 Barked: Sun Apr 9, '06 8:46pm PST | |
 | |  | | Dog-owner groups from across the nation are lining up to fight Rock Hill's plan to crack down on Rottweilers and pit bulls.
With mass e-mails and phone calls that organizers say number in the thousands, groups such as the Responsible Pet Owners Alliance and American Kennel Club are recruiting dog lovers to join in the campaign.
In some cases, the activists' zeal appears to trump their familiarity with Rock Hill.
"We need dog owners everywhere to attend the Rock Top City Council meeting," wrote Lew Olson of the American Rottweiler Club. "We need heavy attendance (especially Rottweiler and pit bull owners) and please e-mail us back if you can attend."
City officials are having their lawyer give the controversial policy another review. There are no plans, however, to change it before a final City Council vote at 6 p.m. Monday.
Among other requirements, the new rules would require owners to keep the two breeds indoors or confined to individual pens at least 10 feet by 10 feet in size. The plan already has won initial approval.
An impassioned debate
While supporters view the rules as a proactive way to prevent attacks, dog activists argue differently. They say confining dogs to small pens robs them of proper exercise and interaction with people.
"They're going to create little monsters," said Glo Kearns, who runs an animal rescue operation in North Carolina. "Let somebody stay in a 10-by-10 cage for two days, and see if they're a little on edge. It's going to make animals aggressive."
Push for smarter approach
Activists from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have applauded the rules for outlawing the practice of chaining, at least for the two breeds in question.
But others complain they also punish well-behaved dogs and responsible owners because the two breeds would no longer be able to roam in fences that surround their backyards.
A smarter approach, opponents say, is to focus on negligent owners and enforce the existing leash law.
"The issue is not the dogs, it's the people," said Jeff Shaver, a Texas attorney who specializes in animal control legislation and offered to re-write the city's ordinance for free. "(This) punishes people whose dogs don't do anything wrong."
Responding to that claim, Rock Hill officials stress they don't plan to patrol the city searching for violators. Instead, they will take action only when neighbors complain.
The goal, they say, is to prevent incidents like one reported to police Monday night on South Confederate Avenue. A 40-year-old man suffered cuts on his arm when a pit bull broke loose from a chain and attacked him.
"They're looking at doing things after the fact," said Ray Koterba, the city's director of Housing and Neighborhood Services, referring to the arguments of some opponents. "I want to be proactive. I don't want somebody getting killed." |  |  | |  |
|
 my posts | (guests do not have a pet on the site) | |
My Account
