RE: Link

All dogs over a certian weight should be required to be muzzled in public. Leashes make little difference when a big dog sets its mind on attacking. One attack on a person the dog is killed and the owner sited.

People need to vigorously report off-leash dogs to make it clear that this will not be tolerated.

The vast majority of dogs are perfectly docile and friendly, however the few who are dangerous can be exteremly so. Regardless of how much an owner loves his dog I don't want it bothering me in public at all. Keep it on the leash as required. If it's big it should be muzzeled. I make a point of thanking people who are repectful owners.

"To many owners, pit bulls are loving and loyal companions, but to plenty of other people, they are ferocious, highly dangerous and easily provoked."-THAT IS THE ONLY THING PEOPLE WILL TAKE FROM THIS ARTICLE. MY PIT BULL ACTS LIKE A CAT! WRITE A FRONT PAGE ARTICLE ON THAT YOU JERK!

Once again, we have another incident of an out of control owner. If you can't handle the strength of your dog, and acknowledge that your Pit Bull has a history of Aggression towards other dogs, you have no business keeping one. It's a matter of being responsible before you are held responsible. And if you cannot control or contain your dogs, anything that happens is your fault. It doesn't matter if that dog is a Poodle or a Pit Bull, you had better be taking control of your dogs. All to many times I come across my neighbors walking their dogs off leash, and I'm not afraid to let them know they are endangering the life of other dogs, their owners, and their very own dog. That leash is your dogs lifeline. I'm growing weary of Pit Bull owners who cannot control their own dogs, even on a leash. I walk two Pit Bulls twice daily and I always cross over when we see another person walking their dog(s). It's called common courtesy. It's called respect. I know my dogs limits. I know my dogs are good dogs, they are<i>great</i> dogs, but I am not throwing away years of training just in case that other dog might not be so friendly. Wake up Pit Bull owners. Wake up now before we end up like Denver Colorado. If you consider yourself to be a responsible Pit Bull owner, you should be outraged at the ignorance of those who cannot contain or control their dogs and those who keep a Pit Bull for all the wrong reasons. This goes for Gang Bangers, those who keep a Pit Bull as a guard dog and those who use the Pit Bull to fight. Speak up now before it's too late.

We don't have a Pit Bull problem, we have a <i>people problem</i>.
Patrick Bohler
co-founder Sonoma County Residents Responsible About Pit Bulls.
(SCRRAP)

whippis, I do not agree with you on the size of a dog being of concern when it comes to being muzzled, I do agree with you on leash laws being vigorously enforced. I do believe a muzzle should be used if your dog has bitten anyone. Even if it wasn't mandated by a previous bite, at the very least, show some concern for your neighbors and muzzle a known biter, of any breed, size or type of dog.

I call on the owners to step forward and be heard. Not only is it your right to defend yourself, we should have the right for you to explain yourself and the reasons behind what YOU let happen. Both incidents were 100% preventable.

quote:

Originally posted by whippis:
All dogs over a certian weight should be required to be muzzled in public.

I agree, also people should be given IQ tests and those who fail should not be allowed to roam the streets by themselves.

Idiot.
There are no bad breeds, only bad owners and breeders.

I agree that our current Petaluma Leash Laws need to be more strictly obeyed.

We always walk our dog on a leash and have obedience trained our large dog to heel, be polite and ignore barking, charging and growling dogs, regardless of size (sometimes it's the littlest dogs that are the most vicious and expend the most energy trying to attack our large dog).

The other day we were walking calmly together, our dog serene, heeling perfectly at our side, when we were surprised to see a tall, affluent looking middle aged couple approaching us on Kentucky with 2 large mixed breed dogs running ahead of them, off-leash.

One of the scruffy and agressive looking dogs stiffened up and ran straight for our calm dog, startling us all. I said "are you folks aware that we have a leash law here in Petaluma?" thinking that they might have been visiting from Marin or elsewhere and the haughty looking man sniffed, turned up is nose and said to his female companion, "oh really?" and then they both looked at each other and laughed at us.

Please let any owners you see walking their dogs off-leash on downtown city streets know that it is illegal here in Petaluma.

Doing so might help prevent the tragic loss of a beloved family pet. I hate to think what could have happened if both large dogs attacked our dog. She could have lost her life during the attack, and because she was on a leash, not had any real way to run away or defend herself without getting caught up in her own leash. It was sooo scary! And shouldn't have happened at all.