Retired cop forced to give up pit bull service dog – do you care about Breed Specific Legislation now?

December 22, 2011 By Joanne Brokaw

Our dog Bailey would be illegal if our community adopted Breed Specific Legislation - which it thankfully has not.

Folks involved in animal rescue know all about Breed Specific Legislation (BSL), but many average dog owners don’t understand what it really means when communities adopt laws banning dogs of specific breed or physical characteristics.

Then a story like this one hits the front page: retired police officer James Sak is being forced to get rid of his service dog Snickers, just because the five-year-old is a Pit bull-mix.

Sak was a police officer in Chicago for 32 years, almost half that time as a tactical officer. Now retired, he needs the dog for assistance after he suffered a debilitating stroke that left him with no feeling on the right side of his body. Sak told the Chicago Sun-Times, “I have spasms on my right side where the leg gives out whenever I get upset or try to do too much. When Snickers sees that my hand is moving, he sits down by me right away and waits for me to tell him what to do. Usually, he goes to get my wife so she can help me get back in the chair. Without him, I feel lost.”

Last month, Sak moved to the town of Aurelia, Iowa to be near his ailing mother-in-law. Soon after, he and his wife Peggy were called to a city council meeting and told they needed to get rid of Snickers the next day or the dog could be seized and euthanized.

The dog was immediately moved to a boarding facility outside of the town limits, and Sak is without his service companion. That means his 87-year-old mother in law is now taking care of him.

The story has obviously captured the hearts of Americans, who are outraged – as they should be. But this isn’t an isolated case. Breed Specific Legislation has been enacted in communities large and small across the nation, essentially outlawing breeds including the American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and the American Bulldog – or more importantly, any dog that looks likes one of these breeds. People just like you and me have had to surrender their family pets – or move to a new city – because our dogs have broad heads or short tails or otherwise look like a “pit bull.”

Until now, have you paid attention to that? (more…)

Why puppy mills and pit bull breeders both produce “disposable dogs”

February 22, 2012 By Joanne Brokaw

One of our local news station in Rochester, NY, 13WHAM news, did a two part story this week on the problem of backyard breeders and the astounding number of pit bulls ending up our local animal shelter. The two-part series was called “Disposable Dogs.”

In the story, reporter Jane Flasch shared information about the growing problem of irresponsible backyard breeding, which resulted with more than 1,000 pit bull puppies (some just days old) and dogs euthanized last year at Rochester Animal Services (RAS), the municipal shelter for the City of Rochester, NY. (The shelter euthanized about 3,000 dogs in 2011.)

I volunteered for a year at this shelter and I can attest to the fact that pit bulls are are problem … wait, not pit bulls, exactly. Pit bull owners and breeders.

And I have one of those “disposable dogs”.

(more…)

The fight for Lennox ends – shame on the Belfast City Council

July 11, 2012 By Joanne Brokaw

Lennox, the 7-year-old American Bull Dog/Labrador mix who was seized by the Belfast City Council (BCC) in Northern Ireland in May 2012 has been, according to reports, “humanely put to sleep.”

The story that has captured the hearts of animal lovers around the world centers on a law in Belfast that makes owning a pit bull illegal. The BCC seized Lennox because they deemed that he was, by appearance, a pit bull, despite DNA testing to the contrary.

The Barnes family, Lennox’s owners, have spent the last two years fighting to have Lennox returned, and in the event that wasn’t possible, rehomed to someplace without breed specific legislation. Offers to take the dog – who has never been aggressive, never bitten anyone, never had a complaint against it – have come from the U.S., Italy and even the Georgian Republic. Renowned dog trainer Victoria Stillwell offered to rehome the dog in the U.S. at her own expense.

But today, Lennox was put down.

This upsets me for so many reasons. (more…)

Fight for Lennox the dog nears the end

July 9, 2012 By Joanne Brokaw

Lennox is scheduled to die tomorrow. In fact, he may already be dead, since he’s in Northern Ireland and it’s already tomorrow there. Lennox has been imprisoned for almost two years. Not because he committed a crime. Not because he broke the law. He’s been held because of the way he looks.

Lennox is a dog. And to the officials at the Belfast, Ireland City Council, Lennox looks like a pit bull, which in their eyes makes him a dangerous dog.

Never mind that Lennox is not a pit bull; he’s a 7-year-old American Bull Dog/Labrador mix. Never mind that the now 7-year-old dog has his entire life been licensed by the council as well as neutered and microchipped, up to date on vaccinations, and DNA registered (which confirmed his breed type as American Bull Dog and Labrador).

On the 19th May 2010, Lennox was seized by Belfast City Council Dog Wardens from his loving family – which reportedly includes a severely disabled daughter – after the dog wardens measured Lennox’s muzzle and tail and deemed him a pit bull.

Since that day, Lennox has been living an undisclosed location where conditions have reportedly been inhumane. Not only was he ripped from his home, he’s been kept in what, according to photographs, is a filthy, cramped environment lacking visible means of food, heat, water, and toys or stimulation.

While Lennox’s family has been working all of this time to bring their dog home, they have exhausted all of their legal options and today Lennox was scheduled to be euthanized.

The animal community has gotten involved on an international scale. This past weekend, thousands turned out for protests and demonstrations held around the world, begging the Belfast City Council to return the dog to his family. Offers to take the dog have poured in from all over the world, including from renowned dog trainer Victoria Stillwell and even Kakha Dzagania, a member of the Parliament of the Republic of Georgia in the former Soviet Union. (Read Victoria Stillwell’s letter)

As of 8:23 p.m.Belfast time, (3:23 pm EDT), the North Country Gazette reported that the Lord Mayor of Belfast had sent a tweet suggesting the council rehome the dog.

It’s mind boggling to think that the Belfast City Council would be steadfast in this case. This is not a dog that has bitten someone or been a problem. He simply looks, to them, like a pit bull. Rather than back down, Belfast is now the center of protests; worldwide animal lovers are calling for boycotts of tourism to Northern Ireland. Heads of state internationally have chimed in. No one wins in this case. Not the dog, not the family, not the child and not Belfast.

There’s no word yet on whether Lennox has been granted a reprieve; the prospects are doubtful. His family has reportedly not been allowed to see him to say goodbye. Belfast City Council should be ashamed of themselves – even if Lennox was a pit bull (which he is not) and if he was dangerous (which he was not) to treat the dog and the family so cruelly is

It’s a sad day for dog lovers – and should serve as a dire, desperate warning to those who have been ignoring breed specific legislation in their areas. Yes, this happens in America, too. You saw it happen with Snickers the service dog. It could happen to any of us.

And as you’ve seen here, you do not have to actually own one of those allegedly “dangerous” breeds to be affected.

More posts about Breed Specific Legislation.

Ohio removes “pit bull” from state’s definition of dangerous dog

February 10, 2012 By Joanne Brokaw

PLR Kia — Kia is a parvo survivor looking for a home. This cuddle monkey loves people! If you want to learn more, visit PittyLoveRescue.org

It’s a happy day for opponants of breed specific legislation: Ohio has changed the state’s law that specifically named pit bulls as dangerous dogs.

According to VIN News, the 25-year-old law formerly defined a vicious dog as one that “belongs to a breed that is commonly known as a pit bull dog.” The story goes on to explain this about the new revised code:

In addition to striking the words “pit bull” from state code, HB 14 creates a new classification called “nuisance” dogs, defined as dogs that without provocation and while off their home premises chase or approach people in a menacing fashion or try to attack.

The bad news is that Ohio is a home rule state, which means that individual “cities and towns within the state have the ability to pass laws to govern themselves so long as they abide by state and federal constitutions. ” There are currently more than 20 municipalities in Ohio with breed specific legislation.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and breed specific legislation won’t disappear over night. But every step in the right direction is a victory towards battling ignorance about dog behavior based on stereotypes promoted in the media – like this, from a woman in my art class: “Everything I know about dogs I learned from Judge Judy and Judge Millan. And I hate pit bulls.” She then added, “Stereotypes are very useful.”

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Miami Marlins’ new pitcher Mark Buehrle takes a stand on pit bull ban

January 11, 2012 By Joanne Brokaw

Mark Buehrle and his wife in a 2010 PSA for AdoptAPet.com

This week comes news that Miami Marlins’ pitcher Mark Buehrle was willing to pass up a deal with the South Florida baseball team because Miami-Dade county has a ban on pit bull ownership.

In December, Buehrle signed a $58 million, four-year contract with the club. But he reportedly wasn’t willing to make the move unless he and his wife Jamie could find a house in a community that would accept their adopted pit bull and three Vizlas.

The Buehrles are avid supporters of animal causes; in 2010 the couple did a series of PSAs for AdoptAPet.com, appearing on billboards and commercials in support of animal adoption. Buehrle also founded the Sox for Strays program, which featured adoptable animals at White Sox games once a month. That’s in addition to his other causes, visiting military hospitals, and children’s hospitals to spend time with kids with cancer.

Animal lovers reacted with loud voices and lots of support over the recent story about retired police officer Jim Sak and his service dog Snickers. A pit bull ban in his town of Aurelia, Iowa forced him to give up his dog, and then led to a lawsuit that temporarily reuinted man and dog. It was likely the first time most people had ever heard that there are places in the country where specific breeds of dogs are banned.

With Buehrle’s move to Florida and his own experiences with breed discrimination laws, let’s hope that he’ll continue his animal rescue efforts in his new home. The cause needs a celebrity name to bring the issue to the mainstream, not just in the animal rescue community.

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New Year’s resolutions for animal lovers: #5 – Learn something new about animals

December 30, 2011 By Joanne Brokaw

OtterAlaskaJackiesPic — One of my goals for 2012: learn more about otters! (Photo credit: Jacqueline Yockey)

To say that I read a lot would be an understatement; I try to average a book a week, and my topics range from pop fiction to indepth nonfiction on a variety of subjects. But one this is for sure: on my reading list every year are books about animals. All kinds of animals.

This year, for example, I stumbled upon a book called “Red Tails In Love” at the used bookstore, about the birds in Central Park, specifically the red tailed hawks that made headlines when they nested on a posh building. That led to “The Big Year”, a book about three guys chasing a dream of seeing the most birds in a single year.

Note that I am not a birdwatcher. I just like learning stuff. I’m fascinated by facts and figures and trivia and stuff that makes me go, “Ooo, now that’s interesting!” (For example, did you know that people used to use dogs to turn the spits that roasted meat in a fireplace? They were called … Turnspit dogs!) I think it’s important to keep learning – it makes me a better pet owner, a better person, and a better member of my community. (And maybe even a little more interesting … or at least it gives me an edge when I watch “Jeopardy”.)

So my last suggestion for a New Year’s resolution: #5 – Learn something new about animals! (more…)

Snickers the service dog to be reunited with retired police officer

December 28, 2011 By Joanne Brokaw

Sak_and_Snickers — James Sak and his service dog, Snickers. (Photo courtesy Animal Farm Foundation)

Here’s some great news: Snickers is going home!

You may remember that just before Christmas, retired Chicago police officer James Sak was ordered by the town council in Aurelia, Iowa, to surrender his pit bull service dog, Snickers. Aurelia has breed specific legislation that makes owning a pit bull – even a mix – illegal.

In November, Sak and his wife Peggy moved to Aurelia to be near her 87-year-old mother. Snickers went with them. The pit mix is James Sak’s service dog, giving the retired police officer assistance after a stroke left him with no feeling on the right side of his body.

But soon after they moved, the Aurelia town council ordered Sak to either move the dog or risk having Snickers confiscated and euthanized in accordance with their “no pit bull” law.

Animal activists and dog lovers across the country voiced their outrage over the town’s policy, and the Animal Farm Foundation stepped up to provide legal assistance to Sak, claiming the ban violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. Today, they filed for an injunction and a federal judge ordered Snickers to be returned to the Saks immediately

Ta da! That’s fabulous news!

“Animal Farm Foundation is thrilled that Officer Sak will be reunited with his service dog, Snickers, and his safety will no longer be compromised,” says Kim Wolf, community engagement specialist for the Animal Farm Foundation, in published reports. “This case is a sad example of what happens when cities discriminate against dogs based on breed or appearance.”

The Aurelia town council can appeal the decision, and the Animal Farm Foundation is prepared to defend Sak and Snickers.

But here’s the lesson I hope you take away from this story: breed specific legislation is a very real threat to dogs who don’t deserve to be targeted simply because of their breed. Yes, dangerous dogs need to be controlled. But dog legislation needs to be based on behavior and the actions of owners, not on dog breed.

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