Hays commission weighs 'dangerous' label, but no outright ban, ...

I am pleased that Hayes is not considering an outright ban on the bully breeds, but I do have a question for you.

I spend my vacations traveling in various small Kansas towns doing genealogical research in cemeteries, libraries, and courthouses. I am unable to travel without my medical assistance dog, who happens to be a "pit bull". She is not able to perform the tasks that she has been trained to help me with if she is wearing a muzzle.

How will this affect us? Interfering with the performance of a service dog is a violation of the ADA law in all 50 states.

It is my opinion that strict enforcement of existing leash laws, with graduated penalties for repeat offenders is a far more effective method of avoiding animal bites. Owners of individual dogs that have demonstrated a propensity for aggression should have requirements for secure housing and penalties for failure to protect the public, be the animal a toy poodle or an arctic wolf.

Convicted felons need to have restrictions on the type of dog they are allowed to own, and their animals must be spayed/neutered. Criminals will always find a breed of dog to exploit. This generation has chosen the pit bull. A few years ago it was the rottweiler, prior to that it was the German shepherd and the doberman. The current statistics indicate a move toward the American bulldog, which is often indistinguishable from the American pit bull terrier, but does not have the inbred characteristic of not being human aggressive.

I worked many years in animal control prior to becoming disabled, and never once was bitten by a pit bull, even those we rescued from fighting rings. I helped to draft a strong dangerous dog ordinance that was both effective and non-breed specific. If I can help in any way, I will be happy to do so.

There is no scientific evidence that one kind of a dog is more likely to injure a human being than another kind of a dog. None. Consequently, because they are not based upon any scientific facts, breed specific regulations, declarations of dangerousness and so on have never made any community safer anywhere in the world they have been tried. The Commissioners are wasting their time and public resources on these kinds of regulations.

Dogs cannot be characterized apart from human beings. If a safer community is the goal, humane care, custody and control of all dogs, regardless of breed or type, is the answer.

Which is to say, build a responsible pet owner community.

The City Commissioners should set these breed rules aside, and think instead about how Hays can build a community of responsible pet owners.

Good...Pitbulls are not truly domesticated animals and are unpredictable.
I would never trust a pit around my children no matter how docile he seems..