Letters to the Editor

In regards to the article titled “ Pit Bulls Outlawed” in your July 12th’s edition.

Bulldog-type breeds are a large group encompassing the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, Miniature Bull Terrier, Bulldog, American Bulldog, French Bulldog, Olde English Bulldog, English Bulldog, Pug, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Bullmastiff, Tosa Inu, Dogue de Bordeaux, Neapolitan Mastiff, and the Dogo Argentino. Many of the above-mentioned breeds I am sure the Board of Mayor and Aldermen have never seen.

Pit bull-type breeds (bully breeds) are a branch of this family resulting from the 18th-century crosses between the bull-dogs and terriers and include the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Bulldog and Miniature Bull Terrier.

I would like to know if the Board of Mayor and Aldermen have in place a experienced breed specialist to determine what is and what is NOT one of their restricted breeds ? It is well known that breed identification is virtually non-existent at the local level, an animal control officer could easily look at one breed (a Boxer, Great Dane, even a blocky headed Yellow Lab) or a mixed breed of those and mistake it for one of the “restricted breeds”.

Also the Board of Mayor and Aldermen may be leaving the city open for lawsuits. Such as in Revere, Mass. where BSL (Breed Specific Laws) where challenged as unconstitutional.

I am not a owner of any of the breeds outlined in the new ordinance, but I am #1 a animal lover and believe that the deed not the breed should be judged. #2 I work with many rescue groups that are sick of seeing the number of abused, abandoned, and just plain neglected animals everywhere, not just Ardmore. I understand that the city has probably received many complaints, most recently I’d bet a lot from citizens concerned over the care and treatment of a number of “Pit Bull” type dogs residing next to the new Dollar General Market.

Your article stated, “Alderman Garon Hargrove reported that the owner of Dog Days Flea Market had informed him that several people had been bitten by Pit Bulls on his premises and further stated that people frequently visit the site with Pit Bulls on leashes”. As far as the owner of Dogs Days Flea Market goes does Alderman Hargrove have any idea of the number of pit-bull type pups, as well as many other breeds that are brought into Dog Days from irresponsible backyard breeders, what about the number of sick and neglected animals of all types that he allows brought in to his property for sale? All types of animals stuffed on top of each other in tiny cages, standing in feces and urine, without access to clean fresh water, 9 times out of 10 being placed directly in the sun with no shade. I personally have taken numerous sick animals from there, rehabbed them and PROPERLY placed them in good loving homes. When he (the owner of Dog Days) has been confronted about this issue he states “he tries to catch it but doesn’t always see it” just like he publicly stated in an interview with Karen Petersen formerly of WAAY-TV. Yeah right, it is there every single weekend, all day everyday you would have to be completely blind to not “catch it”.

I agree that something needs to be done, not in just Ardmore, and NOT just with pit bulls or pit bull-types but the care and treatment of all animals. There are better solutions the Board of Mayor and Aldermen could and should consider.

#1 Strongly enforce animal control laws, nuisance regulations requiring pet owners to be respectful of neighbors and society, and increased public education efforts are all better ways to address the issues of irresponsible dog ownership.

#2 Effective leash and curbing laws would prevent irresponsible owners from letting their pets run loose possibly endangering the public and other animals.

#3 Clean-up ordinances, as well as noise, odor and nuisance regulations, would require all pet owners to take responsibility for their animals and recognize their obligations to society.

#4 For those that do violate nuisance regulations and other laws, alternative sentencing in the form of community service at an animal shelter and or participation in obedience classes would help correct irresponsible behavior.

Even AKC (The American Kennel Club) is against Breed-specific laws and are joined with many other groups such as The American Veterinary Medical Association. Our local politicians can get information from groups like AKC on the negative impact and hard-to-enforce nature of breed-specific laws.

I urge the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to replace the new breed-specific ordinance with greater enforcement of leash and containment laws and other generic legislation that would actually help the problem of irresponsible ownership.

I urge the Citizens of Ardmore to take a stand and to not be “bullied” by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen by being told what breed of dog they can own. I urge the citizens to demand enactment and enforcement of better laws that require proper responsible treatment of all animals.

Sincerely,

Cyndi Brooks

P.O. Box 695

Ardmore,