If you could create any dog related law, what would it be?

Question

If you could create (and enforce) ANY dog related law, what would it be? Why would you choose this law? What would this law prevent/what problem would this law solve? What would be the requirements of this law? Why would this law be hard to reinforce?

I mean laws such as mandatory spay/neuter for pet quality dogs...having to obtain a breeding license before being allowed to breed dogs...having to obtain a dog owning license before being able to own dogs...having to prove you can financially support a dog before buying one...you get the point.

Be creative! It can be any law, no matter how crazy or impossible it sounds. What law do YOU think would help solve the dog related problems that our society sees on a daily basis (abuse, neglect, dog attacks, irresponsible breeding)?

Laura- I agree with you...one of the first things I would do would be to find an alternative to BSL. An alternative that was actually affective! (since BSL is NOT!)

Who's giving all the thumbs down, and why?! This question is looking for a variety of answers! So far, all of the answers have involved dog laws, so they are answering the question! I think every answer so far has been totally legit! No random thumbs down!

Answer 1

Mandatory obedience classes for all dog owners, with the emphasis being on first time dog owners, and the people who just bought a puppy on impulse.

In addition to teaching the proper way to train a dog to behave (general "house manners"), potty train, and problem solving, (barking, digging, etc) the class would teach proper nutrition, preventative health (flea & heartworm prevention, vaccines, etc) and the importance of spay and neuter.

Why?
There is so much to know.
People get puppies because they're cute, not realizing how much WORK they are.
Not realizing that for the entire first year or 2 they will be dealing with potty training, behavior training, seperation issues.

Also, people don't realize that 99.999% of the problems they have with dogs are correctable with training.

I think that with more education, both dogs and people would be much better served.

Answer 2

As much as I hate to say this. I'm not really into legislating pet ownership. AHHH! It's a great concept and would solve a lot of problems but it's one of those things. I just don't want the government so into my life. I would be more comfortable with mandatory ownership CLASSES before owning pets. I think education is more important than legislation. I think that most people that own pets care about them to some degree and that if educated as a child or teenager and shown what damage they can cause they will be less likely to go that route. Goodness I would even put an animal ownership class in school or something. Of course nobody will do that but it would be cool.

As far as BSL goes. I would repeal it. PERIOD. I would create HUGE penalties for animal abuse, and severe consequences for biting dogs etc. Make the OWNER responsible for a dogs behavior.

Answer 3

I can think of 100 of laws I would like to have. Unfortunately, I am a realist. The only one I think would have any effect would be to make all the existing cruelty laws felonies instead of misdemeanors. If people had to pay HEFTY fines and do REAL jail time for their offenses, they might think twice before breaking the law.

DUI laws are a perfect example of how that could work. When the first laws were enforced, anyone could get out of a DUI very easily. Now that isn't the case. The country finally realized how many people were being killed and now the punishment fits the crime more closely.

Answer 4

Every Time a law is passed we give up another one of our wrights. There are consquences for your actions. There needs to be a greater enforcement, of animal cruelity. Along with higher fines, and possible jail time. I have found that dog people are there own worst enemies. If we don't stick together, and support each other. All these people thatdon't like dogs in public areas will ultimately win. They pretty much had us beat in the Long Island area. But we recently got a few dog areas open. Meaning if you see a person with another dog be friendly. Don't BE CONDERSENDING. Control your dog if they miss behave. I was just at a my local dog park a few weeks back, and a black lab was getting aggresive with my 30lb Schnauzer. The owners answer was that I should take him in the small dog section. Not the wright the answer. With in seconds of me telling my dog "ok" her soft breed lab was on his back summitting. I did everything I could to keep my dog calm, but once the lab bit him. I could not let that go un-anwered. Control your dogs, if you can't handle your dog. Go to training so that you can. For all you lab/retreiver people. I am sure they are great dogs. But they are a soft breed, meaning they can do damage. But they can't take it being done back to them. If it was a German Sheperd, Akita, another Terrier type, ya I would of been in the small dog section. I only have 2 yrs expierence as a dog owner. But over 15yrs of fighting with them while I am going for a daily run. I know the difference when a dog is friendly, and just wants to run out and say hi. Then when a dog wants to rip off one of my lims. It is the irresponsible owns that couse the rest of us trouble. Maybe its because I have had some many stupit friend with their stupit unfixed dogs. That I am so crazy about my dog behavoring well and not cousing any problem for anyone. Lets all help each other, by sharing knowledge with each other.

Answer 5

I would create a law requiring proof of completeling a know how to take care of a dog course before people could buy or adopt a dog. This course would weed out irrisponsible people. I would also require a course before being allowed to breed dogs and stiff fines for having a dog or breeding and not completeing these courses. I would be hard to enforce though, because the people who are irrisponsible and cruel, would just go around the laws.........

Answer 6

Mandatory spay and neuter for all pet dogs and non-qualified breeding dogs.
This would exempt the show dogs who have proven themselves as worthy of being bred to maintain their specific line.
It would also limit the number of litters per year a breeder could develop at three.
Until the breeders can start cleaning up the gigantic mess they have created, the government and us truly dog-loving people need to step up and mandate that more dogs be altered and less dogs are born.


Oh, and because laws require politicians and all the glory of politics, I should mention that I am a proud registered Independent, heavily leading towards conservatism. But in the case of animal overpopulation, I am all for bringing on the mandates and laws. Since breeders cannot seem to clean up their own mess, I am all for seeing to it that the government provide some form of aide.

Answer 7

I wouldn't. I'd educate, not legislate.
Why? For instance, I don't need obedience classes. I learned how to train my dogs through books and videos. The people at Pet Smart can't teach me anything I don't already know.

Also, making it illegal to kill or endanger an animal makes many dog related sports illegal. Hunting with dogs would certainly be outlawed, especially boar hunting. Also, it makes the slaughter of livestock illegal, also hunting and euthanasia.

I find the practice of puppy milling and backyard breeding nauseating. But as long as people will pay money for those dogs, they unethical breeders will be there.

I would repeal BSL.

Answer 8

I am fortunate to on no account have been in a drawback corresponding to yours. Nonetheless, i am married and have children. My husband and that i each have lifestyles coverage insurance policies, just in case. I are not able to imagine making use of that money for whatever instead of helping my youngsters and securing their well-being and future. Nor would I anticipate my husband to pay off my moms and dads expenses with that cash in the occasion that i am the one to die first. No offense meant here, i am just seeking to be sincere, but your former MIL is very selfish and immature to even ask you to sacrifice more than you've. Yes, she has misplaced a son, but you have lost your husband (your friend, lover and partner for existence) and the father of your children as well having to maintain the stress of parenting and financially supporting your household all in your own now even as seeking to give a boost to your career opportunities by means of going to college. This woman has definitely no clue as to what you are coping with and i have to say..You go lady..It feels like you might be very robust, you like your children and are doing the whole lot that you may to make your new existence a greater one. Sorry on your loss.

Answer 9

i'm fortunate to never have been in a project at the same time with yours. even inspite of the undeniable fact that, i'm married and have little ones. My husband and that i the two have existence policies, in simple terms in case. i can't think of using that money for something different than helping my little ones and securing their nicely being and destiny. Nor could I anticipate my husband to pay off my parents costs with that money interior the form that i'm the single to die first. No offense meant right here, i'm in simple terms attempting to be truthful, yet your former MIL is extremely egocentric and immature to even ask you to sacrifice extra desirable than you have. definite, she has lost a son, yet you have lost your husband (your pal, lover and companion for existence) and the daddy of your little ones as nicely having to handle the stress of parenting and financially helping your loved ones all on your man or woman now whilst attempting to develop your occupation opportunities via going to college. This woman has extremely no clue as to what you're coping with and that i'd desire to assert..you bypass woman..it appears that evidently such as you're very reliable, you like your little ones and are doing each little thing you may to make your new existence a extra physically powerful one. Sorry on your loss.

Answer 10

Law (more than two parts):
I'd ban breed specific legislation forever, and make it a federal law across the country and make it a felony with a minimum sentence of five years in prison for fighting dogs and minimum of two years in prison for ATTENDING dog fights. Also, prison terms would be followed by strict parole which would include mandatory community service working with rescues in shelters for three years minimum after release. While in prison, these prisoners would earn their keep by training rescue dogs that are appropriate for assistance jobs.

I'd mandate that fines for irresponsible dog owners collected by the cities- all fines (existing laws regarding leash, bite, not scooping the poop, etc) and five dollars of every license purchased would go to law enforcement investigating dog fighting and part of the penalty for dog fighting would be seizure of property (house, cars, dogs,bank accounts, monies at the scene) and the money for that would go towards enforcement and rehab of animals.