Unleashed Indoor Dog Parks in Dallas to ban pit bulls

Pibble, says:

[quote]Pit Bulls are a problem, and have been a problem. We can have the silly debate all day long about chihuahuas being more aggressive but the difference is a Pit Bull can kill you.[/quote]

Really? Unlike these dogs?

http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil....

[quote]Injury comparison

Do pit bulls inflict injuries unlike other dogs?

No breed or type of dog has a particular method of attack or inflicts an exclusive type of injury. Claims that one breed of dog inflicts injuries unlike other breeds have no merit.**

Note: Graphic descriptions of dog bite injuries.

Below are causes of death listed on the autopsy reports of fifteen individuals who died from injuries associated by an attack by a single dog.

Fifteen different dogs, of fifteen different breeds/types, inflicted the fatal injuries.

On what basis could we associate one of the breeds/types listed below with one of these specific injury descriptions?

Fatal wounds as depicted by autopsy results:

1. Multiple penetrating wounds to abdomen 2. Collapsed lungs, multiple wounds to chest, partial devourment 3. Multiple bite wounds, dismemberment 4. Massive head and neck injuries 5. Severe head injuries 6. Extensive scalp and neck injuries 7. Severe scalp, facial wounds, laceration of jugular 8. Severe bite wounds to the head 9. Severe bites, broken facial and neck bones, massive bleeding 10. Severe bite wounds to the head 11. Exsanguination from multiple bite wounds 12. Massive bites to lower extremities, dismemberment 13. Severe, multiple penetrating injuries to head and neck 14. Multiple penetrating wounds to back and chest 15. Skull fracture and bites to upper back and face

The breeds/types of dogs were:

*
  Chow chow
*
  Mixed breed (no discernable breed)
*
  Labrador Retriever
*
  Malamute
*
  Dachshund
*
  Rottweiler
*
  St. Bernard
*
  Sheepdog mix
*
  German Shepherd
*
  Pit bull
*
  Chesapeake Bay Retriever
*
  Siberian husky
*
  Coonhound
*
  Akita
*
  Wolf dog

[/quote]

Can you identify an APBT(One of the 3 'Pit Bull' Breeds?

http://www.understand-a-bull.com/Find...

It`s very easy to make a statement as if its fact,its another matter to back it up.

http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil....

[quote]“[The study] does not identify specific breeds that are most likely to bite or kill, and thus is not appropriate for policy-making decisions related to the topic… There is currently no accurate way to identify the number of dogs of a particular breed, and consequently no measure to determine which breeds are more likely to bite or kill.” - Centers for Disease Control Statement “In contrast to what has been reported in the news media, the data....CANNOT be used to infer any breed-specific risk for dog bite fatalities…” - AVMA Statement

Why debate what the experts have already concluded?

THERE IS NO SCIENTIFICALLY VALID EVIDENCE AND NO REASONABLE ARGUMENT TO SUPPORT BREED SPECIFIC LEGISLATION. For a better alternative to breed-specific policies, the CDC recommends “a community approach to dog bite prevention” from the American Veterinary Medical Association. (AVMA) Task Force on Canine Aggression and Human-Canine Interactions (http://www.avma.org/public_health/dog...)

Julie Gilchrist/MD, Centers for Disease Control Co-Author, JAVMA Special Report[/quote] [/quote]

Denying dogs an opportunity to socialize simply results in more un-socialized dogs.

http://btoellner.typepad.com/my_weblo...

Calgary,Alberta,Canada has [quote]Calgary has over 140 dedicated off-leash parks for dogs (KCMO has 1)[/quote]

Calgary Alberta Canada has NO BSL

Calgary Alberta Canada has the stats to prove their way works

http://www.calgaryherald.com/Life/Cal...

Are you going to ban Standard Poodles? http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/featu...

Its very easy to post a personal opinion as fact. There are individual dogs of ALL Breeds that probably shouldnt be in dog parks.

Pit Bull owners would get blamed NO matter what happened,that would be the only concern I would have for those owners who would want to go to your Park.

I dont own a 'Pit Bull' or even a mutt that looks like one. I wouldnt take my dog to a Park that promotes hype and hysteria about 'Pit Bulls'

I would suggest reading Pit Bull Placebo:The Media,Myths and Politics of Canine Aggression.

http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil....

German Shepherds were once the "demon" dogs in previous Witch Hunts. 'Pit Bulls' are simply the dog de jour.

Dog Bites and the Media http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil....

Don`t believe everything you read in the Media.

Top Notch Facilities DONT promote hysteria. They judge dogs and owners on an individual basis. Hope a dog aggressive Standard Poodle doesnt kill another dog.

xdavidwattsx, says:

Look on the bright side, at least we have Pibble back to copy and paste the internets.

DC, says:

The problem is not only the people who do not treat their animals properly but also those who choose to perpetuate this unfortunate misconception.

So why don't they say "NO PIT BULLS" on their website?

What exactly can't they be insured for? You'd have to sign their waivers before you can leave your animal stating you agree that your pet can be mauled by another animal and they aren't responsible.

dallas_diner, says:

Signing a waiver doesn't relieve someone of certain legal liabilities and responsibilities. Ever read a parking lot or valet ticket fine print? Hint - it doesn't mean squat. AFAIK (I'm not a lawyer), common law can't be modified by contract.

DC, says:

OK, thanks for reinforcing my point. So now back to the question, what exactly could they not be insured for if there was a pit bull in the building? Flood, perhaps?

bryand, says:

I am always sickened by articles like this. The intelligent people in this world always write in to say how unfair it is to discriminate against America's greatest breed of dog, but it makes no difference. Bigots and racists rule in America and clearly there is no point in trying to persuade the kind of people who write these articles that they are wrong. Like stupid people everywhere, they won't listen to reason. Let's hope that good people and their dogs boycott this business and they go bankrupt in the end. They deserve neither patronage nor sympathy from the dog owners of Dallas.

America is going to the dogs, but in the end, only the American Pit Bull Terrier will survive as a reminder of how great this country once was.

DC, says:

Long sigh - I'll break the question down better for you:

1) Fill in the blank: If this business allowed pit bulls (for whatever), they could not be insured against _.

There, could someone answer that now?

Levidog1, says:

No need to tip toe around it by saying it's the owners to blame. It is the dog. They have been bred to fight, the best fighters have their lines continued. They are always the sweetest dogs right up until the minute they snap back to their purpose in life.

DC, says:

The author of the piece applauds the decision of the business owner.

If this place faced the prospect of not opening because they couldn't afford some (stupid but plausible) policy against who knows what it seems less laudible than expedient.

None of the policies I hold have any mention of animals, likely because business wise it's not applicable, but my homeowner's doesn't either.

Sooo, do we have the answer for question #1?

aweatherly, says:

I find it very difficult to believe that a business that thrives on dogs would disallow a certain type of breed. I could understand restricting an aggressive dog, or owner for that matter, but not an entire breed. I have a friend who's wife owns and runs an expensive dog boarding and grooming facility in an exclusive part of town and she has never been denied or threatened with non-insurability over a breed. And the reason i know that her business has never been denied insurance, is that i had concerns when taking my dog to her facility because my dog is 1/2 APBT and 1/2 retriever. So, i find it very off-putting that across the board, someone like me, who rescued a puppy and now has the sweetest dog on the planet, cannot take my very social mutt to somewhere because of the ignorance that exists. You truly should be ashamed to post something like this "Pit Bulls are a problem, and have been a problem. We can have the silly debate all day long about chihuahuas being more aggressive but the difference is a Pit Bull can kill you." Shame on you for encouraging this ignorance.

CitizenKane, says:

I don't have a dog in this fight...

lo9tta, says:

By the way, that is $7.50 per day, not hour, with as many ins and outs as you want. Worth it for dry towels and dryers when done.

Welcome to District 4!!!

pburns81, says:

I would rather the dog park and the insurance company use something more factual to base the ban on. Maybe they should only allow dogs who can pass tha canine good citizens test into the park. That way, there's proof that the dog knows how to behave and interact with other dogs. Breed bans are such a joke!

ch0, says:

Dog makes a fine meal!

chasd00, says:

The canine of peace strikes again.

jtmbls, says:

aweatherly - Simply refer to your dog as a retriever. We as humans only get to check one box when we submit "voluntary" applications inquiring about our race. Unfortunately, stating that pit bulls can kill you is not ignorance at all, but a fact. But so can eggs, depending on the day and the mood of the FDA.

I for one think they should have gone the stupid human route. Perhaps we could eventually work our way up from pets to procreation.

cho - We need more cho!!!

cdwebb20002, says:

What does Unleashed insurance company say about agressive humans? How about really stupid people who can't or won't control thier dogs? I think the decision to ban pit bulls is stupid as hell. The people who refuse to train or nueter thier pets should be penalized, not the animals. Unleashed is as foolish as PETA regarding this issue. I challenge you to read the Sports Illustrated story about the rehabilitation of Michael Vick's dogs - one is now a therapy dog - to understand the shortsightedness of everyone involved.

DC, says:

Yes, stupid.

Still waiting to find out what specifically they could not be insured against. Some nice theories.