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Home My WebLink AboutKadee Algaard • Kadee Algaard _- 402 Maple Ave. �� iy Laurel, MT 59044 !� i M M 3 2012 406 - 855 -8958 1 May2,2012 CITY OF f !! ', L Dear Mr. Ken Olson, I am an outraged citizen of Laurel. The talk of banning pit bulls has me furious! I feel the city of Laurel banning pit bulls is as ignorant as saying you don't want black people in the town because they shoot people and sell drugs. It's a stereotype! There are bad dogs in every breed! Pit bulls are some of the best dogs out there! They are kind and gentle dogs that are often used in community settings. Pit bulls have been used as therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs, even as narcotic and bomb sniffing dogs! What is sad is that most people that judge pit bulls don't know anything about them. I have included a few pages from the American temperament test society, which has the pit bull highlighted with the temperament score. I put a blue dash for any of the other dogs that scored below the pit bull and it is almost every other dog on the sheet! It is all in how they are raised. Most pit bulls in Laurel have been raised as family dogs. Banning pit bulls is like taking away a families child. It is not fair to do that. If you ban pit bulls you might as well ban all dogs. No matter if you ban pit bulls there will still be dog fights and attacks. With the recent incident I felt the fact that the dog was not on a leash and came running at the dogs that were leashed is a huge factor in what happened. It is not like these pit bulls ran on this dog's property and attacked the dog. It is a dog's instinct to protect itself and its owner. It's a horrible thing that happened but how can you go straight to a banning a breed? I have taken my dog on a walk and have a dog run up to the fence and wiggle its way out from the bottom of the fence which was not properly secured and my pit bull just sat down to defuse the situation. She did not try to fight or defend. My pit bull has been attacked by another dog and in that instance also did not defend and bite back. I believe every case is different and you need to be judging the dog that did the deed not the breed! I do have 2 pit bulls and a cat. I have had my dogs since they were a few months old; they are about 5 now. I was having a mice problem so I got a cat. I got the cat about a year ago. When I brought the cat home my dogs were actually scared of my cat. They usually will go out of their way to avoid my cat because they are so scared of him. I have a daughter and other children around them all the time. They are actually nicknamed the nanny dog. My dogs sleep in our beds and are like children to us. My daughter is an only child and these dogs are like a brother and sister to her. I told her that Laurel wanted to ban pit bulls and she started crying. She is even willing to go to a city council meeting and defend her dogs! I know a lady in Laurel that had a son that passed away a few years ago that had a pit bull. She now cares for the dog along with her dogs that she previously had. That pit bull is the last living thing that she has left of her son. You want to take that away from her ?! ?! I believe the best option is to have people be aware and care for their animals properly. Dogs that attack are an ownership problem not a breed problem. In my opinion we need to start with some stricter laws and enforce them! A leash law with a leash length would be a good start. If they are out of a fence have a leash on them. Even have the city check fences for proper installment so dogs can't escape. Or if due to costs you could let people call if they believe a fence is not properly installed and a citation could be given if they are not to a certain standard. Anything would be better than just taking these poor innocent dogs and banning them. I mean which breed would be next? There are lots of large dogs in Laurel that are capable of these same wounds if involved in a dog fight. I believe there are many other options out there then the one that has been brought up! I hope you honestly can see a point of view of an owner that has done everything right in raising these types of dogs and care and love these animals unconditionally. It would not be fair to take them away from their beloved owners when these dogs have done nothing wrong other than be born a certain breed. Thank you for your time! Sincerely, to ac ,U. a Ct. Kadee Algaard ATTS Breed Statistics 1 American Temperament Test Society, Inc. Page 1 of 2 ATTS Breed Statistics as of February 19, 2012 Page 1: Afghan Hound — Belgian Malinois Breed Name Tested Passed Failed Percent Afghan Hound 163 118 45 72.4% Airedale Terrier 103 80 23 77.7% Akbash Dog 16 14 2 87.5% Akita 538 410 128 76.2% Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog 11 8 3 72.7% Alaskan Klee Kai 2 1 1 50.0% Alaskan Malamute 229 196 33 86.6% American Bandogge 1 1 0 100.0% American Bulldog 193 165 28 85.5% American Eskimo 83 68 15 81:9% American Foxhound 2 2 0 100.0% American Hairless Terrier 2 2 0 100.0% American Pit Bull Terrier 839 728 111 86.8% American Staffordshire Terrier 646 544 102 84.2% American Tunnel Terrier 2 2 0 100.0% American Water Spaniel 7 6 1 86.7% Anatolian Shepherd Dog 31 25 6 80.6% Australian Cattle Dog 188 149 39 79.3% Australian Kelpie 6 5 1 83.3% Australian Shepherd 657 537 120 81.7% Australian Terrier 16 13 3 8t3% Azawakh 1 1 0 100.0% Barbet 1 1 0 100.0% Basenji 171 116 55 87.8% Basset Hound 35 30 5 85.7% http://atts.org/breed-statistics/statistics-pagel/ 5/2/2012 ATTS Breed Statistics I American Temperament Test Society, Inc. Page 2 of 2 Beagle 75 60 15 80.0% Bearded Collie 46 25 21 54.3% Beauceron 30 26 4 86.7% Bedlington Terrier 20 18 2 90.0% Belgian Lakenois 7 7 0 100.0% Belgian Malinois 313 289 24 92.3% First Previous Next Last American Temperament Test Society, Inc. ® 2012 All Rights Reserved. Proudly powered by WordPress. http://atts.org/breed-statistics/statistics-pagel/ 5/2/2012 Ten Facts About Pit Bulls Every One Should Know Page 1 of 3 -, S00 -cam arcuf Pnu alfc w I ( tlruftl1 l!/�f i�.tt'/ u /rs! OfP ,& Pi . A rj i t � q l I C OS . Come 30 1N oar fOtUMg! 4 . .� cn pruti f T ks Contact Us Help Site Map Syndicate Member Pages Categories \ \� ills Every One Should Know Site Menu * PET OF THE MC Alternative Medi■ View Blogs Every One Should Know Animal Behavior View Authors Dog Breed Profiles Become an Author General Pet Articles Ten Facts About Pit Bulls Every One Should Know Account Login Pet Health _. - .._.... .....- _... ..... ........ ... __ By Christina Harvey- Dusenberry Published 08/ 31/2006 General Pet Articles! Rating: ** Pet News ** Pet Nutrition Pets & Kids Ten Things About Pit Bulls CHRISTINA HARVEY - Everyone Should Know DUSENBERRY View all Search . lis . , .,,,, . , icles by 1. Pit Bu are commonly used Y Christina as therapy dogs. Whether they €� ° ; Harvey are visiting a senior care facility Dusenberry Search All ;'` or helping someone recover Article Options from an emotional accident, Pit Email to Friend -- All Categories -- v Bulls are making a mark as Print Article ..gAdvanced Search outstanding therapy dogs. Add to Favorites Add to 'Articles to Read' 2. Pit Bulls are used in Search and Rescue work. One example of well known SAR Pit Bulls is Kris Crawford and her clogs. Kris and her dogs have helped save the lives of rnany people during their efforts. http: / /www.ForPitsSake.org You Recently Viewed... 3. Pit Bulls serve as narcotic and bomb sniffing clogs. One Pit Bull, Popsicle Ten Facts About Pit Bulls Every (named that because he was found in an old freezer) has the largest One Should Know recorded single drug find in texas history. Read more about Popsicle here. Including how he found over 3,000 Ibs of cocaine in Hildago, Texas. Popular Articles 4. Pit Bulls are great with kids. I hey weren't referred to as the "nanny's dog" Dog Food 6 Decoding Fact from for nothing that's for sure. Fiction by Laura Presley Why is my pet tearing up my 5. Pit Bulls are not human aggressive. The American Pit Bull Terrier as a house? breed is not human aggressive. In fact., quite the opposite is true of the How To Work With A Timid Dog breed. They are gentle and loving dogs. Like any dog individuals can be How Your Dog's Digestion Works unsound and have behavior problems. By Andrew Lewis 6. The Pit Bull was so popular in the early 1900's they were our mascot not Man lates Dog: Breed S H arific Legislation by Christina Harvey only in World War One, but World War Two as web. They were featured on recruiting and propoganda posters during this time period. 7. Sgt. Stubby. A Pit Bull war hero. Stubby was wounded in action twice, he Popular Authors saved his entire platoon by warning them of a poison gas attack and he Christina Harvey-Dusenberry single handedly captured a German spy. Past POM 8. Pete the Pup on the orginal Little Rascals was a Pit Bull. Laura Presley Andrei Smith 9. Pit Bulls score an 83.4% passing rate with the American Ternperament Breed Profiles Test Society. That's better than the popular Border Collie (a breed who Gladys Avery scores 79.6 %). View the ATTS stats here. Melissa K 10. They are dogs riot killing machines. Melissa Smith Jade Jenkin Courtesy of Jason Mann of PitBulllovers.com Sarah Kester Pennsylvania Spread The Word Featured Adoptable Pet: http://www.iheartpaws.cotn/articles/46/1/Ten-F acts-About-Pit-Bulls-Every-One-Should-Kn... 5/2/2012 Ten Facts About Pit Bulls Every One Should Know Page 2 of 3 mi it - Digg this V4rurl '.;Reddit , YYahoo! this }n,StumbleUpon �..„.,�. * r`' IGI oogle Bookmarks rri_"YLive Favorites LIT, • i Related Articles Alice Save The Cats Inc. I Heart Paws May 2008 POM- Stacer's Skylar Furlong, Pennsylvania Breed Specific Legislation compliments of Petfmder.com Comments Comment #1 (Posted by Belinda Velasquez - Swickey) Rating: * * * ** As the proud owner of 3 pits, i know how very kind and caring these dogs are, around my children and now grandchildren, they have even made best friends with our new cat. Comment #2 (Posted by D]) Rating: * ** I have a pit bull and I am constantly faced with breed prejudice. Thanks for spreading the good word. Comment #3 (Posted by Sharon) Rating: * * * ** This is the kind of publicity pit bulls need. I love them and I love this article! Thank r , , you for putting it out there! Comment #4 (Posted by chris) Rating: * * * ** i have a pit bull and it is the best, i mean the best dog i have ever had so everyone who put pits down and talks bad about them shut your face. Because you dont even know the half of it, pit bulls are great' i i i i i And if NC bans, they wont get mine! peace and love for pit bulls and their owners! Comment #5 (Posted by Henry Collins) Rating: * * * ** /W. - - My pit is almost a year old and he's the best dog I own. beats my german shepard, and red bone coon hound hands down. His name is Bocephus, most loyal dog I've ever seen. gaurds everything, but doesn't get mean. live in a town that hates them " marelti , though. not 9 good for me or him. Comment #6 (Posted by Paige) Rating: * * * * * I have two pits now.. and they are awsome.. not mean or aggressive at all.. One in fact is scared to death of plastic bags... so come on people ... they the best dogs / ever.. so loving and sweet... / e Comment #7 (Posted by Amanda Hernandez) Rating: ** *fir* C4,r0.4Q it I work at an animal shelter we have pit bulls there and they are sweet hearts. Some of them became police dogs. I've been trying to see if anyone wants our longest living dog at the animal shelter. She was left after her owner did something to her Elect to Save Lives ears. She has been there since 2006. We do not put animals to sleep for space we 4 4 st keep them until they get adopted. Comment #8 (Posted by robbyne) Rating: * * * ** pit bulls are the best dog you could have i have one and she is s00000 good and she likes to lick alot. it is so cute ww w.iscianenyc.ore Comment #9 (Posted by Cheryl) Rating: * * * ** I have 6 pit bulls. They all are extremely intelligent and love to be spoiled. They are the best dog I've ever had. I am also tired of hearing the negatives about this breed. Alot of how any dog's temperment, regardless of breed, relates straight to the owner. Comment #10 (Posted by kylie dawson) Rating: * * *** thank you for the great facts this will help me write my book. Comment #11 (Posted by ann) Rating: * * * ** My pit bull Pete we have had since he was just a tiny baby. He's AKC registered though we have never bred him. I love my pit bull more than most humans. They are loving and sweet. He has traveled many places with us. He's protective. Won't allow my husband or I to argue because he gets mad. He is my Pete, my angel, the dog that got me through Stage 4 colon cancer and just recently lung cancer. I don't know what I will do when he is gone. In one month he will be 15 years old and he is the most handsomeous pit bull alive and I love him greeatly/ Comment #12 (Posted by Andrew) Rating: * * * ** i support pitbulls cause they are not bad dogs cause its the way u raise a dog.They good protect dogs and all. http:/ /www.iheartpaws.com/articles /46/ 1 / Ten - Facts - About - Pit - Bulls- Every- One - Should -Kn... 5/2/2012 Ten Facts About Pit Bulls Every One Should Know Page 3 of 3 Comment #13 (Posted by ANDREA) Rating: * ** * I'M WITH EVERYONE ELSE HERE, PEOPLE ARE VERY MISLED ABOUT PITS. I HAVE TWO, AND THEY ARE AWESOME. WE HAVE A FRIEND THAT WAS VERY SCARED OF MY OLDER PIT, BUBBA, SO WE WOULD PUT BUBBA IN A CAGE DURNING HIS VISIT. ONE DAY OUR FRIEND CAME TO VISIT AND FAINTED, OR SEZURIED IN FRONT OF BUBBA, AND AFTER HELPING HIM TO THE CHAIR BUBBA NEVER LEFT HIS SIDE. HE SAID HE HAS A NEW FOUND RESPECT FOR BUBBA. Comment #14 (Posted by Matt) Rating: * **** I have had pitbull all my life and none of them has ever bitten me I just got a pup he is 14 weeks old and he is scared of everything it's all what you put in them and they give the same back Comment #15 (Posted by Angela) Rating: ** *** I have a 3 year old female pit, and I wouldn't trade her for the world. I also have a 4 1/2 year old daughter and a 16 month old son, my pit Sassy was raised with my daughter and when I was pregnant with my son she never left my side. She lets me know when my blood sugar gets low and if anyone ever tried to hurt one of my kids she would tell them a thing or two. She loves people, even strangers can walk up to her and give her "loves ". Just like everyone else says Thanks for making it known that "Pits" are not always bad. Comment #16 (Posted by taylor nyob) Rating: ***** i love pittd Comment #17 (Posted by Malorie) Rating: **** I am a huge animal lover particularly dogs. I am a very very proud owner of a nearly 2 year old Pit Bull named Tank. We adopted her since she was 6 months old from a local animal shelter and out of all the dogs I have owned she is one of the best. She is more excited when my 7 year old walks through the door than when anyone else does! It eerks me to no end when people judge this breed because of irresponsible and neglectful owners. I am a firm believer that ANY DOG HAS TENDENCIES TO BE AGGRESSIVE. This breed has been pursecuted long enough due to the media. Comment #18 (Posted by kate) Rating: ** pits r awsome my brother has one How would you rate the quality of this article? Rating: * Poor Excellent Your Name: Your Email: Your Comment: * Verification * becgev Please copy the characters from the image above into the text field below. Doing this helps us prevent automated submissions. Submit I Cancel Copyright 2012 I Heart Paws. All rights reserved. Content not to be reproduced without written consent from 1 Heart Paws Advertise with us! Log into your I Heart Paws Email http:/ /www.iheartpaws.com/articles /46/ 1 / Ten - Facts - About - Pit - Bulls- Every- One - Should -Kn... 5/2/2012 Did you know ... Page 1 of 2 f it it Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage d O Y atd your source for information on breed specific legislation (bsi) May 2, 2012 'Pit Bull Facts' current breed specific alerts A lot has been said about 'pit bulls'. That they are time bombs. That they writing an effective letter were bred to fight. That they are unreliable. the need for education Before you make up your mind about whether or not a 'pit bull' ban is strategies for opposing bsl justified you owe it to the breeds affected to learn the truth. legislative liaisons Fact: It is true that the 'pit bull' was originally bred to fight - other dogs. myths, heros & letters However the dogs lived at home as a family pet in the late 1800s and lived excellent bsl links in the house with the wives and children of the men who fought their dogs for sport, so they needed to be absolutely reliable around people. Dogs that about dogwatch showed human aggression were culled - that means they were euthanized ontario ban and never bred from. These actions have evolved a unique dog personality Debunking Michael Bryant where animal aggression has absolutlely no correlation to human aggression. Constitutional challenge leaves Ontario ban in Fact: There are quite a few celebrities who have owned one of the 'pit bull' limbo breeds that Michael Bryant would ban in Ontario: Ray Romano, Don 'Pit Bull Facts' Cherry, Fred Astaire, President Roosevelt, Jack Dempsy, Thomas Edison, Madonna, Michael J Fox, Brad Pitt, Bernadette Peters, Sinbad, Alicia The Experts Have Been Silverstone, Linda Blair, Humphrey Bogart, Usher, Mel Brooks, Ann Excluded Bancroft, John Stuart, Jan Michael Vincent, Pink, Kelli Williams, Ken How You Can Help Howard (Father in Crossing Jordon - his Pit Shadow saved his life), Malcolm Jamal Warner, Stephan Jenkins, Rosie Perez, Ananda Lewis, Amy ,,,,,,, ; . Jo Johnson, Mary Tyler Moore, Steve and Terrie Erwin (the Crocodile Hunter), Jack Johnson, Bill Berloni (Broadway show dog trainer who has said that the Pit is the breed of choice for training), Anthony Robbins, Molly Price, President Woodrow Wilson, Frankie Muniz, AJ Mclean, Barbara Eden, and even Helen Keller. Fact: Dog fighting was outlawed in the early 1900's. Since that time the �''' ° ' �` breeds that go back to the original 'pit bull' of the early 1800s has been raised as a family pet, not a fighter. Chako Rescue Fact: The only people raising fighting dogs today are a small contigent (est. Association 1 -2 %) of criminals and gang members - these people are also selling drugs, carry guns and are a threat to society on many different levels. Breed bans will not stop these people or curb the danger they pose in our society. Fact: According to Alfons Estelt of the American Temperament Test Society, Inc. temperament evaluations of American Pit Bull Terriers shows that this breed has a very high passing rate of 95 %. The average passing rate for the other 121 breeds of dogs in the tests: 77 %. Fact: The 'pit bull' does not have a 'locking jaw'. On this topic Dr. 1. Lehr Brisbin of the University of Georgia wrote: The few studies which have been conducted of the structure of the skulls, mandibles and teeth of pit bulls show that, in proportion to their size, their jaw structure and thus its inferred functional morphology, is no different than that of any breed of dog. There is absolutely no evidence for the existence http://www.dogwatch.net/fight_ontario_ban/pit_bull_facts.html 5/2/2012 Did you know ... Page 2 of 2 of any kind of "locking mechanism" unique to the structure of the jaw and /or teeth of the American Pit Bull Terrier." Fact: 'Pit bulls' are therapy and service dogs. They are also involved in search and rescue. The Chako Rescue Association has Pit Bull therapy dogs in Texas, Utah and California. Cheyenne and Dakota are a team of hard - working Search - and - Rescue Pit Bulls in Sacramento, California. APBT Weela was the Ken -L Ration's Dog Hero of the Year and is credited with rescuing over 30 people. Fact: The problem with 'pit bull' attacks is an ownership problem that will not go away if we ban 'pit bulls'. Politicians are distorting the truth and are ignoring all of the evidence that says the bad owners will simply switch to other breeds - and there are many for them to choose from that can be equally as dangerous as a 'pit bull'. Ontario needs strong dog laws that apply to all dogs equally. http://www.dogwatch.net/fight_ontario_ban/pit_bull_facts.html 5/2/2012