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Breed Specific Legislation - Alerts
Started by admin at 06-07-2007 6:55 AM. Topic has 0 replies.
  
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 06-07-2007, 6:55 AM
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admin
Joined on 01-13-2006
Posts 399
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Ireland - Pit Bulls (LETTER FROM A DOG)
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In Ireland, the raging controversy surrounding pit bull terriers prompted one man in Lisburn, Ireland, to pen a heartbreaking 'dog's diary' of a life sadly cut short.
The following is the direct account as it appears in today's issue of the Belfast Telegraph:
My name is Lennox and I am a 16-month-old pit bull terrier. I was born in October 2005 and went to my new home in December of that year.
My master made a pen in his bedroom for me. I had a nice bed and was surrounded with teddy bears to cuddle up to.
I had a heat lamp above my head to keep me warm. I missed my mum and cried for a few nights before I settled down.
My master spoilt me rotten and I had loads of toys to play with. All the family wanted to nurse and pamper me. I thrived and grew bigger every day.
The day arrived when I was big enough to go for my first walk. My little paddy paws were so soft that when I came home my master noticed that they had cracks in them and were bleeding. He stopped walking me until they healed up and the next few times that he walked me it was only for short distances so my pads could toughen up.
I remember the first day I went for a walk by the towpath. This new experience was so exciting for me. I was on my extended lead and enjoying the freedom. The fresh air was blowing in my face and I was taking in all the new sights and smells.
It was so good to be alive! People were walking towards me and I couldn't contain myself. I just had to jump up and greet them. My master gave me a ticking off for being so forward, but the people weren't bothered and said I looked cute.
Teenagers showed a lot of interest in me. They gathered around me and made a big fuss, asking my master questions about me and saying that I was gorgeous.
My master and family loved and respected me very much and I returned that to them tenfold. I had two square meals a day with lots of tidbits in between, a nice pen outside which was disinfected every day, and a kennel with loads of thick, fleecy blankets to keep me warm through the cold winter nights.
When I was moved from my master's bedroom to outdoors, I objected at first as I missed his company. But I realised that I was too big for indoors now. I was big and healthy, it was summertime and the nights were warm.
I had loads of toys which I got to play with in the garden twice a day. I enjoyed playing football, catchball and fetching the stick. My master brought me in to have a bath every now and then.
I would go bounding up the stairs, heading straight for his room. The family laughed at me because I have a phobia. After my bath, I stand at the top of the stairs, but am terrified to walk down them. My master has to carry me down!
Lots of photos have been taken of me. I am very handsome (so I have been told by my master) with a black, glossy coat and a contrasting white chest.
Just when everything was going so well for me, I found out that I was an 'illegal' breed. According to the law, I have no right to life, even though I didn't ask to be born.
I am now on Death Row, so you might ask what horrendous crime have I committed? Did I maul someone and leave them with serious injuries? Or, even worse, kill them? No, not any of these things. I am here because an amnesty demanded that my breed was handed over to the authorities by a certain date or their owners would be fined a large amount and we would still be taken away.
My master has had no choice but to contact the dog warden to do his duty. He feels very guilty about this, but it is out of his control. I don't blame him at all.
Tomorrow I will be collected, taken to the vet and destroyed. It is too late for my life to be saved, but isn't it time a campaign was started for all the pit bull-types, so they can be saved from the fate that is in store for me?
Why are we all tarred with the same brush? Dogs are only dangerous and unpredictable if they have been mistreated by their owners and that applies to all breeds.
Why do we get so much bad publicity? There are so many attacks by other breeds, but there seems to be a vendetta against us all the time.
What percentage of attacks are by pit bull-types in a year? If truth be told, it is probably very small in comparison to other breeds.
Why are we the only breed that is seen as illegal? Is this not discrimination towards your four-legged friends?
Futile law
I hope my death will not be in vain and that somewhere down the line this futile law will be repealed. It has caused so much distress to my family.
If you care, then let your voice be heard. Contact your MP and join forces with each other via the internet. There is power in numbers. Stand up and be counted and make a difference. You can do it!
Well, the fateful date has arrived: 8am, Friday, February 16, 2007. The back gate to my house opens and in walks the dog warden. I won't let my master see that I am afraid. I will be friendly towards the dog warden and show him that I am a danger to no one.
I turn around and take one last lingering look at my master before I walk out the back gate. The dog warden puts me in the back of his van.
I have to wait until the vet's surgery opens at nine. This is the toughest time for me as I am thinking of my family and feeling angry towards the system and the suffering it is causing them.
The dog warden opens the van door and checks on me a couple of times. Don't worry Mr. Dog Warden, I don't blame you as you are only doing your job.
There is something that is in your control though: I know that you get a commission for every pit bull-type destroyed. I would ask you to donate it to the PDSA and the USPCA so the money will go to help an animal in need.
Well, the time has come and I am being led into the surgery. I will hold my head up high and be dignified as I make my final exit. Goodbye Master Mark and family and thank you very much for my short but happy life. Have no regrets as you treated me well.
Dedicated to my master Mark, family, friends and anyone else who cares.
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CHAKO'S Dog For... » Administrators » Breed Specific ... » Ireland - Pit Bulls (LETTER FROM A DOG)
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