Raining Dogs and Lefties

Now, I understand Mark Buerhle is a ballplayer who will make $11 million next year (jumps to $19 million in 2015!), which gives him a certain position in society. At 33, he must be already wise in the ways of the world, and let's assume he's unique among Americans in that he has travelled widely and sampled the culture and living conditions of other nations.

I also understand that he's a new Blue Jay, and given the playoff-less drought of the past two decades, and given the fact many U.S. ballplayers prefer not to play north of the Canada-U.S. border, we're especially hoping he'll feel comfortable in his new surroundings.

But perhaps Buerhle might be willing to spend, say, a week in our fair country before he starts recommending which laws require changing and which ones are fine by him.

Perhaps, in the case of the ban on pit bulls in Ontario, he might want to do a little investigating. Find out why the ban was put in place in 2005. Talk to some of those injured by that particular dog breed. Find out if there has been an appreciable change in dog attacks since the ban. Find out if there were any unique circumstances that led to the ban. And so forth.

Perhaps Buerhle, despite the fact he's a ballplayer and thus special, might want to show Canada just a wee bit of respect and live here for a spell before he begins to lecture the country on its legal system, culture and values with respect to animals.

Just a suggestion.

Now, don't get me wrong, I kind of get where Buerhle is coming from. I'm a proud dog owner, with a 14-year-old Labrador retriever and a 12-year-old Golden Retriever, and hopefully a Golden puppy on the way next year. I like big athletic dogs, and the various varieties of pit bulls are powerful, muscular dogs, attractive to my eye.

I also agree with the sentiment that there are no bad dogs, just bad owners. Dogs need more protection from man than man needs protection from dogs.

So Buerhle and I are good so far. Also, the fact that his pit bull is a "rescue" dog certainly is a plus. He obviously cares for dogs and the breed, and many owners of Staffordshire bull terriers, American bull terriers and other pit bull types could fill this space easily with good stories about these dogs as pets.

However, there were reasons why pit bills were banned in Ontario. it didn't just happen in a vacuum.

Perhaps the law was hasty or too sweeping, but a series of ugly incidents over many years involving the dogs, sometimes involving children, spurred legislators to act. Pit bulls aren't the only dogs to have ever bitten or attacked humans, but they certainly were involved in a number of problematic situations that caused an outcry. The unwillingness of the breed to stop attacking once they start makes them a frightening foe if confronted.

Which is why, of course, some like to own them. On their own, with good training, they can be useful and non-threatening dogs. But there are bad dog owners out there, and you put one of these dogs in the hands of such a person, it can be dangerous.

Not always. But it can be. 

This is not "discriminatory." Dogs are animals, and there any number of animals, mostly exotic ones, that you cannot keep as pets or in domestic situations. The Ontario law on pit bulls was challenged in court and stood up to the challenge.

I can't keep a cow on my front lawn, either. Or walk a tiger in the neighborhood. I'm not sure if I can keep a shark in my swimming pool or not. It's probably good I don't have a pool.

Animal ownership is regulated, and for specific reasons. Pit bulls as a breed were banned for specific reasons in Ontario, as they were in Dade Country down in Florida where the Miami Marlins play, which is why Buerhle during his season with the Marlins had to live in a different county. A variety of constituencies in North America and around the world have dropped pit bull bans, while the state of Maryland adopted one this year.

It's still a very debatable issue. Statistics have shown dog bites declined in Ontario after the pit bull ban was enacted. That's imprecise data that could be attributed to any number of factors, but the number in itself is compelling.

I'm certainly not anxious to re-introduce pit bills back into Ontario. Why? So Buerhle doesn't have to deal with the inconvenience? What benefit is there to Ontarians in general to have to deal with these issues and possible problems again? Do we have an insufficient variety of breeds for domestic use? Do we think unsavoury and incapable dog owners won't be drawn again to this breed?

I'm also thinking both Buerhle and the Blue Jays might want to tread carefully here. If the player and/or the team get behind a repeal of the ban, and then Ontario finds itself dealing with the pit bull issue all over again, both Buerhle and the team might find themselves attracting unwanted publicity.

I'm certain Buerhle means well and is passionate about the issue. Advocates of repealing pit bull bans here and elsewhere are always passionate.

But perhaps a little respect for the country that is welcoming you to work and live might go a long way here. Just spend a little time in Canada first before advocating legislative change. Fair enough?

 

 

Comments

[Hershey]

Damien

Are you aware that many Lab mixes have been identified as pit bulls. If a lab bites or nips IT IS A PITBULL in the press. Who determines if the dog is a pit bull? In most cases an animal control Officer making 14.00 an hour given two weeks training? Yet, most qualified Vet's will agree the they have a problem to properly ID a specifc breed. Then if in error YOUR dog in labelled incorrectly you are GUILTY, without APPEAL and are in a costly court case to prove your dog is NOT a pit bull. Sound fair? By the way, the majority of owners of these dogs are middle aged professional women who are responsible dog owners. Who do NOT accept that they shoud be punished for the few bad owners out there that should be taken to task.

[John]

I would like to ban Damion Cox from Ontarion! The most unhappy person in Toronto.

[John]

Hey RON, if you were traded to another country would you be happy at first????????? RON pack up your house and family and move to the US see how you feel about that.........serious thats your grief?

[Sarah]

Poorly researched presumptuous article. How does he know Mark Buerhle has done no research? Its the information age, lots of people outside of Ontario have been following their political follies. Perhaps Mr. Cox could do some due diligence, take his own advice and look up some facts to give himself some depth, perspective and a better appreciation of the reality he discusses. Despite the typical facts mentioned in above comments...

1) More Canadians have been fatally injured from Labrador Retrievers and Huskies and pet tigers in Canada than by pit bull type dogs. Yes tigers. In Ontario you may not be able to have a cow on your lawn, but you can have a pet tiger. Actually two people IN ONTARIO have been killed by pet tigers just since the ban began taking shape. The government "thinks" there is around 500 privately owned tigers and lions in the province, but really has no idea because it does not regulate it at all. This is the only province in the country with such lack of restrictions on large wild predators.
2) Way more people in Canada have been injured AND killed by cows than all breeds and mixes of dogs combined. And as far as the "thinking of the children" sentiment, vastly more children are maimed and killed by their parents or guardians than by alllll types of dogs combined... huskies, Labs, and pits etc etc.
3) In the last two years there have been three husky/child related fatalities in Canada. No biggie cause they aren't large and athletic, oh ya wait they are. But they were not bred for dog fighting originally. So those attacks are ok. Mere statistical anomalies really.
4) There are certainly conflicting reports on the number of dog bites/attacks in Ontario since the ban took effect. Some say there has a been a nearly insignificant dip, and other credible sources say the rate has stayed the same more or less. So to insinuate there has been a decrease in bites is not really a provable fact at this time. Surely there are less pit related bites, cause there are a lot less alive pits in Ontario. There are a lot less alive dogs seven years into the ban.
I have to say, though I appreciate this is a blog, I lust for the ideal where mainstream media stuck to reporting the straight facts and kept emotive fantastical extrapolations of quasi-truths to their private diaries.

[J. Ives]

or...perhaps Damien it was a vacuum ! We as "pit bull" type dogs have been in a battle to have this incredibly unjust law rescinded for 8 years... the last effort squashed when our now defunct premier decided to quit. We were within a month or so of having the private members bill 16/ Hersheys law have it's 3rd and final reading in the house ( by the way, a bill that was supported by members of all 3 parties. (The Bill Would have PASSED and the Ban would have been lifted)
Now we are forced to start the whole process again, and we will because we love our dogs AS MUCH as you love yours. I understand that that's not your issue but we did not have a say in the passing of the law either!!! So if we can get a high profile person , whether he be an American Baseball player or a Canadian Hockey player we will take their help in our cause. Players of all sports have causes they back, whether it's a disease or the Humane society Does it matter? We want our dogs to be legal. I want my dog to be able to walk the streets of my town and visit my family in nursing homes without being outside the law. .Cheers'

[Angie]

Not sure if I'm allowed to post a link however if you Google When is a Labrador Retriever a “Pit Bull”?, you will come across a true scary story.
This is ONE of many good examples why BSL is dangerous.
Also. Since BSL came into effect 2005, there have been over 5000 recorded bites PER YEAR in Onrario. That's over 35,000 bites in 7 years. Only 6 out of 35K were pit bull type dogs. So you see Damien, you can wipe out every pit bull in Ontario but the dog bites will continue. If it's not the pit bulls that are recorded as biters, you should do some investigating which breeds are

[Fayclis]

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelity to Animals has said media prejudice surrounding these types of dogs "is a FACT" (google "Is the media bias-pit bulls) AND 90% of the calls they receive about so called "pit bulls" are misidentified.

FYI. If you do your research you will find that 80% or better of those fighting breed bans worldwide are woman and most with families. THEY are the average owners... but never make the news!

Responsible citizens who have well behaved, well socialized short haired family pets SHOULD not have to pay the price (like THIS family) for the those few who do make the news.

Time for "Media Types" to wake -up about this issue. Where I live it is the Golden Retriever who holds the number one bite record. Damien you might want to also LOOK UP the university study called "Is there a difference? Comparision of Golden Retrievers and Dogs Affected by Breed-Specific Legislation Regarding Aggressive Behavior".

Don't worry though, I am not one of those people who will be calling on a ban on retrievers because an idiot might own one.

[Stephanie]

Not trying to be mean but he has his right to share his views and advocate for pit bulls if he choses being as it ok for to share your narrow minded views on the issue. It is a law that should have never have come into effect in the first place the reponcibility should fall on the owner not the breed. As for him just coming here and being allowed to have any issues with our laws and trying torepeal them we have more pressing issues.

[Brent]

Damian you've proved your ignorance once again. This sentence in the first paragraph is absolutely disgusting, "and let's assume he's unique among Americans in that he has travelled widely and sampled the culture and living conditions of other nations." Any other stereotypes you'd like to throw around? Perhaps before you accuse someone else of being ignorant on a situation you should pay attention to the bs spewing from your keyboard.

Just a suggestion.

[SteveI]

Cox should give Canada a wee bit of respect. There is more to Canada than Ontario. Pit bulls (which aren't a breed) are allowed EVERYWHERE else in Canada. And they eventually will be allowed in Ontario thanks to those with the guts to stand up to ignorant hate laws. Here's to Mark Buerhle. Shame on Damien Cox for being such a coward. I own a lovely lab mix and I'm in the process of searching for a second dog... Funny but I'm now CONVINCED it will be an American Staffordshire Terrior, one of the breeds who unfortunately get thrown in the pit by sick people.

[SteveI]

Should we do away with young disadvantaged girls so that bad people aren't tempted to turn them to prostitution?
Do we do away with homeless kids in Africa so that bad people aren't tempted to turn them into child soldiers?
If all the Amstafs are killed do we ban all large dogs so that bad people won't be tempted to throw them in the pit?
Or do we stand up and support the innocent victims?

[Colleen Martin]

Damien, I agree with your comments. Buehrle was not happy to come here judging from his comments about the Marlins. He came here because of the money he is getting from the Blue Jays which is far too much for what he is worth. If he is such a great player why didn't the Marrlins keep him. He can keep his ungrateful attitude back where he came from. I feel he will be a disruptive influence in the Blue Jay camp. This is Canada, not the USA. We have our rules and regulations which are not the same as theirs. Florida banned pit bulls among other states, that is why he lived elsewhere. Canada does not want the likes of him. He should be grateful to be coming to a great country like Canada.

[Terri]

Buerhle has every right to stand against BSL! I couldn't care less about baseball but now consider him one of my heroes. BSL is the same as genocide. There is a world-wide doggie holocaust going on. These magnificent bully breeds are murdered in record numbers, you see, that's what BSL does- kills dogs. I suggest you check your conscience because it totally lacks in compassion & understanding. We have a strong movement building to end BSL in spite of evil-doers like you who won't be content until all bully breeds are wiped off the planet. Oh, by the way, thanks for my recent twitter suspension. It was worth it to defend the dogs. I'll suffer for an end to BSL anyday. It's the least I can do for ny beloved pit bulls.