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ENOUGH TALKING, TIME TO BAN PIT BULLS
GREG CLARK COMMENTARY
Keeping pit bulls, chows and Rottweilers in our cities is just like playing Russian roulette with fangs.
Sooner or later, a dog will maul somebody. In recent weeks, that horror has played through our souls, over and over. Now its time to ban the breeds.
Theres a problem with those two paragraphs and no, its not the harsh call to control the carnage.
The problem is that I wrote those paragraphs following a spate of attacks in 1997. The topic also came up in the 1980s, when The Star published a special package following a nationwide scourge of attacks.
Several years and numerous attacks later, most of our cities still havent gotten it right. So here we are again, this time in 2006, with another chance.
Independence, Gladstone, Raytown, Overland Park, Olathe and North Kansas City are among cities throughout the metro area debating the issue.
The time for debate has long since passed. Just ask the families of the three Independence men who were mauled earlier this year by three pit bulls.
After I wrote that column in 1997, I faced a barrage of comments from the public. Most agreed with me. Some did not. The three opposing points I heard most often:
Its wrong to pick on specific breeds, such as pit bulls. All dogs bite.
The problem isnt the dogs; its irresponsible owners who breed and train them for violence.
This wouldnt happen if people would teach people especially kids not to pet strange dogs. Maybe parents should keep their children on a leash.
Were hearing those same arguments again, and theyre still just as lame. Let me address them in order.
Proponents of the first argument are right. All dogs bite. But when was the last time you heard of a beagle, Scottie or Chihuahua nearly chomping off somebodys arm?
As for the second argument, its irrelevant. If a dog is going for your throat, you dont care how it became vicious; you just want it gone.
Finally, the third argument, that people shouldnt pet strange dogs. Good point. But the three men mauled in Independence werent trying to pet the animals. And a boy recently attacked in Olathe was injured after the dog jumped a fence.
The bottom line is that these dogs pose an unreasonable and unnecessary risk to the communities that allow them.
But if our cities dont want to remove current pets, at least they could outlaw any more from taking up residence.
Were it not for one variable what to do about mixed-breeds the decision to ban them should be easy. Perhaps cities could appoint a board of veterinarians or animal-control officers who could decide if mongrel dogs have enough pit bull in them to pose a menace.
After the uproar in the 1990s city leaders talked, listened and commissioned studies. Some cities even wrote or toughened laws against dangerous animals. That obviously wasnt enough.
Now, please, no more talk. Just ban the animals.
Otherwise our cities will continue to play Russian roulette with fangs.
To reach Greg Clark, call (816) 234-7803 or send e-mail to gclark@kcstar.com.
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/15013912.htm
