Vicious Dogs

In My Humble Opinion
22

I’m jumping back in here because this thing appears to be going sideways rather quickly.

Background:

Here in our little county, the county commissioners are proposing a ban on ”viscous” dogs. They are currently looking at a list containing groups of “known” breeds of dogs that have a “proven propensity” towards “viciousness”. The list has examples of breeds that, when cross-breeds are taken into account, will effectively ban ownership of nearly every dog currently residing in the county. Just a few on the list: Shepherds (Australian, Belgian, Collies, German, American, Old English, Shetland, Welch). Working (Akita, Malamute, Husky, Mastiff. Pincher, Danes, Pyrenees, Rottweiler). Terriers (Bull, Border, Irish, Russell, Rat, Scottish) There are five more groups, but I think you get the idea.

The proposal, as it currently stands, is that such breeds should require special licenses, be caged solely on the owner’s property, or be humanely euthanized within 90 days of the passage of this new ordinance. Such dogs need not be proven to present a danger to society. I don’t think the ordinance has any prayer of surviving the inevitable legal challenges, however, it is on the agenda for a vote on December 3, 2024. So, here we are …

My wife and I currently own five dogs on our two and one-half acres, and our daughter (who lives on our property) owns six more. All eleven fall somewhere on the county’s list.

My argument, for the purpose of this thread, if any, goes (roughly) like this: Just as with humans, cats, elephants rhinos, sharks, and whales, you can not declare any dogs as vicious because of the behavior of a few individuals. With the possible exception of Chihuahuas, you can’t rank dogs as aggressive because aggression is generally NOT breed-specific. It is, IMNSHO, a learned behavior, and, generally, is the result of neglect, or mental or physical abuse.

I didn’t want to get into all of this in this much detail, mostly because at the moment I posted I had other more pressing issues to deal with. It was therefore intentional that my initial post was overly broad. Maybe I should have chosen another forum like the Pit or Great Debates, but I was trying to generate a somewhat more light-hearted response to such an obviously (give me a second to go back up here and find the labels …) “silly” [Jophiel] or (even more accurate) “inimical” [Jackmannii] nature of the whole “Prove Me Wrong” thingy.

After all these years, I should know better than to paint such broad strokes with such an ironic brush.

Apologies for that.

Lucy

23

I’m on board with that. Individual variation within breeds, based on individual characteristics and environment, swamps breed tendencies.

That list is also a very … unusual … one. Herding and working dogs vicious? Really?

24

Yeah, I’ve seen lists like that, but it usually only has a few breeds. Maybe pits and rotties. That’s kind of crazy, how many county commissioners are there and do they have that kind of power?

25

Maybe someone who really hates/fears dogs, all dogs, pushed for it?

26

That’s what I meant. Your jurisdiction has made a flawed and quite silly list.

The cutest little precious poodle with a hairdo and a pink bow can tear a hole in your calf that would require surgery.

Who are these people?

27

There are seven commissioners, three of which just won reelection.

Reading through their list, which, to be clear, has not been finalized, it comes across as someone trying to compile a comprehensive list of dog breeds. I cannot envision a world that would include the Teacup Poodle on any list of dogs that are or could be an imminent threat to humankind.

And yet, Poodles (all varieties) and Dachunds are included.

This comes, apparently, in response to a child who was attacked in a public park. There are seven conflicting descriptions of the animal involved, one of which described the animal as a coyote. None of the descriptions have anything in common with the other descriptions. Size, color, markings, all differ.

This proposed ‘ordinance’ appears, to me, at least, to be an effort to demonstrate the futility of writing or enforcing such a ban. It’s either that or the citizens of this county have elected seven criminally stupid people to the commission.

Lucy

28

I love this story. You’re a good owner.

29

A Dachshund has a wicked murderous bite. If they were taller they would tear a throat out.
Not to mention they’re uniquely stubborn. The good ones are well trained by good owners.

I’m so sorry for kids, adults and other animals getting mauled or killed by an untrained dog.

What should be done and can’t be, of course, is removal or caging owners who don’t train their animals. I fall short of recommending euthanization, but just by a bit.

I’m sorry this is happening in your community. Good luck with your dogs.

30

My experience has been that Ankle-biters are the worst. My wife has three of the little devils - 2 Chihuahuas, and one Chiweenie. The fact that they are so low to the ground makes them easy to underestimate.

As to your other point; unfortunately, euthanization of humans seems to be frowned upon. No matter how necessary it may be deemed.

:wink:

Lucy