Dog Owners Protest SB861 In Sacramento On 8/15

Dog Owners To Cal Legislature: STOP SB861

Dog owners are taking their voices and their votes to the steps of the state  capital in Sacramento on Monday, August 15th to protest SB 861 - a piece of legislation that is detrimental to the rights of responsible dog owners throughout California.

Starting at 8 AM, dog-owning protesters and their supporters will be out to meet and greet both the public and the politicians, to educate and to garner support for the movement to strike down SB 861.

Dog owners want the public to be aware of the pit falls of SB861 and what it will mean to dog ownership in the State Of California.  Because SB 861 sets up thousands of the state's dog owners for all kinds of discrimination and does away with the rights of dog owners.

Dawn Capp, an attorney, one of the event's lead organizers, is a dedicated animal rescuer and founder of Chako Rescue.   She wants the public, the media and most of all, state legislators to hear this message loud and clear: STOP SB861.

Why all the fuss? 

Pure and simple - California's SB 861 IS breed specific legislation. Breed-specific legislation happens to be prohibited in California for all the right reasons. 

But the law isn't stopping certain legislators from circumventing it, especially legislators whose primary campaign contributions come from the insurance lobby. 

Even worse, supporters of SB861 are people whose own morals allow them to exploit the tradgedy of a child's death for their own political gain. 

Just which legislators are willing to circumvent the law,  eliminate the rights of tax-paying, dog owning citizens and exploit a child's tragic death in one fell swoop?

Political Opportunists

SB 861's Sponsor - Sucking Up To The Insurance Lobby?

We're talking about Jackie Speier, for starters.  Quite a smack in the face for liberal, dog-owning Democrats. Not only is Jackie  SB861's primary sponsor, she's is sucking up money from the insurance lobby, big time. Ms. Speier gets her biggest chunk-o-campaign money from the insurance sector.   

Jackie, Jackie, Jackie.  Kiss those dog votes goodbye.  But there's more bad news for liberal dog owners - guess who else is coming to dinner?

SB 861 Supporter - Dog Owners Betrayed

Like San Francisco's Mayor, Gavin Newsome.  He's also jumping on the wagon.   Not only is Mayor Newsome a vocal supporter of California SB861, he now sees wiping pit bulls of the face of the earth as part of his core mission. 

Mr. Newsom is speaking with a forked tongue - because while he says he doesn't endorse breed bans, he would just rather manage the problem.  By that - he means the mandatory spay/neuter clause in SB 861 that will eventually elimate the breed.  With few exceptions, SB861 calls for the mandatory spay/neuter of any dog over 40 lbs. 

Quite a blow for dog-owning supporters in the gay community and other progressives who feel betrayed by the same man who supported gay marriage.   Tsk, tsk, Mr. Mayor - you've been a naughty boy, haven't you? 

There's something else you should know about Gavin Newsom.  Not only is he a power fund raiser (still paying off his debt for his mayoral race), Newsom was recently seen on CNN spouting how he wanted to eradicate pit bulls from San Francisco, the State of California and indeed, the entire United States.

Mr. Newsom may have his eye on bigger political prizes, like the U. S. Presidency. Dog owners beware.

SB 861 is a politically opportunistic, knee-jerk response to a tragic event, in which a 12 year -old boy was killed by dogs and his mother's (alleged) criminal negligence. SB861 also does nothing to solve the core issues of irresponsible, negligent or criminal dog ownership, or negligible parenting.

Now consider this.  There isn't a single animal welfare organization in all of California that supports SB861. Not one. So who's really driving this train? 

Could it be that fat cat giver of whiskers and candy money - the insurance lobby?

Luckily, Dawn Capp and dog owners of the Capital Protest have  drawn support from several legislators and celebrities, to be blogged about here sometime time week.

Bottom line - smart legislators know SB861 has become a lightening rod for dog owners, who as it happens, are also voters.

In the meantime - Jackie Speier and Gavin Newsome should think on this.  Dog owners are 44.9% of U.S. households.

Wake up and smell the dog.

Comments

[max allen]

No dog that has been raised with love and kindness has ever hurt anyone. of course the government would try to eradicate the most commonly mistreated dog, rather than try to stop all of the cruel people who have hurt this species of dog as well as its now apparently irreversible reputation. there are no evil dogs, just the result of evil humans. there are many ways around this. if you act now before its too late then we can overcome this. but if you sit around and let the government do whatever they want then this has been over before sb861 was even a bill. the power lies in the hand of the people, not in the hands of arnold schwarzenegger and all these other so called "politicians". revolution is upon us, and if we do not act, then man's best friend will be taken away from us forever.

[David Zink]

I am totally opposed to BSL laws which ban any breed of dog. The Nicholas Faibish case drew hysteria in SF BUT Pit Bull population in SF is 50,000 of 120,000 total dogs so banning the breed would not be wise. My question is this: What is the opposition to this bill other than it DOES single out breed but required neutering would/could lower the countless numbers of Pit Bulls euthanized every year. Isn't that a GOOD thing?

[Patrick Bain]

HOW DARE THEY!? WHATS NEXT?! The professional round up of the bald eagles and the extinction of them?! If the government had any idea what owning a pet was really like, they'd just tear this piece of legislation to shreds and burn the pieces. Hell, if they even had an idea to what being a U.S. Citizen was really like, there wouldnt be any problems whatsoever, but no, they have to sit in their comfortable leather chairs and pretend like they have our best interests in mind. F**K this legislation. If they want to kill my pets, they can pry them from my cold, dead fingers, because family members dont let each other down, and I wont let them put down my brother just because they are ignorant and hatemongers.

[Dennis MItchell]

ok so this law is crap!!!!! i mean it how many people have been injured by dogs you know what i don't even think it comes close to how many have been injured by hitting deer hell ban them from living this law is coming from people that can't fix anything else so they will make a few heartless bastards happy with this law and sleep well thinking they really did something well in my household we treat all of our pets as one of the family so come and try to do something with my dogs I DARE YOU!!!!!!! there will be hell to pay

[Maggie Stakes]

The way you people think is outrages...
Schwarzenegger you are really living up to the ‘Terminator’ image.A little much don't ya think.I think that it is unfair to try to kill off any breed of dog just because you people have no hearts.. I have two dogs right and if you even try to come for them you better think again. Try focusing on the number of murders or the drugs on the street, you should do something about that and not waste your time on this crap.This is a anamil that you have backed into a corner. Whats next people with blue eyes..

[the not-so-great emancipator]

"With few exceptions, SB861 calls for the mandatory spay/neuter of any dog over 40 lbs."

ummm... if you were to go to the california legislature's website and read the text of the bill, you would see that this statement is patently false, as are many of the claims made by the opponents of SB861. I am not saying I support this law, only that arguments against it will be better served by not being based on falsehoods.

here is the link for the text of the bill as passed. all it does is allow local gov'ts to make breed specific legislation about mandatory spay/nueter programs and breeding regulations, provided that no legislation labels any breed as dagerous or vicious. just so you know...

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/05-06/bill/sen/sb_0851-0900/sb_861_bill_20051007_chaptered.html

[Marcus Roy]

Hello, me and my wife fought (nearly single handedly) a BSL here in Louisiana about 5 years ago and beat it easily. It is not right and if you need any help just let me know

thanks
marcus roy

[megan...agian]

think of dogs as people to!!!

they never had a chance to live ...becuase all they did was love and give

people made them say goodbye..the dogs do not even have a right to cry

wat they think to you means noting at all...but they devoted their life to you and to help you when you fall

now you are just going to let me go...did not give them a chance to grow...

they thought you were their family ...tey thought you were their friend ...but i guess here is where the journey will end

why are you killing these dogs?? u have no reason this is just one of your 'new sports' of the season

first it was...polar bears..the penguins...then the seal...now it is dogs?? people get real!

ANIMAL CRUELITY IS NOT THEY WAY!!
FIGHT IT...LIVE IT...BELIEVE IT<33

[Matt]

I think this is absolutely ridiculous! Politicians should start doing something useful with our tax dollars instead of stupid things that they think might make them more popular!!!!

[Sara]

While I agree that it's not the dogs fault, I don't feel it's right to put all the blame on the owners. I know a wonderful, loving man who is completely dedicated and in love with his Chihuahua but sadly, the dog got startled by a stranger and bit her. i'm not picking fights or anything but i just wanted to share that.

Furthermore, SB861 is just horribly tragic and unjustified. it's a very immoral law and i pray to God that something similar doesn't happen in Colorado. Pit Bulls are already banned in Denver, unfortunately. I just can't believe what the world is coming to these day...

[Alex]

its amazing when people think that if something goes wrong with a pet, the only way to solve it is to wipe it from the face of the earth. This is really wrong.

[Nicole Cottle]

Politicians need to get off their lazy a$$es and start focusing on the issues that matter and that might change something. Killing off dogs won't solve any problems, it will only cause more. Instead of complaing about the number of murders or the drugs on the street, they should do something about it and not waste their time on this crap.

It is not the animals fault that it is bad and bites, it is the owners fault. People need to start taking responsibility for their actions instead of whining and complaining.

It breaks my heart to see where this country is headed if we can't get our prioritoes straight.

[Bethany]

This is so sad. It's not even the dog's fault, it's the owner's fault. Seriously people these days need to start placing the blame on the right people.

[Tara Butler]

This is unfair for the pittbulls! They are friendly dogs.. it all just depends on the type of owner, and how they rase them! Like me, i have had 3 pittbulls in the past and two of them were used as therapy dogs.. and they did GREAT! And i also think that it is unfair to try to kill off any breed of dog just because these people have no hearts.. i have two dogs right now a bordercollie australian sheperd mix and a corgy/bordercollie mix and they are both over 40 pounds and just the thought of not being able to have them tares me apart! These people that want to do this are unfair and cruel! They have no heart at ALL!!

[Ericka Smith]

I am a Rednose Pitt owner. I rescued him and his brother when i found them both starving in a box at an empty parking lot. I wiened them both to health and gave one of them to their vet. I fell in love with one in particular that i just couldent let go. He has a shocking resemblience to Spudz McKinzie and is the most loving creature. After I found them he never stopped sleeping with me. He was named "Spot" after the 5 year old I take care of seen him. She wouldent leave his side and being that i lived in a rather bad neighborhood at the time, he was the perfect addition for a single white female! He is my child, my love, my protector and my all.. I am unable to have children so he is the only thing i have now... If anyone wants to take him away from me it would be excatlly like one person above said...would you like me to threten to take your children away? I didnt think so! So dont you dare take mine!

[Helena]

that's stupid. All they ever did was love their owners and this is how they get treated for it? You acn't just hate a whole breed just because of what one did. That's stupid because people are saying all the time that you can't hate all americans for what some of us do yet your doing that in america already...how can you blame someone or thing that you don't even know...

[Jonah Tennant]

Sick, sick, sick… I always though of California as progressive and ahead of the rest of the country as far as the political climate and free thinking. Not anymore… Schwarzenegger is really living up to take ‘Terminator’ image. Gavin Newsome, Jackie Speier? Now we have our three stooges. I hope the folks out there on the west coast get these Nazis out of office before it’s too late.
I have an 8 year old pit bull “Petey”, who has been my best friend and traveling companion for all of his life. We moved from Portland Oregon to Boynton Beach Florida and have made a life down here.
I will never own another breed of dog. Petey is the sweetest dog I have ever owned. We are inseparable.
I apologize, because if you are reading this as you are probably sympathetic to the pit bull cause. I urge you not to give up the fight or think that someone else will do something. Ultimately, if we want change, we will have to change the system ourselves.
If you are reading this and agree with Nazi’s listed above, have fun in your sterile little world sickos! Pick a spot in Arizona or Texas and start a commune. Leave the rest of us alone!
If America outlaws pit bulls, then this is not the country for me.

[Paul]

I have a pitbull. She's two years old. She thinks she's a lap dog. She plays with my ferret. Her tail doesn't stop wagging. In fact, the most violent part of this dog, is her tail because of its relentless wagging. I'm sickened by the thought that someone would want to exterminate my Tuts. She's the sweetest dog I've ever known. How about we exterminate Chihouhas, I've been bitten by more of them than anything other dog ever. Or hamsters. Hamsters bite non stop. Why dont we ban police, there are cops in this world that have shot people. We could ban the military too, they have guns, that could be dangerous. Gets pretty stupid doesnt it? Go get a pitbull and learn about it before you try to ban it. Educate yourselves. Leave my dog alone! Just so you know, I vote at every election.

[Jason]

I think this bill is government again trying to take more freedoms from the people. This bill is designed by the insurance lobby I am sure and would only benefit them. Take a stand people. Stop letting government take away our freedoms. If they do it to this breed of dog, they will do it to others. Not all PIt Bulls are dangerous. It is the way they are trained. Kinda like your kids, train them right and most of them turn out ok. Please don't let this bill pass.

[Erin]

This is the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard. Should we start putting down kids who attack others because they were raised by parents who didn't have a clue?

[Samantha Boeshore]

HOW CAN THESE PEOPLE BE SO HEARTLESS? THIS CASE IS LIKE TELLING PEOPLE THAT BECAUSE A PORTION OF CHILDREN IN THE WORLD ARE BAD, WERE GOING TO EXTERMINATE ALL CHILDREN. NOW PUT YOUR SELF IN THAT SITUATION SOMEONE HAS JUST THREATENED THE LIVES OF YOUR CHILDREN. THIS BILL THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO PASS HAS JUST THREATENED THE LIVE A THOUSANDS OF PEOPLES' CHILDREN!ANYONE WHO OWNS A PIT, HAS BEEN AFFECTED. I HAVE NO CHILDREN MY PETS ARE MY CHILDREN. I TAKE THIS PERSONALLY,AS DO SO MANY OTHERS, YOU HAVE THREATENED THE LIFE OF MY CHILD! I WOULD GIVE MY LIFE FOR MY CHILD (MY PIT).
YOU CAN NOT PUNISH AN ANIMAL THAT A HUMAN RUINED. WHY KILL THE PITBULL'S WHY NOT THE BASTARDS WHO STARTED PIT FIGHTING? CONSIDER WHAT YOU ARE TELLING ALL THESE LOVING PARENTS OF PITBULLS, THAT THE LIFE OF THEIR CHILD(REN) HANGS IN THE BALANCE OF A JUDICIAL HEARING FOR A BILL TO BE PASSED, TO DESTROY THEIR CHILD(REN), THEIR FAMILIES, HOMES, AND SPIRITS.

[Cathy Arnett]

I have owned Pitt Bulls in the past. His name was tripod because he only had 3 legs. He was a very sweet and loving dog. I never had a problem with him. I am agnist SB861.At the moment I have a boxer,a american spitz,a border collie and a rat terrier.

[danielle martin]

omg this is so roung its like there racist of specal breads of dogs!!!! dont punish the bread bunish the deed of wat the owner teaches the dog its not the dogs falt it just did wat the owner taught it to do so y blame the bread when its just the people that treat and teach the dogs. its not just pit bulls but eny dog can do wat a pit does it dont madder wat the bread is, so wats next to get red of all the dogs on the earth wat ever happened to the saying of mans best friend?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!??!?!?!!?

[James Ryan]

The logic that supports Breed Bans is the same logic that supports Racism. I can't believe big brother can now tell us what type of dog to own....what is next?

[Selma Mulvey]

It is interesting that the questions you ask about Gavin are the same ones we ask about Michael, our Attorney General in Ontario. We're having a laugh up here right now because we started a fad by constitutionally challenging our breed ban. Challenges are popping up all over, everybody is mad and things could get ugly. I can't wait!
That's what a lack of leadership gets you. These guys are so used to lying so everybody 'likes' them that I don't think they remember what being honest means. Very few have the guts to stand up. Kind of sad. Gotta be careful when you vote, and the closer to home the more it matters.
Keep up the great work!