I will pull no punches here.

 

This is an evaluation of your dog and situation.

 

About a year ago, I met you and took and evaluated your pit bull dog. Your dog appears to be a normal, well adjusted dog.

 

A neighbor's cat apparently entered into your property, and as is normal for a dog, your dog attacked the cat. The cat ran through a hole in the fence, and your dog followed. Unfortunately, the cat was killed.

 

No one wants anyone's pet killed for any reason. It is always a major tragedy.

 

Your dog was doing what dogs do. Dogs are territorial pack animals, and they are offended when outsiders intrude upon their territory. There is no dog alive that isn't territorial, and I would venture to say that most of the dogs I have ever worked with would have attempted to do the same thing your dog did. This is a matter of biology, and regardless of the laws we pass, we can’t change biology. To your dog, it was doing the right thing. It was doing what dogs are programmed to do by nature, and all the training in the world won't stop that kind of thing. Therefore, we have to supervise, contain and restrain our dogs.

 

You know this, and so does animal control. They know this is normal canine behavior, and those that own dogs know that even their dogs would do this if the same incident happened on their property. However, they are hamstrung by an unfair and inhumane dog bite law in the city of Seattle. I don't blame animal control for this. They are just doing their jobs. However, there comes a time when those in power must stand up and make their voices known when their actions will then result in a second tragedy. Otherwise, "what comes around, goes around." Someday, their own dogs will do something similar, and they will be subjected to the same unfair and inhumane laws, and will also suffer the same consequences you are being faced with.

 

Your choices now are to either have your dog killed, or banished from the State of Washington. And you will be banned from owning a dog for 2 years.

 

The first choice is clearly inhumane and unjustified. What the dog did doesn't deserve a death penalty.

 

I wish I could help more, but I can't. I recommend finding your dog a new home outside Washington State. It is a shameful fact that there isn't any other good option for you. It is going to be exceedingly difficult to find a good new home for your dog.

 

Who is to blame here?

 

First, you are to blame for not having a better fence for your dog. You are also to blame for not immediately taking this situation more seriously after I met you the first time, to apologize to all involved, and doing other things I recommended at the time. You know that now, and the City could just force you to better contain your dog, pay restitution to the cat owner, and to fine you for the incident... but apparently that kind of fair remedy isn't an option.

 

Second, the cat owner. This person deserves a harsh penalty here, also, for allowing this cat to wander the neighborhood. They were negligent for 2 reasons. First, you folks live near a very busy street. The cat could have been run over by a car and died. Second, cats are vulnerable when they wander into any property where a dog lives. Dogs will kill cats. We all know that. Even in jest, as we watch old "Tom and Jerry" cartoons, we see this kind of thing. These people didn't take enough care to prevent this tragedy. So, who is more at fault, you or the cat owner, for this tragedy? I think the blame is equally shared.

 

Third, I blame the City of Seattle, and animal control led by Don Jordan, for enforcing these kinds of unfair laws and remedies. A citizen's committee was formed several years ago to change these laws, warning that these types of incidents would occur. They also recommended a range of graduated penalties for incidents like this to balance the rights and wrongs against the needs of society for safe containment of dogs. Those recommendations were ignored, animal control fought against the changes, and so here we are. Shame on them.

 

I am forwarding this onto those members of that now defunct committee. I feel they failed dogs like yours by not standing up to the city, but instead rolling over and wanting to be liked by everyone instead. I warned them at the time, and they didn't listen... and they lost.

 

This result gives me a bellyache.

 

Your dog doesn't deserve to die over this.

 

Sam Basso

www.samthedogtrainer.com

 

 

 

 

>

> Hi Sam,

>  My name is  ...........  and I own a 5 year old red nose pit bull named

> Grendel Marie. About one year ago I contacted you after an unfortunate

> incident occurred involving a neighbors cat. You kindly visited my

> residence and gave your professional assessment of Grendel's

> temperament which you found her to be no threat to people or other dogs

> (provided a proper introduction was made). You further explained that

> she behaved as any dog would had they been startled by another animal

> in their territory. Since that meeting a fence has been built to help

> secure the backyard and confine her territory. I have been diligent in

> making sure she is harnessed and leashed where ever I go and keep her

> close to me at all times. I’ve spent countless hours training her to my

> voice which has yielded decent results. Unfortunately, due to strict

> city ordinances and breed specific laws in Seattle, I am currently in

> court fighting to keep her. I was asked by my attorney to gather any

> documentation regarding her temperament that could help my case which

> is why I have contacted you. Please let me know if there is anything

> you are able to do to help me keep my beloved companion. If the

> outcome does not bode well for her or I, then I will need to find a

> reputable rescue to locate a new home for her. Thank you for taking

> time to read this and I hope to hear from you soon.

> Sincerely,