Breed Specific Legislation
Discrimination against Dogs
April 11, 2012
Persuasive Essay
Rough Draft
Who should be punished when a dog goes violent the dog or the owner or both? Should we punish all large breed dogs for the actions of one bad dog? These questions come to mind when thinking about the new laws that have been passed against pit bulls. After years of discrimination of people, we are now discriminating against breeds of dogs. Even though aggressive dogs tend to bite more, I am against the idea of breed specific legislation because it is not the breed of the dog but how it is trained. There are many advocates for BSLs, including the leader of PETA (people for the ethical treatment of animals). This is an excerpt from the leader of PETA, Ingrid Newkirk, and her rational for dog banning and the killing of these innocent animals.
“Most people have no idea that at many animal shelters across the country, any pit bull that comes through the front door doesn't go out the back door alive. From California to New York, many shelters have enacted policies requiring the automatic destruction of the huge and ever-growing number of "pits" they encounter. This news shocks and outrages the compassionate dog-lover. We (PETA) further encourage a ban on breeding pit bulls. Those who argue against a breeding ban and the shelter euthanasia policy for pit bulls are naive, as shown by the horrifying death of Nicholas Faibish, the San Francisco 12-year-old who was mauled by his family's pit bulls. People who genuinely care about dogs will not be affected by a ban on pit- bull breeding. They can go to the shelter and save one of the countless other breeds and lovable mutts sitting on death row. We can only stop killing pits if we stop creating new ones. Legislators, please take note.” (Newkirk, 2011)
Newkirk seems to forget that pets are part of the family. Her reasoning is comparable to watching your grandfather die and going to pick up a new one at the local nursing home. This is a mockery
April 11, 2012
Persuasive Essay
Rough Draft
Who should be punished when a dog goes violent the dog or the owner or both? Should we punish all large breed dogs for the actions of one bad dog? These questions come to mind when thinking about the new laws that have been passed against pit bulls. After years of discrimination of people, we are now discriminating against breeds of dogs. Even though aggressive dogs tend to bite more, I am against the idea of breed specific legislation because it is not the breed of the dog but how it is trained. There are many advocates for BSLs, including the leader of PETA (people for the ethical treatment of animals). This is an excerpt from the leader of PETA, Ingrid Newkirk, and her rational for dog banning and the killing of these innocent animals.
“Most people have no idea that at many animal shelters across the country, any pit bull that comes through the front door doesn't go out the back door alive. From California to New York, many shelters have enacted policies requiring the automatic destruction of the huge and ever-growing number of "pits" they encounter. This news shocks and outrages the compassionate dog-lover. We (PETA) further encourage a ban on breeding pit bulls. Those who argue against a breeding ban and the shelter euthanasia policy for pit bulls are naive, as shown by the horrifying death of Nicholas Faibish, the San Francisco 12-year-old who was mauled by his family's pit bulls. People who genuinely care about dogs will not be affected by a ban on pit- bull breeding. They can go to the shelter and save one of the countless other breeds and lovable mutts sitting on death row. We can only stop killing pits if we stop creating new ones. Legislators, please take note.” (Newkirk, 2011)
Newkirk seems to forget that pets are part of the family. Her reasoning is comparable to watching your grandfather die and going to pick up a new one at the local nursing home. This is a mockery