Dog Files Viewpoint: We Are Your Neighbors.

Admin: Kenn Bell

Categories: Dog Files Viewpoint, Hannah Powell, News

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We Are Your Neighbors.

By Hannah Powell For The Dog Files

Pit Bull advocates are normal people. We may not all own Pit Bulls, but that does not mean we do not support this misunderstood dog breed. We are not thugs, drug dealers or dog fighters. We are your neighbors and your friends; we love our children and our pets. We live in your city, even if there is a ban on Pit Bulls. We are involved in our communities, and we are out to prove that Pit Bulls are wonderful dogs! Here is what some of us have to say about them.

There is nothing not to like about pit bulls. They have every good quality a dog can possess, plus come in a colorful variety of coats and have unique and expressive ears. Laurel Ashley – Sacramento, CA: Laurel shares her home with two Pit Bulls, an American Staffordshire mix foster, a Rottweiler and a parrot

I love my two pitties because no matter how much I wrestle them to the ground they pop right back up and attack with kisses. Also, I love them because everyone is scared to break into my house, but little do they know my dogs would roll on their backs and show them to the cookie drawer. Nikki Johnson – Seattle, WA: Nikki’s family consists of her fiancé, a boxer, a Chihuahua/Chinese-crested mix, a miniature pinscher and two pit bull fosters

I live in a neighborhood with four Pit Bulls, and there has never been a single incident with any of them. Each of them is a sweet dog with a great disposition and a good pet owner. We have no breed bans in our city, and I see no need for them. I have yet to meet an aggressive pit bull. Julie Fowler – Issaquah, WA: Julie shares her home with her cat and American Bulldog

Pit Bulls are actually one of the best breeds. They are loyal and kind. The incorrect reputation of Pit Bulls is actually from the owners, not the breed. Gloria Lin – Issaquah, WA: Gloria lives with her two dogs, a Cockapoo and a Doberman mix


After walking several dogs at the local SPCA, I can honestly say that Pit Bulls are awesome dogs! They are so happy (and they have that GRIN!), when they wag their tails their whole butt shakes, and they just want to make you happy. They’ll do anything to please you. The look of love and eternal gratitude they give me when I scratch their ears and give them a kiss on the forehead melts my heart every time.
 Mandy Buhle – Media, PA: Mandy lives with her mom, dad and two border collies

I have never owned a Pit Bull, but I know they are amazing dogs. I would not hesitate to adopt one in the future. Evidence of this can be seen in any dog park that does not have breed restrictions as well as in any neighborhood. Pit Bulls are fun-loving dogs that are extremely loyal to their families. Anyone who thinks otherwise has never met a Pit Bull and is formulating their opinion from myths and skewed news reporting. Amy McHenry – Issaquah, WA: Amy’s family consists of her husband, child, two German Shepherds and two cats

My RubyDee is my heart and soul; she knows me better than I know myself. She is the most wonderful support and help that I could ever ask for. She reflects the best parts of me, and I do my best to honor her in the same way. My Rex is our protector; he watches over us with a loyalty that I have never seen before. He’s not very smart, but he knows that he owes us his life and does his best to show us constantly that he is a good boy. We are not your typical “easy dog” pack, but we work hard to show the world that every dog deserves a chance to have a place to thrive and shine. Sarah Witte – Issaquah, WA: Sarah shares her home with her two pit bulls

My sister had the best dog ever named Sasha. Sasha was a big part of her family and was dearly loved by my three little nieces ages 7, 5 and 2. She was the most loving dog ever! We lost Sasha about a year ago. My nieces still talk about her, and yes, Sasha was a Pit Bull. Elaine Smith – Conroe, TX: Elaine’s family consists of her husband and two children

I live in a neighborhood surrounded by Pit Bulls. My dog is actually part Pit Bull. She is the BEST dog on the planet, and her best friends and former boyfriend are all Pit Bulls. These dogs have a bad rap wherein their behavior is usually due to human involvement. Laura Reigel – Issaquah, WA: Laura lives with her basenji/pit bull mix and cat

Pit Bulls are great dogs, very loyal and smart.

They are high energy and need lots of exercise. They are willing to please, so I have found them easy to train. I was once terrified of this breed myself, but as I got to know them I realized that I love them. Mandy Reiner – Drexel Hill, PA: Mandy shares her home with her boyfriend and daughter, three dogs, one cat, four foster kittens and one foster Pit Bull puppy

My 55 lb Pit Bull plays tug of war with our 9 lb Italian Greyhound and lets the IG win! They LOVE tug with their stuffed Octo! Julie Russell – Seattle, WA: Julie shares her home with her husband, two pit bulls, an Italian greyhound and a lab
  
I started volunteering a few years ago for a small rescue group and had the opportunity to meet the much-maligned Pit Bull. I’ve never before met such loving, grateful, accepting dogs. The traits that make them such wonderful family dogs, unfortunately allow them to be abused by horrible people in the world. Adopt one today….you won’t ever regret it!!! Heather Enajabi – Auburn, WA: Heather shares her home with a Weimeraner, a Husky/Akita/Shepherd mix, a Great Dane and a Pit Bull

I use to be one of those people that believed the media about Pit Bulls. Then I met several Pit Bulls in my neighborhood, and it totally changed my perception. I’m now the biggest Pit Bull advocate there could be. Rosa Spitaleri-Castillo – Hackensack, NJ: Rosa’s family consists of her husband, daughter and hound mix

The Pit Bulls I’ve met are some of the nicest and well-behaved dogs I’ve ever met. Kristin Maloney – Redmond, WA: Kristin lives with her husband and they will soon share their home with a little Havanese puppy

I have fostered both dogs and cats for my rescue group here in PA; some of my best and sweetest fosters have been Pit Bill mixes. My opinion is that any dog can be trained to be a good dog, and any dog can be trained to be a bad dog regardless of the breed. Kim Butler – Upland, PA: Kim shares her home with many foster cats and one Pit Bull mix

Hannah lives in Issaquah, WA with her husband, two dogs, and a parrot. She runs a dog walking/pet sitting business and volunteers her time to local dog rescue groups. In her spare time she enjoys skiing, hiking with her dogs, and camping. The experience of pit bull ownership has been her motivation for writing about this wonderful and misunderstood dog breed. Please check out Busybark for more about Hannah and her love of dogs.

Dog Files Viewpoint: Be Responsi-Bull

Admin: Kenn Bell

Categories: Dog Files Viewpoint, Hannah Powell, News

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Be Responsi-Bull

By Hannah Powell For The Dog Files

This is supposed to be a column about pit bulls, but responsible dog ownership should be a priority for every dog owner. Whether your best friend is a tiny Chihuahua or a giant Great Dane, you are responsible for his or her actions and care.

What does it mean to be a responsible dog owner? In my previous articles, I have talked about responsible dog ownership, but I would like to describe what it means in more detail. I discuss four areas of responsibility below.

You and Your Dog: Some have described dogs as “parasites”. They live in the host’s home and use up resources, offering nothing in return. I see things much differently! Dogs offer unconditional love and companionship; I cannot imagine life without these so-called “parasites”. We owe it to our dogs to provide all the care necessary to ensure his or her life is happy and healthy.

Adopting a dog or puppy is a huge commitment. Money, time and energy should all be considered BEFORE getting a dog. Dogs are expensive. They require time. They require exercise at the end of a long workday. Thousands of dogs end up in shelters across the country because their owners did not consider these things.

Dogs and People: Let’s face it; some people do not like Man’s Best Friend. As dog owners, it is our responsibility to respect this. In turn, we may gain the respect of someone who may be fearful of dogs or dislikes dogs. Follow scoop laws, follow leash laws, and respect other people’s space. Dogs need to be under control at all times when in public.

Dogs and Children: I know some people may disagree, but dogs and young children should never be left alone together. This could be a recipe for disaster, no matter how friendly the dog may be. So many dog attacks on children have occurred when the dog and child were left unsupervised.

All children should be taught to respect dogs, not fear them. People need to teach their children to ask before petting a dog. Some dogs are not okay with children. They should also know how to respond to an attacking dog. If you are unsure what to do in this situation, there are several Internet sites that can be helpful.

Dogs and Other Dogs: A sunny Saturday at the dog park can be quite an experience for dogs and humans alike. There can be tens to hundreds of dogs running around chasing tennis balls and each other. Big dogs, tiny dogs, fluffy dogs and barking dogs are all thrown in together to play. It all comes down to knowing your dog and knowing the other dogs. Obviously, no one will know all the other dogs, but most people trust other dog owners to have a well-rounded, well-socialized pooch. Sadly, this is not always the case, and there have been several unfortunate accidents at dog parks across the country.

Why Be A Responsible Dog Owner? As a pit bull owner, I constantly talk about being a responsible dog owner. If ALL dog owners took it upon themselves to be responsible, think of the positive outcome for both dogs and people. Teaching people about responsible dog ownership and enforcing it is a better alternative than Breed Specific Legislation (BSL). Breed bans are never the answer. The saying holds true; “There are no bad dogs, just bad owners”.

Hannah lives in Issaquah, WA with her husband, two dogs, and a parrot. She runs a dog walking/pet sitting business and volunteers her time to local dog rescue groups. In her spare time she enjoys skiing, hiking with her dogs, and camping. The experience of pit bull ownership has been her motivation for writing about this wonderful and misunderstood dog breed. Please check out Busybark for more about Hannah and her love of dogs.

Dog Files Viewpoint: Common Pit Bull Myths. Uncovering the Real Pit Bull.

Admin: Kenn Bell

Categories: Breed-Specific Legislation, Dog Files Viewpoint, Hannah Powell, News

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Common Pit Bull Myths – Uncovering the Real Pit Bull

By Hannah Powell For The Dog Files

When you hear “pit bull” what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Many people are fearful of pit bulls. I believe that people fear what they do not understand, and my goal in writing this is to uncover a few myths concerning the misunderstood pit bull.
 
Myth #1: Pit Bulls are aggressive to humans. This myth strikes up fear in many people. They think that because pit bulls were bred to fight other dogs that they must be aggressive towards people also. This is false. In fact, pit bull breeders and dog fighters selected against human aggression; it was bred out of the breed. Dog fighters were often in the ring with the dogs, and they needed to be able to pull two fighting dogs apart without getting injured.

Pit bulls are common in American history. Petey from “Our Gang” was a pit bull. They are considered “nanny dogs” because they do so well with children. Many pit bulls were decorated war dogs, such as Sergeant Stubby who was the most decorated war dog in World War I.

Today, pit bulls serve as therapy dogs and service dogs. They are trained for search and rescue and bomb sniffing; some are trained to be police dogs. Their loyalty and eagerness to please has attracted many to this breed.

Myth #2: Pit Bulls can lock their jaw. Simply stated, the jaws of the pit bull have the same functionally of any other dog breed. There is no locking mechanism.

Myth #3: Banning Pit Bulls will decrease the incidents of dog bites. Banning one breed or a group of breeds considered dangerous is not the answer. Many places that have enforced breed bans have not had a decrease in dog bites. Breed bans do not work for many reasons, but the main reason they do not work is because breed bans DO NOT punish dog fighters and irresponsible dog owners. Dog fighters will continue to do what they do illegally. Irresponsible dog owners will continue to be irresponsible, despite what dog breed they own.

I believe there are better alternatives to breed bans. Firstly, stricter punishments and higher fines for dog fighting and animal abuse should be enforced. At the moment, dog fighters and animal abusers get off fairly easy. They serve a little jail time and/or pay a small fine, depending on which state they are in.

Secondly, irresponsible dog ownership needs to be punished. Owners need to follow leash laws and be in control of their dog(s) at all times. Any dog can be aggressive.

Hannah lives in Issaquah, WA with her husband, two dogs, and a parrot. She runs a dog walking/pet sitting business and volunteers her time to local dog rescue groups. In her spare time she enjoys skiing, hiking with her dogs, and camping. The experience of pit bull ownership has been her motivation for writing about this wonderful and misunderstood dog breed. Please check out Busybark for more about Hannah and her love of dogs.

Dog Files Viewpoint: Please Don’t Take My Sunshine Away…

Admin: Kenn Bell

Categories: Breed-Specific Legislation, Dog Files Viewpoint, Hannah Powell, News

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Please Don’t Take My Sunshine Away…

By Hannah Powell For The Dog Files

It was a typical Saturday morning. Bacon was sizzling on the stove while the smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the kitchen. The two family dogs had just been walked and fed; they were now snoozing on the couch. The parrot whistled occasionally, which broke up the silence.

A loud knock on the door startles the entire family. The dogs immediately start barking and wagging their tails frantically with anticipation. They love it when people come to visit! They do not recognize this man at the door, but these two dogs know no strangers.

The man greets the family with a friendly “Hello”. He is holding a brown clipboard with an attached list of names and addresses. “Are you Mrs. Powell?” the friendly man asks.

The woman answers “Yes” as she sighs and rolls her eyes. She dislikes door-to-door salesmen, especially on Saturday mornings.

The man speaks again, but instead of talking about the vacuum cleaners or magazines he is selling, he takes the woman by complete surprise. “A breed ban has been implemented in Issaquah, WA, and I am here because there is a pit bull named ‘Sunshine’ registered to this address.”

After a long pause, the woman asks in shock and disbelief “What!?”.

The man calmly answers, “Well, there is no ‘Grandfather’ clause in this legislation, so you either need to move to another town, find Sunshine another home outside of Issaquah or have Sunshine humanely euthanized. If you decide not to follow one of the suggested options, then we will confiscate your pit bull, and she will be taken to animal control to be humanely euthanized. We will be checking back with you in one week from today. Thank you for your time Mrs. Powell.” The man takes a yellow highlighter from his shirt pocket and highlights the family name and address on his list. He offers a friendly “Have a good day!”, then departs.

In utter shock and disbelief the woman stands outside the open door watching the man walk away. Then *poof*, she wakes up from the recurring nightmare. Eddie and Sunshine are sleeping on the bed by her feet, and the little family is safe, for now.

What is a breed ban? What is BSL (Breed Specific Legislation)? To pit bull owners, BSL is a topic very well-known, and it is a fear that could become a reality. Breed bans target one breed of dog or several breeds of dog that are thought to endanger the public. Some breed bans contain a “Grandfather” clause. This means that the dog can be kept by the owner, but it usually comes with certain mandates. These mandates may include muzzling the dog at all times outside the house and purchasing expensive liability insurance.

Why does BSL not work? Because BSL punishes the responsible pit bull owners. It punishes those of us who have raised and trained our dogs to be good canine citizens. Our pit bulls are part of the family; BSL punishes us. BSL does not punish irresponsible dog owners, dog owners who do not leash or secure their dogs, dog owners who do not properly train and socialize their dogs or dog owners who intentionally train their dogs to be aggressive. Also, breed bans are extremely difficult to enforce.
There are many breeds and mixed breeds that fit the description of a pit bull.

What is a better alternative to BSL? Stricter laws need to be enforced regarding dogs being on-leash or secured when outside. Laws regarding dangerous dogs, regardless of breed, should be enforced.

There should also be higher fines and punishments for those who abuse animals and participate in dog fighting.

Please remember, ANY dog can be aggressive. Please do not judge an entire breed and punish them for the bad deeds of irresponsible dog owners. Don’t let them take my Sunshine away.

Hannah lives in Issaquah, WA with her husband, two dogs, and a parrot. She runs a dog walking/pet sitting business and volunteers her time to local dog rescue groups. In her spare time she enjoys skiing, hiking with her dogs, and camping. The experience of pit bull ownership has been her motivation for writing about this wonderful and misunderstood dog breed. Please check out Busybark for more about Hannah and her love of dogs.