IT'S THE PITS: Is BSL worth the cost?
Sunday, June 13, 2010
By JOEY KULKIN
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
TRENTON — Would this city in disrepair have the financial wherewithal to pay for breed-specific legislation? You might be surprised how much it costs to create laws specific to pit bulls or Rottweilers or any other number of dogs considered to be vicious or dangerous.
More on that in a few moments.
The discussion on pit bulls is mushrooming by the second. Local voices have joined those from across the country and Canada, and all of the opinions have been rational. Shannon from Bucks County, Pa., e-mailed The Trentonian on Sunday with these succinct thoughts about pit bulls:
“I grew up with a German shepherd dog breeder, and I’ve been exposed to a variety of dogs. I have also lived with pit bulls myself. They are wonderful dogs, period. They are great with children (one of the best breeds for kids) and they make a wonderful family pet.
“The problem, so to speak, is that pit bulls are incredibly loyal. When they get into the wrong hands that loyality becomes a liability. I have seen, first-hand, the environment that fosters dangerous dogs. These pit bull fighters will put gunpowder in the dogs’ food, and they will beat them for being friendly. The rule these dogs with intimidation, and the dogs live in constant fear of beatings from their owners. It is almost always nurture rather than nature.
“And, you’d see the same thing with other breeds if it were popular amongst the 'thug' mentality to own them. Poodles would become public enemy #1 if they were ‘cool’ to own and fight.
“Here’s a thought to ponder ... everytime there’s a new attack, the public starts demanding new, harsher, breed specific laws. NEWSFLASH!! The people who fight pit bulls don’t follow the law!! So, to make a new law would only further punish responsible pet owners.
“Why not up the ante on the legal consequence of animal abuse .... instead of the government viewing pets as property, let’s own the fact that they are living creatures that get damaged by abuse. Why not make animal abuse a felony and throw these people in prison?”
As I mentioned at the top, an important arm of the discussion is BSL, or breed-specific legislation. At least 41 states have, or are considering, BSL. New Jersey prohibits local governments from enacting BSL, although cities and towns have tried to put laws on the books during the last year.
Robbin Perry linked a website on my Facebook page that calculates costs associated with BSL by state and city.
According to a chart at www.bestfriends.org, Trenton has 18,480 dogs, including 1,280 pit bulls.
The city, according to the calculations, would have to pay $131,690 if it passed any kind of BSL:
* enforcement: $75,330
* kennelizing & vet care: $20,990
* euthanizing & disposal: $22,290
* litigation costs: $1,640
* DNA testing: $11,440
Trenton is broke and can’t afford that expense? Or can it?
Mayor Doug Palmer said licensing fees would help defray some of the costs. But even then, he told The Trentonian on Sunday, it would "be hard for us to maintain."
Palmer's ears perked up when he was told Trenton has roughly 1,300 pit bulls.
The outgoing mayor, whose 20-year reign ends in three weeks, said it's important for people to understand and weigh the implementation and costs associated with controversial laws such as breed-specific legislation for dogs.
"I'm a dog lover -- I've always had dogs," Palmer said. "I don't believe pit bulls are bad in and of themselves. It's the owner -- and how they raise them."
More on that in a few moments.
The discussion on pit bulls is mushrooming by the second. Local voices have joined those from across the country and Canada, and all of the opinions have been rational. Shannon from Bucks County, Pa., e-mailed The Trentonian on Sunday with these succinct thoughts about pit bulls:
“I grew up with a German shepherd dog breeder, and I’ve been exposed to a variety of dogs. I have also lived with pit bulls myself. They are wonderful dogs, period. They are great with children (one of the best breeds for kids) and they make a wonderful family pet.
“The problem, so to speak, is that pit bulls are incredibly loyal. When they get into the wrong hands that loyality becomes a liability. I have seen, first-hand, the environment that fosters dangerous dogs. These pit bull fighters will put gunpowder in the dogs’ food, and they will beat them for being friendly. The rule these dogs with intimidation, and the dogs live in constant fear of beatings from their owners. It is almost always nurture rather than nature.
“And, you’d see the same thing with other breeds if it were popular amongst the 'thug' mentality to own them. Poodles would become public enemy #1 if they were ‘cool’ to own and fight.
“Here’s a thought to ponder ... everytime there’s a new attack, the public starts demanding new, harsher, breed specific laws. NEWSFLASH!! The people who fight pit bulls don’t follow the law!! So, to make a new law would only further punish responsible pet owners.
“Why not up the ante on the legal consequence of animal abuse .... instead of the government viewing pets as property, let’s own the fact that they are living creatures that get damaged by abuse. Why not make animal abuse a felony and throw these people in prison?”
As I mentioned at the top, an important arm of the discussion is BSL, or breed-specific legislation. At least 41 states have, or are considering, BSL. New Jersey prohibits local governments from enacting BSL, although cities and towns have tried to put laws on the books during the last year.
Robbin Perry linked a website on my Facebook page that calculates costs associated with BSL by state and city.
According to a chart at www.bestfriends.org, Trenton has 18,480 dogs, including 1,280 pit bulls.
The city, according to the calculations, would have to pay $131,690 if it passed any kind of BSL:
* enforcement: $75,330
* kennelizing & vet care: $20,990
* euthanizing & disposal: $22,290
* litigation costs: $1,640
* DNA testing: $11,440
Trenton is broke and can’t afford that expense? Or can it?
Mayor Doug Palmer said licensing fees would help defray some of the costs. But even then, he told The Trentonian on Sunday, it would "be hard for us to maintain."
Palmer's ears perked up when he was told Trenton has roughly 1,300 pit bulls.
The outgoing mayor, whose 20-year reign ends in three weeks, said it's important for people to understand and weigh the implementation and costs associated with controversial laws such as breed-specific legislation for dogs.
"I'm a dog lover -- I've always had dogs," Palmer said. "I don't believe pit bulls are bad in and of themselves. It's the owner -- and how they raise them."
____________________
I think this is the best article I have read thus far about the costs of BSL.
“The problem, so to speak, is that pit bulls are incredibly loyal. When they get into the wrong hands that loyalty becomes a liability.”
The above quote is such an accurate description of what happens when these wonderful dogs are in the hands of irresponsible owners or downright criminals. However, the following sums up how ineffective BSL truly is and why it is a waste of time:
“Here’s a thought to ponder ... everytime there’s a new attack, the public starts demanding new, harsher, breed specific laws. NEWSFLASH!! The people who fight pit bulls don’t follow the law!! So, to make a new law would only further punish responsible pet owners.
DUH! If they followed the laws to begin with, they wouldn’t fight their dogs in the first place.
No comments:
Post a Comment