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DISCLAIMER: I do not advocate breed legislation. Not here, or in any other country. I have no prejudice against Pit Bulls. As a breed though, they need an owner who is knowledgeable about training and responsible dog ownership, more so than a lot of other breeds. I have seen wonderful Pit's and messes on 4 legs in any breed/mix. Though there is concern for human population in this, please note that I am not putting dog before human. It's just that this is the pet's forum and if I was posting the topic in the parenting forum I would word it all another way..
___(end of disclaimer)____________________________________
A few months ago a new member came and requested information on acquiring a Pitt Bull in Jamaica. That thread here
I was somewhat taken aback at the thought, as I had never seen one on the island. I don't know why I was taken aback...it was just a matter of time. I think most of us that posted answers to this query were respectful and tried to help him for the most part...and I never gave the topic a second thought once it moved on.
I've seen on a couple of other Jamaica related sites where the topic of Pitt Bulls on the island is being discussed and the light shed is not very positive so far. In fact, some of the responses have been a bit disturbing. I open this topic hoping we can actually come up with a solution that might help, as well as have a healthy discussion.
This article in today's Jamaica Observer is very disturbing.
source
MONTEGO BAY, St James — COMMANDER of the St James Police Division Merrick Watson and president of the Jamaica Agriculture Association (JAS) Glendon Harris have both expressed alarm at the increase unsupervised pit bulls and other viscious half-breeds.
"These pit bulls and other pedigree dogs are sometimes not being properly manned. So we find that they roam the street at will and mate with common dogs to produce fierce animals that endanger communities," said Harris, noting that he has been recently inundated with complaints from lifestock farmers of dogs preying upon their stock.
<span style="font-style: italic">
Pedigree dog owners to reign their pets in as the puppies they are producing with their common counterparts are becoming an increasing threat to society</span>
"Quite a number of our goat and sheep farmers have been losing their stock to dogs so it is a major concern for us. But what we see now is a lot of persons have these dogs that are not being manned coming in the local areas," the JAS president lamented.
Commander of the St James Police Division Merrick Watson also expressed concern.
"Wherever you go it is like an epidemic washing Jamaica right now, especially in the inner cities. All of a sudden everybody is walking around with a pit bull. We have noticed it and it is a cause for concern because we know that these dogs are very vicious.
Noting that these dogs could pose a challenge to law enforcement, Superintendent Watson said that the police would have no option but to kill these brutal dogs if they threatened them.
"I am concerned about the proliferation of these pit bulls all over the place when you take into consideration that in some States these dogs are banned because of their viciousness, you have to wonder why it is so easy to bring them into this country. It poses a serious challenge especially for the law enforcement whenever you need to go to places to effect searches and carry out warrants, these dogs will attack.
And if they attack the police will be left with absolutely no option but to defend themselves and that includes shooting these dogs," he said.
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There is a thread on negril.com which the topic stater stated a friend of hers was attacked by a Pitt bull on the beach in Negril. I am not a fan of posting about other message board topics. However, I believe this to be so very important, that people need to know what is going on.. negril.com topic here One member, Yvonne..who is in Negril on extended summer stay had this to say <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">"Just read an article in The Observer that was revisited from a few weeks ago... man killed by pit bull. He was in his 50's, the dog was his. He slipped & fell down after feeding the dogs as he was taking them to be locked up for the night. When he fell the pit bull attacked. He did not survive his injuries".</div></div>
The topic is also being discussed on Tammy's Jamaicaholics forum and there is a lot of relavant discussion if you are so inclined... read here
While reading the newspaper article and forum posts I imagine all sorts of things and some are pretty horrific. For example, down in Little Bay the Rhodesian Ridgeback mixes are very popular. For those that don't know this...Ridgebacks are bred to hunt Lion. I shudder at the thought of the Ridgeback mix breeds crossed with Pitt Bull. Well, even the Terrier mixes you so often see, yikes!
What can be a solution? I so wish there was a JSPCA that is involved in the Westmoreland area but they do have their hands full in other cities and the Jamaica Dog Sled Team does the absolute best it can to help with education and the shelter dogs, but this is NOT enough!
I would encourage anyone with contacts on the island to take an opportunity to have a discussion with their peers about this topic to inform, not alarm. But...information is everything.
Does anyone know of groups that promote responsible dog ownership other than the Jamaica Dog Sled Team and the volunteer spay/neuter vets that come to the island and donate time? Does anyone have a solution?
I say, let us not sit behind a desk and talk about the matter, but actually make a plan to help do some good.
What say ye?
___(end of disclaimer)____________________________________
A few months ago a new member came and requested information on acquiring a Pitt Bull in Jamaica. That thread here
I was somewhat taken aback at the thought, as I had never seen one on the island. I don't know why I was taken aback...it was just a matter of time. I think most of us that posted answers to this query were respectful and tried to help him for the most part...and I never gave the topic a second thought once it moved on.
I've seen on a couple of other Jamaica related sites where the topic of Pitt Bulls on the island is being discussed and the light shed is not very positive so far. In fact, some of the responses have been a bit disturbing. I open this topic hoping we can actually come up with a solution that might help, as well as have a healthy discussion.
This article in today's Jamaica Observer is very disturbing.
source
MONTEGO BAY, St James — COMMANDER of the St James Police Division Merrick Watson and president of the Jamaica Agriculture Association (JAS) Glendon Harris have both expressed alarm at the increase unsupervised pit bulls and other viscious half-breeds.
"These pit bulls and other pedigree dogs are sometimes not being properly manned. So we find that they roam the street at will and mate with common dogs to produce fierce animals that endanger communities," said Harris, noting that he has been recently inundated with complaints from lifestock farmers of dogs preying upon their stock.
<span style="font-style: italic">Pedigree dog owners to reign their pets in as the puppies they are producing with their common counterparts are becoming an increasing threat to society</span>
"Quite a number of our goat and sheep farmers have been losing their stock to dogs so it is a major concern for us. But what we see now is a lot of persons have these dogs that are not being manned coming in the local areas," the JAS president lamented.
Commander of the St James Police Division Merrick Watson also expressed concern.
"Wherever you go it is like an epidemic washing Jamaica right now, especially in the inner cities. All of a sudden everybody is walking around with a pit bull. We have noticed it and it is a cause for concern because we know that these dogs are very vicious.
Noting that these dogs could pose a challenge to law enforcement, Superintendent Watson said that the police would have no option but to kill these brutal dogs if they threatened them.
"I am concerned about the proliferation of these pit bulls all over the place when you take into consideration that in some States these dogs are banned because of their viciousness, you have to wonder why it is so easy to bring them into this country. It poses a serious challenge especially for the law enforcement whenever you need to go to places to effect searches and carry out warrants, these dogs will attack.
And if they attack the police will be left with absolutely no option but to defend themselves and that includes shooting these dogs," he said.
--------------------------------------------------------------
There is a thread on negril.com which the topic stater stated a friend of hers was attacked by a Pitt bull on the beach in Negril. I am not a fan of posting about other message board topics. However, I believe this to be so very important, that people need to know what is going on.. negril.com topic here One member, Yvonne..who is in Negril on extended summer stay had this to say <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">"Just read an article in The Observer that was revisited from a few weeks ago... man killed by pit bull. He was in his 50's, the dog was his. He slipped & fell down after feeding the dogs as he was taking them to be locked up for the night. When he fell the pit bull attacked. He did not survive his injuries".</div></div>
The topic is also being discussed on Tammy's Jamaicaholics forum and there is a lot of relavant discussion if you are so inclined... read here
While reading the newspaper article and forum posts I imagine all sorts of things and some are pretty horrific. For example, down in Little Bay the Rhodesian Ridgeback mixes are very popular. For those that don't know this...Ridgebacks are bred to hunt Lion. I shudder at the thought of the Ridgeback mix breeds crossed with Pitt Bull. Well, even the Terrier mixes you so often see, yikes!
What can be a solution? I so wish there was a JSPCA that is involved in the Westmoreland area but they do have their hands full in other cities and the Jamaica Dog Sled Team does the absolute best it can to help with education and the shelter dogs, but this is NOT enough!
I would encourage anyone with contacts on the island to take an opportunity to have a discussion with their peers about this topic to inform, not alarm. But...information is everything.
Does anyone know of groups that promote responsible dog ownership other than the Jamaica Dog Sled Team and the volunteer spay/neuter vets that come to the island and donate time? Does anyone have a solution?
I say, let us not sit behind a desk and talk about the matter, but actually make a plan to help do some good.
What say ye?