Request For Help with Assignment (BSL Related)

[Mellie]

I am currently enrolled in a college-level english course on technical communication.
My comparable and higher level english credits from my previous college (I first attended straight out of high school, like most people; I've since returned to college for a different degree) do not exempt me from taking this course. It is an absolute requirement for all students.
So I've decided to make the best of it.
We have begun work on a semester-long "Analytical Report" project that will culminate with a grand presentation.
I have chosen to report on BSL. At the end of my post is a copy of the memo I will submit tomorrow. This memo is the very beginning of my project. So I still have plenty of time to do the necessary work.
I am asking my fellow forum members (that would be you guys ) to help.
If anyone here has been affected by BSL, I'd like to hear your stories. What is the specific legislation that has affected you? What has been the result of the legislation? Did you fight it? What sparked it? And anything else you can offer.
Keep in mind I am not writing a research paper, or anything based on opinion. It is an Analytical Report. So I must be factual, technical, informative and so on.
I thank you all, in advance, for your help.
__________________________________________________ __

***Copy of Memo***

The amount of media coverage on specific dog breed attacks/injuries has dramatically increased over the years. In an effort to remedy the problem of canine aggression, numerous government officials have implemented BSL, or Breed Specific Legislation. Such a measure bans certain breeds based on identity, not behavior. BSL’s impractical, discriminatory nature has given rise to questions concerning legality and civil/constitutional rights.

I will make every effort to explain the intentions and consequences of Breed Specific Legislation. Special attention will be given to the legal issues which have arisen as a result of bans across the nation. Finally, I will offer proposals for dangerous dog control that do not encroach on a responsible dog owner's rights. To accomplish the aforementioned, I plan to research media coverage of dog attacks; gather information on current BSL; collect statistical data on injuries and deaths inflicted by canines; interview sources affected by BSL; and contact local officials for their perspectives on enforcing such legislation.

My final analytical report will consider the general public as my audience. I hope to clarify the subject of Breed Specific Legislation, and provide acceptable and reasonable alternative solutions to the problem.

[linnie]

Where to start mellie
I will actually brainstorm on this one

[Mellie]

Well thanks, Linnie.... looks like your my only hope. No pressure.

[Mare1]

Mellie,
This is very interesting. It reminds me of the ban on Quaker Parrots, they are by law banned from certain states, as a matter of fact, you cannot even travel through the state if you are transporting one.
I believe their ban came about due to over population, destruction of plant life in areas, damage to natural enviroment and man made. They have learned to survive in the wild. And I wonder if their over population came about because of human error in releasing unwanted parrots into the wild.(which is just plain stupid for humans to throw out the window what they no longer want or out the door.)
I own a Quaker, so learning about this part of the species iinterested me.
I wish you luck in your search on information on BSL. I would be interested to follow along and see the how, why and wheres of this.

[elegy]

i'm not exactly sure what you're looking for, but i'll give it a shot.

i have two american pit bull terriers. they are at the top of the list right now for breed specific legislation and mass hysteria. while i live in a state that has a law against bsl, i don't trust that it won't happen. california used to have a law like that, too, and now they've got SB 861 (and yes, i *know* it's just a mandatory spay/neuter law, but the language in the bill marks the breeds affected as "dangerous", which is already giving people insurance problems, etc).

i personally was declined renters insurance through the company i have my car insurance through because i have pit bulls.

how it affects me? i'm very aware of dog bites/attacks in the news, aware of the breed legislation being proposed all over the world, aware of my dogs' behavior in public and the impact they have on people, both positive and negative. my dogs get such a wide variety of responses- from people grabbing their children and crossing the street to people who are all over my dogs with hugs and pets and stories about a pit bull they knew or had.

i am an absolute stickler for responsible dog ownership, because i think that's at the heart of the matter. i have very little tolerence for human-aggression in dogs, especially pit bulls. i regularly write letters to politicians and journalists in response to proposed bills and published articles (i try to write a thank you in response to every positive and fair article i see about pit bulls).

my opinion on bsl is flat out that it doesn't work. i read recently that there was a study done in england to see if the dangerous dog act there had had any impact on the dog bite statistics. they found that it had had no impact whatsoever and, interestingly, that people bite as much as any breed of dog. and that pretty much sums it up for me right there.

i think the pit bull problem specifically and the dog bite problem in general has been blown way out of proportion in this country. i think a lot of that is encouraged by the media. an average of 16 people are killed by dogs every year in the united states. that is such a tiny number. you're five times more likely to be killed by a bolt of lightening. you're twice as likely to win a super lottery jackpot on a single ticket. (with a nod to janis bradley's book Dogs Bite but Balloons and Slippers are More Dangerous for the stats.)

also interestingly pointed out in bradley's book- though both the number of dogs in this country and the mix of breeds (especially the number of so called "dangerous breeds" like pit bulls and rottweilers) has changed dramatically over the past decades, the number of fatal dog bites has not changed.

hope this helps! i'd be happy to ramble on about any other bsl-related topic you might need input on

edited to add: i really really recommend the janis bradley book. tons of good information about why the hysteria surrounding dog bites is so ridiculous and lots of information about the studies done and why the numbers quoted are so insanely inaccurate. also, the book fatal dog attacks by karen delise is packed full of good information about fatal dog attacks, with breakdowns of each fatal dog attack over the past 30 or so years).

[Mellie]

Thank you for the responses.

No need to rack your brain coming up with all the details of BSL. I'm aware of those. I've followed this kind of legislation for quite some time. It's a topic I follow with great interest, so it was only natural for me to choose it as my topic. I figured I'd pick something I already had a working knowledge of.

Elegy... you gave me examples of how BSL has personally affected you, as a person with a described "dangerous dog". That is exactly what I am looking for from forum members. Pit Bull owners, as well as anyone else who has to adhere to any regulation or be cautious of their dog responsibilities (because of breed) on a regular basis, are welcome to share their personal tales.

Eventually, I'll have a list with specific questions. But since this is just the very beginning of my project, I thought I'd throw it out there now... just looking for general info.

I appreciate what's been given so far. It will help me give a side of the story from the dog owners' perspective. I have a Saint Bernard, which is on the list in many places. But I intend to keep out my personal info so I don't risk seeming personally biased. Thank you!

[Pippinislove]

Okay... I have a Doberman mix named Pippin, and before getting him was deadset of getting a purebred Doberman... That's been postponed, but eventually I will. So here goes a story or two.

First off, BSL and breed discrimination hasn't affected me as much as someone who say, owns a purebred Pit Bull or Rottie. My dog is often declared as being cute and unoffensive; his tail and ears are all natural, he's slender and unimposing, and he's got golden markings instead of a dark tan... Most people find him adorable, not scary. Though I will say that I, like Elegy, am very aware of how my dog behaves in public and around visitors in my home. I am very aware of the people and dogs around me while I have my dog, not just because I want to make a good impression, though. I also want to keep him safe; I don't want unknown people or dogs approaching and touching my dog without my permission.

While looking for a dog, getting a puppy/pooch was brought up with everyone. Everyone always wants to know what breed you are getting; I of course would say I want a Doberman. Most people would cringe, wince, and tell their stories of a "friend of a friend" who had a Doberman bite him/her or a family member. I was *always* met with negativity at the mere mention of a Doberman. It wasn't until I become active in the online community that I found people who loved them as much as I do!

It has since made me very cautious of bringing up dogs at all with people I don't know very well. It has made me almost confrontational and defensive towards people; I've always been hit with the negativity stick whenever I bring up my preferable breeds of choice, and now I either "don't talk about it" or "hit them before they hit me first" (I don't ACTUALLY resort to violence, I hope you get what I mean.)

It has put stress into the family (extended family) as well. My aunt is terrified of Pippin... simply because he's black and tan. Anytime he barks (which is no more than when our Golden Retriever mix does), she freaks out. She spazzes if he goes near her baby. She panics if her six year old daughter plays with him. He's awesome with kids. Naturally gentle and calm around them. Yet she puts some stress on the family by being afraid of him; to me it's offensive, she's basically saying that *my* baby is not to be trusted, is aggressive, etc. It makes me not want to have her around.

My uncle is dead set on Dobermans (and probably their mixes) being temperamental and untrustworthy. He thinks they should all be put down.

Our neighbors hate pit bulls, rottweilers, GSDs and Dobermans. He can't believe how ANYONE would want to own one, and has put some stress on my relationship with them. They feel they're naturally aggressive; and I don't feel like I can trust them around my dog.

So really, breed discrimination has affected my relationship with neighbors and extended family, and has made me always be on my tip toes when I'm out and about with my dog or have visitors in my home. I know it's quite likely, or possible, that any behavior that someone my construe as "bad" will be someone skewed into an aggressive act that is based on the breeds in his ancestry.

[linnie]

mellie would some aussie news clips on the abuse of peoples rights who own these dogs help?
Dogs taken illegally from owners yard etc??

[Mellie]

Certainly, Linnie.
I'm trying to get info from various sources so I can have balanced information. News from Australia will illustrate just how widespread the issue is.
I expect this forum to hold views and have acces to info against BSL. Fine with me. I'll sift through everything given.
I also need to seek info from those who make the laws and believe in BSL. That will be done elsewhere.

Thanks, again.

[mulroony]

Mellie - I wrote a paper on BSL last semester, when I get home later i will send you that and all the info I collected on it (a lot of good articles) if you send me your e-mail.