“Breed-specific laws are not based on science. [Laws] Banning breeds won’t make it safer, and the illusion that they will is dangerous to humans and unfair to dogs.” Dr. Karen Overall
I admit I have more than a little trouble writing this story. It kept morphing into a full book chapter, not a tight little web article. ‘Just the facts, ma’am.’ Brevity has never been my forte and a breed ban in my own backyard – the state of South Dakota definitely provided me with enough ammunition for a thousand satires. But, here you have it.
The whispers are true. In fact, Leola, South Dakota tragically passed breed-specific legislation, banning certain “types” of dogs from their city. A summary of the details is as follows:
o The breeds involved are Pit Bulls, Bull Mastiffs, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, and any mix of those breeds.
o Dogs of those breeds that are already registered for city residents are “exempt” and not subject to the ban.
o According to Mayor Dean Schock, whom I interviewed for this story, if there is an issue of lineage in suspected mixed-race ‘criminals’, genetic testing will be done (a step forward in some big cities).
o After the city council originally passed the ban, a local person adopted a Rottweiler puppy and presented the law to voters. The citizens of the city supported the legislation with a vote of 103 to 27.
o On a more progressive note, Leola requires all dogs to be spayed/neutered unless a breeding license is obtained, so puppies will not be born into prohibited breeds.
Those of us who work with shelter dogs understand, or have access to information about, the myriad failings related to breed bans. We know that science doesn’t work. We know that this apparent “easy way out” ultimately causes more harm than good. So I won’t dive into that here. However, I will touch briefly on a few other points.
There was no preventative incident, such as a dog attack, that prompted the people to adopt reactionary legislation. Leola residents were simply concerned that with children, joggers and bicyclists in town a breed ban was needed to ensure safety. The townspeople called for the ban. Like most who understand the flaws and heartache of breed bans, my blood was boiling at the passage of the legislation, but hearing citizens call on the government to take away individual liberties made my blood run cold.
I immediately wanted to rent a helicopter and drop flyers over the community. They would say, “Ban chains, not breeds!”, “Fence your yards, not your liberties,” or “Bad owners make aggressive dogs!” Lucky for Leola, the high cost of gasoline kept me grounded. grrr!
Readers may have noticed the extremely rare presence of German Shepherds on the list of prohibited breeds in Leola. According to Mayor Schock, a friend of his, who once worked with police dogs in Aberdeen, South Dakota, heard about an incident where someone adopted a retired police dog and there was an attack. This third-party, one-in-a-million, biased account leading to an entire breed being banned is the ultimate testament to what happens once these dangerous floodgates are opened. If I were to mention my own dog’s “issues” to the mayor, would poodle mixes be next on the hit list?
That shot, I must say, Mayor Schock was a very willing victim of my interviewing styles. He was smart, well-spoken, and intelligent (despite the German shepherd thing). He requested that a copy of this story be sent to him and I intend to honor his request, including links to article responses on Best Friends Network. Let’s not hate the town of Leola. Hate the lack of education on the subject of canine behavior and dog breeds, which is the root cause of Breed Specific Legislation. (That and a touch of human laziness.)
Preaching, tirades, and name-calling will not help the dogs of my state. And the dogs need your help! He practices kindness and education towards the Mayor, and through him educates Leola. Provide useful links and share your knowledge. For other cities in South Dakota, please contact Mayor Schock for copies of the breed-specific legislation for your own use. An imminent regional tragedy has been unleashed. If we can’t convince the citizens of the Heartland to protect their precious freedoms, how can we beat big government?
One final thought:
To the people of Leola: Love Dogs! I hate dogs! It doesn’t make any difference. This is also about responsibility, basic freedom, and setting a dangerous precedent for government and law enforcement to be open to all forms of abuse. Getting people to live up to their obligations to raise animals that aren’t prone to aggression in the first place. (No chains, cruelty free, spay/neuter…) Hold all levels of government to the highest standards by protecting the rights of individual Americans. Once the police can enter our homes and kill our pets on suspicion of a bloodline, there will be few lines the government cannot justify crossing. Don’t let fear erode your Freedom. Find a better way!
leola city
602 3rd Street
Leola, South Dakota 57456
One last final thought:
A study from the Centers for Disease Control, “Which Dogs Bite?” found that chained dogs are 2.8 times more likely to bite. The dogs most likely to bite are male, unneutered, and chained. Neither ‘uncastrated’ nor ‘chained’ is a breed. They are human failings. Any dog can become aggressive if the owner is irresponsible.
Ok, it’s still too long. At least this article had half the satire and 30% fewer calories than my regular chapters.