it is an infringement on federal civil rights legislation to prohibit a service dog (Pit Bull or not).

    Reply
  7. Leslie P says

    02•19•14 at 9:25 am

    Hi there – I realize this posting is about pit bulls, but I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy reading the blog. Your dog family stories makes me smile! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  8. Jan K says

    02•19•14 at 2:51 pm

    I love to hear the good news….thanks so much for sharing it!

    Reply

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