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PHBlackBear: On behalf of Jeff Barringer and all of us at PetHobbyist.com, I am very pleased to welcome Dawn Capp to our Ninth Annual Chat Week.

PHBlackBear: Dawn Capp is an attorney and advocate for canines and their owners. SHe is the author of American Pit Bull Terriers: Fact or Fiction: The Truth Behind One of America's Most Popular Breeds, and founder of CHAKO, a dog lobby and advocacy group. She will be joining us to discuss breed specific legislation and bull breeds.

PHBlackBear: Welcome Dawn!

dawn_c: Thank you.

PHBlackBear: Dawn, would you like to take a few minutes and tell us what you do?

dawn_c: Professionally, I'm an attorney. As was mentioned, I've written a novel, as well as several articles for magazines and law review journals. I founded the Chako Rescue Association for the American Pit Bull Terrier in 1997, and recently founded the advocacy group CHAKO (stands for Coalition of Human Advocates for K9s & Owners).

dawn_c: CHAKO is currently suing San Francisco to challenge SB 861.

PHBlackBear: Fantastic Dawn

fireladie: What is the best way to support and advocate bully breeds in ones home area?

dawn_c: It really is about being being involved. You have to (a) be registered to vote and (b) be a good ambassador. Being registered to vote is important for a variety of reasons.

dawn_c: Getting involved in these issues, even if it's as simple as writing a letter to YOUR representative, will help. Imagine if every person who owned a bully breed were registered to vote AND wrote a letter to his or her representative. THAT would make quite an impression.

fireladie: Great advice.

dawn_c: Also try to write letters to your local newspaper if issues arise in your area. many times, these get published and its free publicity.

PHBlackBear: Dawn, once a town has a ban on pits, is it possible to get it reversed?

dawn_c: Yes, it is possible. It's not EASY, but it's possible. It takes a concerted effort, nagging your representatives, and as election time comes around and new people are voted in... that can be a good time to strike. There's also court challenges.

PHKeeper: Do you think any breed should be banned?

dawn_c: No, though I'm on the fence with wolf hybrids that have significant wolf in them.

staffordmom: Why do they always include Staffordshire Bull Terriers when they ban Pit Bulls?

dawn_c: Probably because it is very difficult to distinguish a Pit Bull from a Staffy Bull, especially on paper, and they are a closely related breed. However, in some countries, Pit Bulls are banned, but SBTs are allowed.

PHGuido: What are good ways to work on positive press in towns/cities that don't have bans, but also don't have a lot of positive bull breed experience either?

dawn_c: Several ways - writing letters to the editor of your local paper is one way to generate free, positive publicity. Also, if you know of a positive event or a great breed ambassador, just calling all the news stations (TV) in your area may generate some positive press. One might decide to do a story on the Pit Bull that visits schools or nursing homes... for example.

fireladie: What are the most vulnerable bully breeds to BSL and legislation against them? And... Refering to your earlier statement about being on the fence about wolf hybrids... they are not anymore dangerous than the bully breeds you work to protect. Speaking from someone who has been around human raised wolfs and wolf dogs, they are quite lovely dogs, who trained and socialized properly, are no more dangerous to the public than a well trained socialized bully dog. The fear comes from media portrait of teeth barring, wild eyed, crazed wolfs attacking people.

dawn_c: The American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier are the two most vulnerable breeds, but all the bully breeds (and non bully breeds) are vulnerable. American Bulldogs, Bull Terriers, etc. Rottweilers, Dobermanes, the list goes on. Regarding wolf hybrids...I have a couple of good friends who own them. I'm really not opposed to wolf hybrids. I stated I was on the fence about those with a lot of wolf in them, and that's more of an issue with preserving wolves and the fact that real wolves are being dessimated.

dawn_c: For example, there are NO wolves in California, anymore.

Rouen: What do you think of Cesar Millan and his work with the "tough breeds" and help in the fight against BSL?

dawn_c: I think Cesar does some great PR work for Pit Bulls and dogs in general. I am pleased to see someone dispelling the myth that dogs are little people with fur on four legs. I disagree with some of what he does on his show, but that's a different topic.

PHKeeper: Do they ban just the purebreed or do they include mixed bullies also? ga

dawn_c: They almost always include mixed breeds.

PHBlackBear: I've heard that if the state does not have a bsl, then the cities within cannot have one. Is this true?

dawn_c: I'm not sure I understand your question, but I'll try to answer the best I can. If a state has NO law on the subject whatsoever, than cities are generally free to make their own. If, on the other hand, a state has a law prohibiting BSL, than most cities cannot implement BSL (this is the case in Texas and used to be in California). Some cities can claim a home rule exception (Like Denver did), though that's complicated and, I believe, really legally tenuous. Still, it's the reality in Denver right now.

PHBlackBear: Thank you, we're working on trying to get a bsl reveresed here.

staffordmom: What are the first steps we should take when we hear of BSL being introduced in our area?

dawn_c: It's a hard battle, I know, to get BSL reversed. I applaud you.

dawn_c: 1) make sure you are registered to vote, (2) call your representatives and make your opinion known -- even ask to set up a meeting to discuss the issue, (3) write letters to all the local newspapers (4) call the local television stations and invite them to check out your "Pit Bull" doing something positive (it helps if you're active with your dog in sports, shows, obedience, therapy work, etc.)... and of course, get in touch with as many other local dog owners as you can.

fireladie: What do you think the legislation CAN DO to promote responsible ownership of bully breeds, and dispel improper/irresponsible ownership?

dawn_c: The legislation? Do you mean what laws can they make on this subject?

fireladie: Yeah.

dawn_c: I think they have to make fair laws for all breeds. Responsible ownership is an across-the-board issue for dogs. It makes no sense to require bully breed owners be responsible but let people neglect and irresponsibly breed, say, German Shepherds or Yorkies. I think there needs to be better enforcement of existing laws, and when new laws are drafted, they need to have enforcement funding built in... and it should be fair and equal and apply to ALL breeds.

Leanne_nr: You mentioned mixed breeds are included often in BSL. How does one determine that the mixed breed is a pit bull?

dawn_c: That's an excellent question. Frankly, there is no real way. It's subjective, and that has been the subject of many court battles. Ireland, for example, has people take their dog for an "inspection" and some government official will make a determination whether the dog is a "pit bull" or "pit bull mix." There's a LARGE amount of misidentification. It's a mess, frankly. Lots of breeds get the bad end of the stick whenever BSL comes for this reason alone, ga

Frank_nr: Have you noticed any connection between introduced BSL and concerted efforts of the organization People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)? The reason I ask is that we are noticing a significant amount of PETA authored verbiage in the Bills introduced here in Oklahoma.....and I will certainly understand if you would prefer not to address a topic concerning PETA activities.

dawn_c: PETA is pro-BSL. The organization makes no secret about that, and PETA generally always writes letters of support for any BSL. Yes, there is a strong connection.

Deerhounds: This is a comment more than a question. I'm on a number of mailing lists about canine legislative and political issues, and I find it very frustrating how badly so many spokespeople explain the problems with BSL to DOG PEOPLE specifically. It's often just assumed that dog people will automatically oppose BSL, but that's not the case. Many dog people... people who breed and show dogs, or do dog sports such as obedience, agility, etc... are just as unaware of the dangers of BSL, and as much a victim of anti-bull breed propaganda and prejudice, as average person. I truly believe that we have to do a much better job reaching out to natural allies on this issue, and framing it in a way that they'll understand. We are assuming support and finding opposition, or at least apathy. It worries me.

dawn_c: I agree wholeheartedly. I've been to shows and stood alongside the Amstaff ring or APBT and spoken to people about PENDING legislation (like California's SB 861) and they were clueless. Many d idn't even know about it even after it passed. Then, there is the problem with 'breedism' amongst the dog fancy. Many people who own non bully breeds are fine with legislation that targets Pit Bulls. They see Pit Bulls as "those dogs" and don't realize how dangerous BSL is to the dog community as a whole.

Deerhounds: I don't own bull breeds myself, but I see the connection with, for example, the attempt to ban coursing in CA.

dawn_c: Yes, there is a plethora of animal-related legislation, ga

PHCatByte: I was thinking along the same lines--as a cat person, I'm not always as coherent as I could be when I hear people spouting anti-bully-breed sentiments: is there any really good place Ican send people for real statistics/information?

dawn_c: Oh, there are lots of websites out there. Check out the links page at http://www.chako.org - there are forums like pitbullforum... there's info on CHAKO's site, pitbullrescuecentral, bad rap, and many others. ga

PHCatByte: thanks, that's what i need to know!

PHCatByte: Ginger, you have a question?

PHGinger: My local kennel club is considering offering temperance testing. Do you think that is a place to start with battling these BS laws?

dawn_c: Yes. ATTS statistics for the Amstaff and APBT are very impressive. THE SBT even more so, and that's always an argument we make to counter pro BSL propoganda. Hard statistics and facts are an excellent weapon. Showing these dogs able to fly through temperament tests does a lot of good.

PHGinger: Voting on it next month so was curious - they plan to do it right and bring in the experts.

PHGinger: I will vote yes then ga

dawn_c: You could even use that as a reason to invite the media (if you know the dogs well, obviously).

PHKeeper: What is the american humane association and HSUS doing to aid in the fight against bsl?

dawn_c: Well, that's a loaded question. HSUS seems generally opposed to BSL, but they have wavered a bit. Frankly, neither of these organizations are doing a whole lot on the BSL front. It's not their main concern.

staffordmom: When traveling with your bully breed how can you find out if the states, cities you are traveling through have BSL?

dawn_c: That's a tough one. You can plan your route and call the AC in every city you're passing through, but that is time consuming and sometimes AC employees give wrong information. There are some online resources (see chako links) like rott-n-chatter that lists cities, but that may or may not be updated. CHAKo has a BSL alerts forum where you can type in a city name in the search and see if it pops up, but that's not exhaustive and mainly tracks recent stuff. Sometimes you can just google the city and "pit bull" to see if anything pops up. It's tough. ga. Many places, however, do have "travel" exemptions... but even then it's still risky. ga

munchkins: Any suggestions about how to help an american bulldog become less dog agressive? She is 4 years old, and has always been this way. We cannot take her out in public where she might encounter other dogs. I missed the important socialization window, or maybe there wasn't any, due to bad genes. We know that she comes from a fighting background. She was in group training for a year or so, and then in private classes for another year. It hasn't helped.

dawn_c: That's a tough problem. You can teach a DA dog to behave in public, and you'll have to try various training methods to find what works best for your dog. Some dogs respond beautifully to all positive reinforcements, but some dogs (especially with dog aggression) need firm corrections and clear guidance. It also takes a LOT of work - daily exposure and training to teach her to behave around other dogs. You will likely never "cure" her dog aggression but with hard work, you should be able to manage it (unless she is among the small percentage that really are wired...differently... and very hard to manage - that's a very small percentage of dogs, though).

munchkins: Thanks

PHKeeper: How did they, the bullies, in general get that reputation anyway?

dawn_c: Bully breeds are naturally strong, loyal, and determined, and that made them popular with the wrong kind of people. Of course, they also have the fighting background, which helped propel them into the hands of people that like to think of themselves as tough and owning a "macho" dog. The more popular these dogs become, the more "incidents" we see, and since so many "bad" people get these dogs, we see an increase in negative press and negative images. Just look at the popular media. Outkast, etc... they aren't portraying a "good image" of these dogs.

PHKeeper: Then people are the problem not the breeds.

munchkins: My dog reacts to other dogs by becoming extremely upset immediately. There is no warning whatsoever. She will start shaking and gets that certain look in her eye. She has bitten me before during one of these episodes. And it doesn't matter what you do to her during this. She can't hear you.

dawn_c: Is this a new behavior or one she's always displayed?

PHGinger: Would muzzling be an answer?

munchkins: When she was a tiny puppy, two american cockers barked at her and scared her and that seemed to set it off, about 4 months old when this happened.

dawn_c: If this has happened since she was a puppy (how old is she now?) then you may need to consult with a behaviorist. What breed is she? Some dogs are prone to something called 'rage syndrome.'

munchkins: She is an american bulldog, and it has since been a problem. Four years old.

dawn_c: Oh right. You mentioned that before. I think you really may need to consult a behaviorist and not just a regular obedience trainer, if you can find one. You need someone to witness the behavior and observe the dog firsthand.

dawn_c: You might also want to have her checked out by a vet just to rule out medical causes.

staffordmom: I think many people also do not realize that once BSL starts, they will keep on adding breeds to the list.

dawn_c: Yes, that is very true. It happens a LOT. Even San Francisco admitted it would likely have to expand its BSL as people turned to different breeds.

pugdude_nr: My pug is halfway potty trained at it getts really annoying sometimes because she is trained for a weekend then has an accident. How do I eliminate the sparse accidents?

dawn_c: How old is your pug?

pugdude_nr: 11months

dawn_c: That's old enough that she should be housebroken reliably. She may have some incontinence issue, so have her checked out by a vet. If that's not the cause, then you will have to treat her like a puppy again. Keep her confined when you cannot supervise her. make sure to take her outside to go potty, reward her for diong so. Get a good enzymatic cleaner to clean up any places she's had accidents, etc.

fireladie: I did dog fostering for the local shelter, and will do again certainly... what is the best way I can make the bully breeds more adoptable to potential adopters?

dawn_c: Make sure they are of sound temperament first and foremost. Give them plenty of obedience and house manners training, and teach them a cute trick or two. Also, make sure to take CUTE photos of them (that means taking a lot to pick the best ones). All too often I see GREAT dogs with these really bad photos. It's a part of human nature... were visual creatures, and even the best people and the best homes when they are looking at dogs have to feel a certain "awwww..." when looking at a photo. Get photos that capture the dog's personality, as well.

fireladie: Thank you so much, great advice.

dawn_c: Thank you!

PHBlackBear: On behalf of PetHobbyist.com, Jeff Barringer, and all of us at PetHobbyist.com, I want to take a moment to thank Dawn Capp for being part of our chat week. Dawn, thanks for taking the time out to chat with us on Breed Specific Legislation and bull breeds.

PHBlackBear: Thank you Dawn for a great Chat

PHCatByte: thanks so much, dawn!

PHKeeper: Thank you Dawn a wonderful and informative chat.

dawn_c: Thank you for having me.