HB 925 - Your dog at Risk. Yes, even yours.
Posted by Nicole Sica in Pit Bulls on 02 9th, 2009 | 2 responses
Originally published in the Houston Examiner.
Well, it looks like yet another Texas Representative, Harold Dutton (from Harris County, no less!) has managed to publicly show his jackass.
Although I’m sure House Bill 925 is well-meaning, it has the ugly potential to be the first step off a very slippery slope.
In effect, HB 925 is a breed discriminatory bill that will make it a Class C misdemeanor if the owner of a pit bull-type dog allows a minor under the age of 15 to handle or care for the dog without adult supervision.
Now I’m all for taking little thugs off the streets in possession of a leash on one end and a potential weapon on the other, but it’s that vague reference to “pit bull-type” that sets the alarm bells pealing. So let’s take a look, shall we?
(b) A minor who is 15 years of age or younger may not handle or care for a pit bull breed of dog without adult supervision.(c) The owner of a pit bull breed of dog who allows a minor who is 15 years of age or younger to handle or care for the dog without adult supervision is liable for damages for death or bodily injury to a person that occurs while the dog is handled or cared for by the minor.
Ok, so we all know that responsible parents don’t let their 14-year olds run the neighborhood unattended with dogs. Obviously, any dog can be a danger in the hands of inexperienced children (and make no mistake, young punks are still just that—young). However, it is the inclusion of fuzzy breed definition that puts every dog—yes, even yours—in potential danger.
The bill in its present form is not limited to purebred dogs, and would impact any mixed breed that resembles a pit having the misfortune to reside in Texas. And how many average joe’s do you think would mistake a Boxer-mix for a pit bull, hmm?
If this bill is passed, people who have children (or neighbors with children, or grandchildren, or teenage dog-walkers, or… you get the picture) and own a dog classified as a “pit bull-type” may have to surrender their pets—in which case the dogs will probably be euthanized.
Here’s something to chew on:
- This bill makes a half-ass attempt to define a “pit bull breed of dog.”
- It defines a “pit bull” as being inherently more dangerous than other dogs. Any dog can be dangerous in the wrong hands.
- If a city is having problem with little thugs using dogs to intimidate people, local governments can already use truancy laws, loitering laws, anti-gang laws and curfews to address the situation. Local governments can also make laws pertaining to minors handling dogs in public and they should apply to all dogs equally. Remember, a Collie can bite your face off just as fast as a pit bull can.
- If the law does not already provide that parents are liable for damages (which would surprise me), then why give a free pass if the dog who injures a person is not a pit bull? Why not make everyone liable?
On top off all this, I think it important to point out that this mandate would burden local governments as they would have to prove a dog is a “pit bull” beyond a reasonable doubt. The DNA testing used to determine a dog’s heritage typically costs $80–$160 per test. And I don’t know about you, but I would much rather see that money spent on, oh, I dunno—hiring a decent vet at BARC, for instance.
So, make a point of calling and emailing your Texas State Representatives and Senators. You may think your fluffy Golden Retriever is safe from this bill, but are you really willing to stake Fido’s life on it?
Introduced by: Author: Dutton — Houston/ Harris County http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist142/dutton.php
Sources:
The Dallas Examiner, Laura Dapkus
2 Responses to “HB 925 - Your dog at Risk. Yes, even yours.”
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There seems to me that there are enough laws. Maybe the real problem is that the current laws are not being enforced. Any dog can be a problem in the wrong hands.
Animal problems are really people problems and aren’t there enough laws to deal with people?
I agree!