Its getting crazier! - Page 1

http://www.akc.org/enewsletter/taking_command/2005/january/nation.cfm

I copied and pasted this info from the above link....does this mean that those in NJ can't do Schutzhund, or they risk loosing that dog.....this is bad, we really need to start standing up to this, get something going, my sch trained dogs are the best, they are social and good with kids, this is very bad.... Heather NEW JERSEY – Asm. Gusciora’s A3578 has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Law and Public Safety. The bill requires any animal that has been trained, tormented, badgered, baited or encouraged to attack people or domestic animals to be confiscated from its owner or trainer. In addition, A3578 provides that any individual who has had an animal removed for any of the above listed reasons would not be permitted to own, harbor, adopt, or reside with an animal for a period of two years without posting a $550,000 bond. Those found violating this act would be subject to a fine of $2,000. – Sen. Allen’s S801 was sent to the governor in December. The bill, which was substituted for a similar bill (A1087) increases penalties for injuring or killing animals used in law enforcement or search and rescue. S801 makes it a crime of the third degree to kill a law enforcement or search and rescue dog and a crime of the fourth degree to injure one.

It is wonderful how the law makers assume, a dog is dangerous. Proper training and lets get rid of the dog! They need to be educated, a dog that is going to bite is one that has no training, no social skills, and is left in the backyard or one that is the alpha in his home. funny story> Friends of mine always admired my dog and his training, so well be behaved and always went on outings with 20 to 30 children. Went to thier home one day and found them all eating dinner hunched over thier plates, with thier arms surrounding the plates, shoveling the food in thier mouths. I ask why. pointed to thier dog, GOLDEN RETRIVER, who was sitting thier waiting for a crack in thier armour to steal thier food from the table.I laughed so hard, it was embarressing. Next time I saw them, they proudly told me they bought a trained dog this time. I went to thier home again and this time I found 2 GOLDENS waiting to steal the food from the table.

Or how about the jackass that thought his black lab could take down one of my rotts, when he was only 11 months old, (he found it funny, until I began to talk to my dog in german). I was able to verbally pull my Dog off the lab and keep walking. I infomed that "gentleman" that my dog would have killed his full grown lab and then ate him for dessert. Or the stupid women who took her little mop dog to the dog park when it was in heat and had it on a leash, with her 9 year old daughter at the other end of the leash. Her reasoning was it was past time where the dog could get Pregnant. As I am watching all of the other dogs begining to circle them. I know, I know. I take my dogs out and socialize them with very ignorant owners, the general public. But this is what they will be exposed to and I refuse to be a "backyard owner". Just to put your minds at rest, I do watch what I do, and which dog goes where and at what age and training on the dog,etc. So no need to tell me how stuipd I am. But it bothers me that they will take very highly trained dogs and ban them, when they have no idea of what they are talking about!

Anyone out there who is retired and has time and the desire to lobby/educate? If we do not start lobbing now, we will lose our sport in the USA. We could set up a committee, to educate the law makers and the insurance industry and I would hope that the GSD community would support this with thier pockets. This just does not effect the USA, we buy alot of dogs overseas. I would think we could use a committee in each state, with a main committee to give guidence and funding.

So, how does this effect the AKC/GSDCA/WDA working dog program?

1doggie2 Any dog can be a problem dog not matter its breed. But I find comments like yours below repulsive and it's people like you that cause us problems and give our breed a bad name. If you were any kind of responsible owner you'd walked away period. No point in showing your ego for anyone around that didn't know what was going on. They'd automatically think your dog was the aggressor period. BAD EXAMPLE Birdy... 1doggie2 "I was able to verbally pull my Dog off the lab and keep walking. I infomed that "gentleman" that my dog would have killed his full grown lab and then ate him for dessert."

Well said Birdy. Telling someone your dog could "eat" their dog, whether yours is behaving or not, is irresponsible and egotistical and gives the rest of a bad name.

Believe it or not, your lawmakers are much more accessible than you might think. I have found that they are willing to listen to and consider an intelligent arguments for the preservation of personal freedoms, even an argument for civilized sport animals. As for the lobbying end. Many organizations send legislative alerts to their membership via E-Mail in hope of their membership's response. There is no reason that the USA or WDA could not post legislative alerts, by state, on their site. Also, I believe that most of the states' legislative bodies have search mechansims for bills that are in various phases of introduction. Until such time that USA and WDA can be convinced that legislation related to the dogs that they register is as important as anything else on the site, it will be up to individuals to inform others when help is needed.