The Wicked Witch of the East, West and In Between

In this day and age we are all well aware of the witch hunt which ensues everyday without fail in America. A tireless hunt which hopes by way of thousands of dead dogs and innocent dog breeders to turn over that lucky stone which leads to an actual active dog fighter.

When we hear of a bust where the HSUS and ASPCA claim the parties accused are perpetrators of the "biggest dog fighting ring in the country" we are reminded that the last bust propagandists said the same words. When we see images of dogs being packed into trucks we think, God I hope there is air conditioning this time. And, when we see the names scrolling across the news boards of the accused we think, I'm rooting for you. That is, if you turn out to be innocent.

You and I cannot always know who is and isn't innocent. We do, however, know that the HSUS will accuse anyone with a treadmill, a pit bull and a chain setup of being a dog fighter. So, when I hear about hundreds of dogs being confiscated and possibly innocent men being indicted I hope for the sake of the breeds very existance that this is another dishonest portrayal of innocent men. Because, in this day and age if you are actively fighting dogs in America you are a criminal. However much we might not like that fact, it is a fact. And, in order for the breed to survive the current storm we need large and small dog breeders alike to join together and do positive things in the public eye to promote the breeds ability to adapt. In other words, we need to show the world that the American Pit Bull Terrier is more than just a "fighting breed."

Unfortunately, when the media is constantly barraging the public with images of bloodthirsty pit bulls eating babies and killing poodles it's hard to show the positive aspects. And, when there is widespread national coverage of hundreds of dogs being confiscated in what is undoubtedly called "the biggest dog fighting bust in America" it's hard to get the local channel 5 out to do a nice puff peice about weight pull, conformation or even seeing eye dogs that happen to be American Pit Bull Terriers.

So, I am pleading with the fraternity to please consider a stay on all illegal activity until further notice. Please take this moment to consider that we are much better off when all of the accused are innocent. Then when they end up being guilty. Please remember that the breeds history and original purpose don't change just because you take a break from being outlaws. And, please please please go to a dog show, teach your pup weight pull or become a seeing eye volunteer. For the good of the breed.

I know and you know that 9 out of 10 accused dog fighters are innocent. But, that 1 guilty man will be a pillar for the HSUS, ASPCA and government alike as proof that all of us are drug dealers, dog fighters and criminals.

In this country we live everyday as the stewards of a breed which is under fire and under appreciated. We are here in order to make sure it continues on, unfettered and unchanged. Although we may not be able to test the dogs in the way they were meant to be tested in this sea of liberal media and government, we can appreciate the history the same.

With that I leave you to reflect and consider how you can best help your beloved breed continue on. . .

Official Statement Regarding Libel Blog

To whom this may concern,

A recent internet slander article has drawn our attention at Stop-BSL.com. The website dogsbite.org has decided to "oust" Owners, Breeders and Dogs Against Breed Discrimination founder, Allie Renar, as a "dog fighter supporter" or something of the like. This gross misrepresentation of the facts has lead us to address you here. This email is being sent to anyone I think it may concern and will be posted on our website shortly for visitors.

Several things were written about Allie and Stop-BSL.com which are much less true than they are blatant lies.

First off the claim that this organization is some sort of cover for dog fighters is absurd. Allie has never supported dog fighting and has never said that she does. The truth is that some funds have been routed through Stop-BSL.com and donated from Allie herself to help support ACCUSED dog fighters who were beleived innocent. The supposedly great thing about American society is how you are innocent until proven guilty. In the cases which Stop-BSL's reasearch dept has taken time to find information to help the defense and money has been sent all parties were beleived innocent and had been illegal searched, violationg their Consitutional Rights. All money which went to these people was sent with the request that it reach them. It was sent through Stop-BSL.com to avoid posting personal addresses on the internet. No general donations were routed to these people or used for this cause.

The outcome of these trials and investigations has shown us why we felt we should be involved. Thus far one person plead guilty (due to threats of losing his home which he is currently investigating appealing), four were acquitted, one had his dogs returned without charges being filed and one plead no contest with no jail time served. With these type of statistics it is very hard to believe that these people did not deserve their day in court. Out of over 150 charges the HSUS and local law enforcement had come up with for seven people total only one person has plead guilty to anything. That one person plead to INTENTION TO FIGHT A DOG, which is NOT the same as ever having done it. We know many of you who do not know the background of these cases or know in depth what the HSUS and groups like dogsbite.org are doing will not understand this. For that we are sorry. However, this issue cannot be ignored. The HSUS is trying to make America a country where simply owning a dog allows them to barge in your home without a warrant. They use false allegations and missing evidence to get warrants, kill dogs and then blow it off like it never happened when no one is found guilty of anything. This issue falls squarely in the realm of our mission. We help only those people we feel are innocent from either looking at the evidence presented or from speaking to character witnesses who are willing to bet their lives these people are innocent. Five out of seven times we were right in a court of law.

We fight BSL every day and know that the number one reason it passes is fear. The HSUS and other organizations have long perpetuated the myth that only dog fighters, drug dealers and criminals own pit bulls. They continue to raid innocent dog breeders in order to further perpetuate that myth. These groups know that the acquittal will not warrant much press and the initial media frenzy is all they need to bump up their donations and get more politicians on board with BSL.. We make countless phone calls, orchestrate petitions, inform the public of REAL statistics and yes, we support innocent people with information and some funds in order to help stop the spread of this stereotype.

A largely ignored and forgotten part of fighting BSL is stopping the proponents from polluting the media any more than they already are. And, that is what we did in these cases. We provided information that John Goodwin is adimittedly not an expert on dog fighting or trained in any animal service or care field. Additionally, we provided evidence that Goodwin is a high school dropout with airtight connections to a domestic terrorism organization. This got him removed as an expert witness in several cases because he is not an expert. We helped innocent people prove that they were innocent- that is all. Those parties who were acquitted are not "known dog fighters" as dogsbite.org and the HSUS would like you to beleive. They are dog breeders who had their lives taken from them and slaughtered by pit bull hating fearmongering people and in the end were found to have done nothing wrong.

Groups such as dogsbite.org actively advocate for unfair pit bull restrictions and breed based laws. It is no wonder they would decide to slander a young non profit who is trying to stop them from perpetuating lies and passing useless laws which kill innocent pets. The Humane Society of the united states also advocated sterilizing all pit bulls and is actively offering rewards of $5000 for any information (true or not) which may lead to the senseless killing of more innocent dogs owned by good people.

We truly feel that our organization has been making waves and we have been doing more with getting people to act than we have done to raise money. This is complete retaliation to our blogs and our efforts in which have helped people at least get a fair day in court. Stop-BSL has been around about a year now and this recent attack happens only after the HSUS was embarrassed by it's own ignorance and ill preparedness in court.

As it stands we have not raised a lot of money. What we have done is created a lot of awareness and convinced a lot of people to become active in their communtiy. That is our ultimate goal. To stop BSL at it's roots, in your communities and in the minds of the public. As far as the alleged advertisement in "Scratch Back" we did not pay for this ad. It was donated by someone who saw our site and believed in our mission. As a group that does not have a war chest of money we do not turn down ads offered to us. We do not subscribe to this magazine or know the details of it's contents. Apparently the people at dogsbite.org do have the connections to the "dog fighting" world that our founder is being accused of having.

Sincerely,
Owners, Breeders and Dogs Against Breed Discrimination

Breed Specific Legislation Elimination

Everyday in America the war is being waged on "pit bulls" in the form of Breed Specific Legislation. Groups like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and Best Friends are using their political and public influence to systematically outlaw and eliminate dog breeds in cities and counties across the country.

Some wars are won and some lost. But, there are a few things that every "pit bull" owner, breeder and advocate need to know in order to stand a chance in their community.

This edition of United We Bark will cover the reasons behind BSL. Stay tuned for future editions covering how to fight bsl and who you can trust in the Animal "welfare" community.

BSL is presented to the public as a means for controlling dangerous dogs and curbing dog bites in the community. However, any one who researches the subject can see that the actual danger from "pit bull" dogs is wildly overstated and BSL does not successfully address the problems which cause dog bites in the community.

Neither the CDC, AVMA or AKC acknowledge breed specific legislation as a means to effectively reducing dog bites in communities. Dog Bite Prevention week is sponsored each year by the CDC, AVMA and USPS. They collectively reject BSL and recommend other means of control and prevention.

As outlined in A Community Approach to Dog Bite Prevention The AVMA's Task Force on Canine Aggression and Human-Canine Interactions states:

"Concerns about “dangerous” dogs have caused many local governments to consider supplementing existing animal control laws with ordinances directed toward control of specific breeds or types of dogs. Members of the Task Force believe such ordinances are inappropriate and ineffective."

". . . a dog’s tendency to bite depends on at least 5 interacting factors: heredity, early experience, later socialization and training, health (medical and behavioral), and victim behavior."

"Breed-specific ordinances, however, raise constitutional questions concerning dog owners’ fourteenth amendment rights of due process and equal protection. When a specific breed of dog is selected for control, 2 constitutional questions are raised: first, because all types of dogs may inflict injury to people and property, ordinances addressing only 1 breed of dog appear to be underinclusive and, therefore, violate owners’ equal protection rights; and second, because identification of a dog’s breed with the certainty necessary to impose sanctions on the dog’s owner is impossible, such ordinances have been considered unconstitutionally vague and, therefore, to violate due process."

What the Animal Rights community hopes to gain from BSL:

• Allowing Warrantless Search and Seizure
  
  “if pit bulls were illegal to possess, law enforcement officials could obtain search warrants where pit bulls are discovered and during such a search, additional evidence of their dog fighting could be discovered and seized for felony prosecutions”.
  - Kory Nelson, City Attorney, Denver, Colorado
  
  This can be said for anything "discovered" on your property at the time that a warrant for your "pit bull" is being executed, even things that are not in plain view.
  
  
• Gaining Police powers and forfeiture of assets for "private charities"
  
  Senate Bill 1775 by Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, would allow the forfeiture of property used for dogfighting.
  
  
• By-pass Due Process
  
  In the case of BSL dogs are confiscated and killed often without allowing a trial or opposition from the dog owner. Most Breed Specific laws actually have written in clauses which eliminate the right of due process.
  
  
• Making formerly responsible and law abiding dog owners into a new class of criminals
  
  The Humane Society of the United States has been painting "pit bull" owners as criminals, gang members and dog fighters for years. Now, with the use of BSL they are making law abiding citizens into criminals by outlawing their beloved pets. The choice of dog lovers becomes: Abide by the law and kill your dog OR Break the law and hide/relocate your dog.
  
  

  From the HSUS Website:
  How to Spot Signs of Dogfighting in Your Community (comments in red)
  

• An inordinate number of pit bulls being kept in one location, especially multiple dogs who are chained and seem unsocialized. This could include rescue organizations, responsible dog breeders and other people. The perception of a dog "seeming unsocialized" is left to the person to determine without having met the dog or conversed with the dog owner.
• Dogs with scars on their faces, front legs and stifle area (hind end and thighs). Also could include dogs at a rescue, being fostered for an adoption agency, or dogs with pre-existing conditions which have caused excess scratching in the past.
• Dogfighting training equipment such as
  • treadmills used to build dogs' endurance Responsible dog breeders of many breeds use treadmills to ensure that their dogs receive healthy exercise as recommended by veterinarians to maintain healthy weight which was proven to help dogs lead a healthy life by the Purina Life Span Study. You can see on the AVMA website a study in which veterinarians utilized specialized treadmills for dogs in a study on obesity.
    
  
  
  • "break sticks" used to pry apart the jaws of dogs locked in battle Responsible dog owners of the Bully breeds should own and carry a break stick in case of unintentional altercations between their dogs and unfamiliar animals. In the event an incident does occur the break stick is the fastest and safest way (for both animals involved) to separate the dogs.
  • tires or "springpoles" (usually a large spring with rope attached to either end) hanging from tree limbs Police K9 units and responsible dog owners who participate in Schutzhund competitions with their dogs can both benefit from the jaw strengthening safe play which is provided by a spring pole.
• Unusual foot traffic coming and going from a location at odd hours. This could apply to rescue organizations, home based veterinarians, dog breeders who sell puppies, any person who happens to have friends.

• The addition of more and more breeds to the dangerous dog list, thereby effectively eliminating dog ownership in America over a period of many years. Currently 75 breeds have been targeted by the Animal Rights advocates to be restricted and/or banned somewhere in the United States. It is only a matter of time until they petition Congress and WIN to outlaw these breeds and more in the United States as a whole.
  
  
  PETA in particular is not shy about their hatred for "pets" in America;
  ". . . we believe that it would have been in the animals' best interests if the institution of "pet keeping"—i.e., breeding animals to be kept and regarded as "pets"—never existed. The international pastime of domesticating animals has created an overpopulation crisis; as a result, millions of unwanted animals are destroyed every year as "surplus." This selfish desire to possess animals and receive love from them causes immeasurable suffering. . ."
  
  ". . . many kind individuals fall prey to the picket-fence appeal of so-called "responsible" breeders and fail to recognize that no matter how kindly a breeder treats his or her animals, as long as dogs and cats are dying in animal shelters and pounds because of a lack of homes, no breeding can be considered "responsible."


All of this moral browbeating, meanwhile. . .

"People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a group that complains bitterly when animals die accidentally in horse races or intentionally in slaughterhouses, killed more than 90 percent of the adoptable animals in its care during 2007."

"In comparison, the Virginia Beach SPCA, right down the road from PETA’s Norfolk headquarters, managed to adopt out almost 70% of the animals in its care last year. And it did it on a relative shoestring budget."
Reported by Peta Kills Animals as of 10/3/08

Not to mention that the realistic basis for what PETA calls a pet overpopulation crisis has been vehemently disproved by Nathan Winograd's Redemption a book praised and renowned for it's honest portrayal of the broken Animal Control system in America which advocates killing instead of adopting for millions of healthy and wanted pets each year.

"Redemption is a passionate advocacy for ending the killing of homeless dogs and cats in shelters. Telling the story of how the movement of animal sheltering in the United States was born of compassion and lost its way... Redemption offers hope that America can yet change its ways. Highly recommended. – Midwest Book Reviews, midwestbookreview.com.

"[T]he most provocative and best-informed overview of animal sheltering ever written." – Merritt Clifton, Animal People. (To read the entire review, click here.)

"An important work... The world owes much to those rare individuals who see things differently - and who then devote themselves to vindicating their maverick conclusions." – The Bark, thebark.com. (To read the entire review, click here.)

"[An] excellent, empowering new book." – Julia Szabo, Fetchdog.com, New York Post Pet Writer. (To read the entire review, click here.)

"One of the most important books you’ll read this year."– Beth Flor, Pajiba.com

Winograd's book tells how successful the no kill shelter movement can be in America, preventing scenes like this from happening. PETA calls no kill shelters "less than ideal." They claim No Kill Shelter systems can not work. Meanwhile, Winograd "presided over America’s two most successful experiments in what’s become known as the “No-Kill” animal shelter movement.

At SPCAs in San Francisco and Tompkins County, New York, Winograd showed that No-Kill animal sheltering -- the brand of hands-on animal care that deep-pocketed animal “rights” groups like PETA and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) ironically oppose -- can work." - Center for Consumer Freedom

In an interview with the Center for Consumer Freedom Winograd answers some tough questions about Redemption which may help you understand why you should READ THIS BOOK.

All in all,through research into the subject, it becomes painfully obvious that Animal Rights groups who advocate, or even just help along, breed specific measures in cities and counties around the country are not doing it to stop dog bites in those communities. Breed bans DO NOT stop or reduce the overall number of dog bites in a community.

Dog bites are caused by irresponsible ownership and lack of enforcement of existing fair laws in communities. Every American city needs to employ Responsible Dog Ownership Laws as opposed to BSL, like those suggested by Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States. If they did I guarantee a drop in dog bites, prolonged animal cruelty and reoffenders in communities around the country.

It also becomes obvious, if you follow the spread of BSL through the country and the world for a short time, how much of a real problem this is. BSL is becoming a pandemic and rapidly spreading. Without the committed involvement of every dog owner in America I fear myself and all dogs like me will soon be near extinction in America and around the world.

Guardianship: A Stepping Stone in the Wrong Direction

Lately, I have been hearing many organizations using the term "guardianship" instead of "ownership" when referring to the human-dog relationship. While I love to be treated like a member of the family and respected as thus, this term has me worried.

Many people may say why? And here it is. . .

I, being a dog, like to feel secure in my living situation. Ownership tells me that my person "owns" me and by law, under the constitution, has rights to me. This means that no government has legal right to take me away, upsetting my living arrangement without proof that my owner has broken a law.

That being said, many times BSL does take us dogs from our owners. But, this is illegal and violates our human's rights under the 4th, 5th and 14th amendments of the United States Constitution. In particular, the 14th Amendment states that the government shall not deprive citizens of property without due process. So, when BSL is enacted, it is in violation of these amendments and can be challenged in court. Often times it is challenged, and although cities and states have more money and time to fight in court, occasionally humans win. When they do win it is by proving that Breed Specific Legislation has violated "due process" by resulting in "grievous harm to property and liberty."

This is why the term guardianship has been concocted. Animals, including dogs, are currently considered PROPERTY by law in the United States. However, Under the Constitution of the United States a guardian does not hold property rights over it's "ward." In fact, making dog owners into dog "guardians" would not only erase the legal premise by which BSL can be fought and won, it may also place undue strain on the dog-human relationship. For example, a guardian of a child is bound by law to put the interest of the child before themselves. This means if the child needs a million dollar operation the guardian must undergo the financial hardship of doing such operation and if the guardian refuses the state can actually file suit against said guardian on behalf of the ward. In such cases with dogs, a veterinarian or other official could decide that the food or medical treatment a guardian has chosen for it's ward is insufficient and they could file suit on the ward's behalf.

This would make dog guardianship much more complicated and expensive than is dog ownership, perhaps even reducing the number of available good homes in America for dogs like myself.

Additionally, human guardians are tracked by the state in the case of having human wards. Human-dog guardians would probably be the same way, adding another undue strain on the individuals involved and the regulatory system created around this ideal.

You may be thinking, who is suggesting "dog guardianship" anyway?

Many of the Animal Rights organizations you may have thought were warm and fuzzy actually support the elimination of pet owner rights and even BSL.

ASPCA Position On Ownership vs. Guardianship

“By viewing animals as more than mere property, the focus shifts from the ownership interest in the animal to what is in the best interest of that individual animal. This altered view of animals necessarily requires that we treat them with greater respect and compassion and a higher level of care. In turn, our relationship with the animal becomes one of a “caretaker,” whose sole responsibility is to protect and nurture the animal, rather than an “owner,” who has title to and dominion over the animal for the owner’s enjoyment and benefit as he/she sees fit.”

“To fully recognize this new relationship between humans and animals, laws must change accordingly. Converting “owner” to “guardian,” however, is more than semantics. It raises many important questions regarding society’s duty of care toward and use of animals. For example, can we continue to use animals in medical research and for human consumption and still consider ourselves their guardians? These practices certainly are not in the animals’ best interests, nor do they respect them as separate and unique entities capable of experiencing pain, fear and suffering. What, then, is our duty of care toward animals whom we exploit for human interests?”

Read the bold above, as a dog, the idea that the ASPCA wants to make cows illegal to eat makes me afraid for my life. Although humans can live as healthy vegans, we dogs are carnivores.

ASPCA Position
While the legal status of animals remains to be resolved, the ASPCA recognizes that the cultural and social relationship that humans have with animals clearly transcends that of property, and is better reflected by the term “guardian” than by the term “owner.” The ASPCA therefore advocates the use of the term “guardian.”

The ASPCA is an organization which most people think of as a very mainstream animal protection agency. But, with is current adoption of guardianship language we dogs are seeing that it is really just a PETA or HSUS in friendlier clothes.

I for one, feel much safer knowing that if BSL passes where I live, my humans will have a constitutional basis to fight for my life!

Responsible Dog Owners Unite. . .

I am writing this blog as a means to reach responsible dog owners across the country. Why? Because, there are more of you than the HSUS and PETA want to admit and you need a platform for making yourselves known. Every day so called "dangerous dog laws" are stripping away your rights across the country and criminalizing you.

It is time to stand up and make a change! You need to tell America that you beloved pups are here to stay and no combination of mandatory spay/neuter, anti- tethering or breed ban laws will make us leave!

I hope that you will subscribe to this blog and tell your friends about it because there is revolution coming and I would like you and every other dog owner in America to be part of it!