June 16th, 2008
I write a lot of posts about misconceptions, myths, breed specific legislation, and other problems we face as Pit Bull owners. I have become a bit detached from the problems in a way because I deal with them on a daily basis. That is until today…
Today I read a story about a family. A story that not only knocked the dust off of my attitude about our problems but also broke my heart.
What follows next is personal for me. As I read the story of the Burke family, my eyes became glassy, tears forming, and eventually streaming down my cheeks.
On March 12, 2008, a dog by the name of Gage was let to out “do his business” with his Yorkie pals. Their mom (Shana Burke) was in the house when she heard a loud noise. She ran outside to see what the sound was and to check on her dogs. The Yorkies were frantically trying to get into the house so she called Gage to come as well.
Gage couldn’t be seen and he did not come to her call. Gage couldn’t come, he lay dying from a shotgun blast in the yard. Shana found him and held her little boy until he took is last breath.
I want you to imagine that for a moment. Imagine your dog lying there bleeding to death, you frantically trying to stop the bleeding, praying with every breath your dog pulls through. Only to hear the last breath they will ever take leave their body. Get that picture firmly in your head because that’s what Shana Burke was enduring on March 12, 2008 in her backyard.
Shana called her husband at work frantic and screaming into the phone that Gage had been shot. Upon arriving home Britt Burke’s neighbor was said to have told him, “Sorry I had to shoot your dog.”
Upon looking at the evidence Britt Burke says, “Gage was dead on our side of the fence, shot through the neck, collar blown off and blood was everywhere. He did not die instantly, for my wife was holding him, trying to stop the bleeding as he breathed his last breath. He was shot at close quarters; the shotgun wadding did not separate from the shot before it entered Gage. Gage was burned from the blast. The fence was not hit from the blast.”
The neighbor said he had seen a snake (the temperature outside was 45 degrees) and he was going to kill it. So he went inside to get his shotgun. According to the man this is when Gage jumped the fence and then went back over the fence into his own yard and this “scared” the man so badly that he shot Gage.
Britt Burke goes on to say, “There were suspicious marks on the back side of his collar that led me to believe either before or after Mr. Stanfill shot him he tried to pull Gage over the fence to his yard to try to prove his story that Gage had jumped the fence. No one gets that close to an animal that they are “scared” of. They would shoot from a distance.”
The Burke family is on a mission. The mission, get justice for Gage and bring attention to animal cruelty. They have stated they do not want money but instead what justice. They want to see the right thing done.
I said this story touched me. That it was personal for me. I imagined what would I do if Angel, Honey or Patch was shot like this. What would I feel? I sat for what seemed like an hour pondering these questions. My heart felt empty, my anger started to boil, my eyes were pouring tears and well, I think you get the picture. Hit hurt. Not only because I thought about what if this were my dog but for the Burke family. I understand their bond. I’m sure you understand their bond also.
Gage was not just a dog to the Burke family. He was their boy, their Pit Bull, a part of their family.
Due to the whole situation the neighbor is using the legal system to tie up the Burke family and it’s taking it’s toll on the family. I would like to ask for your help. Not tomorrow, not 2 days from now, but today. This moment, I would like to ask that you step up to the plate and show your support for the Burke family by visiting their web site.
You can visit their web site Justice for Gage by clicking here.
You can help get justice for Gage and other victims of animal cruelty by acting. Action speaks louder than words and to not take action is a shame.
Visit the site, read Gage’s story, meet the Burke family, and make an effort to show your support and help out.
Again you can visit their web site Justice for Gage by clicking here.
Pit Bulls are being hurt, killed, and tortured simply for being Pit Bulls. They are one of the most abused breeds in our country and I would go so far as to say the world. Help get justice for Gage and help our breed. The man who murdered Gage should pay the piper and be held responsible for his actions. The senseless murder of a family member can not go unchallenged or unheard.
I want to thank you for your time, your support for Pit Bull Lovers and for reading this today. Take action right now don’t wait or put it off. Go to the site and show your support.
Best Regards,
Jason Mann
The Most Complete Pit Bull Information Web Site Online
Categories: Pit Bull Blog |
13 Comments
June 10th, 2008
I received an email today brining to my attention a refreshing story about Pit Bull bans. The Dutch government banned Pit Bulls in 1993. While it has taken 15 years they are lifting the ban in favor of owner education and enforcing current leashing laws.
15 years after they banned the breed or any cross/mix there of they have stated, it will lift a long-standing ban on pit bulls because it did not lead to any decrease in bite incidents,
Common knowledge to those of us who keep up with such bans, this revelation is a nice change from the folks who continue to believe banning an entire breed or type of dog will help with the over whelming dog bite problem we face here in the United States.
I find it funny how law makers are so quick to ban Pit Bulls or pit bull type dogs and ignore the fact that American Cocker Spaniels, according to statistics, are the number one biting dog in America. I guess we should ban them as well. No, I don’t really think we should ban any breed but I have to wonder why law makers (votes, votes, votes) make laws against our breed.
Wake up Ohio (considering a statewide ban bill # 58) and Denver (hate mongering ignorant retards). Bans, DO NOT work, WILL NEVER WORK, because you can not ban the stupidity of the human race.
I say good work to the Dutch for realizing their mistake and correcting it to focus on realistic problems.
For more on this story visit: Netherlands Will Lift Ban on Pit Bulls Saying, No Decrease in Bites.
Best Regards,
Jason Mann
The Most Complete Pit Bull Web Site Online
Author – The Pit Bull Training Handbook
Categories: Pit Bull Blog |
1 Comment
June 4th, 2008
You’ve probably heard about the new bill being tossed around in Ohio. According to the bill the total ban of Pit Bulls/Pit Bull type dogs would be a statewide affair. Dogs suspected of being Pit Bulls would be taken from their owners and put to sleep within 10 days of being seized.
What to do, what to do…
Well first off you can start by going to the following web site and letting your voice be heard. Click here to visit the site.
There you will find a copy of the bill along with some more information about who to contact with your concerns as well.
Or if you’re like me and do not want to wait you can go click here to find committee members to contact.
You can also contact Governor Ted Strickland about this proposed Pit Bull Ban by clicking here.
Whatever you do don’t sit on your hands and think, “This won’t bother me. I live in (insert state you live in here).” Breed Specific Legislation causes all of us grief. One state does it, some other moron state does it, and yet another does it, soon it will be right in your lap and you’ll be flopping around like a freshly caught Trout trying to figure out what to do.
Stop BSL. Stop Ignorance. Even if you only write a short letter to someone that is better than no action at all.
Best Regards,
Jason Mann
The Most Complete Pit Bull Information Web Site Online
Categories: Pit Bull Blog |
3 Comments
June 2nd, 2008
Hello,
I have not posted in a long time. I’ve been incredibly busy these days and sadly the blog entries suffered because of that. Do not worry though because I will be back to making regular posts very soon. For now I wanted to share yet another gem of an email I received from a guy named Dennis.
Dennis, unbeknownst to little ole’ me is an authority of statistics in regards to our breed. Sorry for the sarcasm but really, this email is one of my all time favorites for many reasons, one of those being his Harvard like use of grammar.
Dennis writes: ” the pit bull dog is the most dangerous dog in the united states if not in the world it is unpredictable animal in the united states .in some cities in the united states it is banned cities who have pit bull owners about 97% dont obay the pit bull dog rules in their city i know my neighbor doesnt but lests that bastuard run loose even with a foot chain fence it will or can jump it. Dennis”
In all seriousness though Dennis is a swatch of what we face as Pit Bull owners. He is not only completely ignorant about the breed, he can not even write the English language well. Yet his vote could sway a law making body to ban or restrict our breed. I don’t know about you but that worries me.
I replied to Dennis with as nice of an email as I could muster after reading garbage all day and dealing with Pit Bull owners almost as clueless as Dennis. Yes, I said Pit Bull owners who are almost as clueless as Dennis. I receive an average of 20-30 owner emails per day and more than half are filled with questions like…
“Jason, my dog ate some hamburger, will he attack me because he has a taste for blood now?” Signed, clueless owner.
Ridiculous you say? Nope. They get worse. I’ll spare you for now though.
What is the point of this post? Well I’m glad you finally asked. The point is…
People are stupid. Yet they continue to blame a dog for people’s stupidity. I’ll never understand it. I have dealt with Pit Bull opponents that are hell bent on banning/destroying our breed and I have dealt with the most well meaning clueless Pit Bull owner out there. People’s ability to constantly screw up something that was fine to begin with will never cease to amaze me.
Stupidity is on both sides of the breed. From fanciers to hang’em high opponents. How we deal with these people will dictate how our breed develops into the future.
Hopefully I’ll be able to post again soon. Thanks for your support. We appreciate it tremendously.
Best Regards,
Jason Mann
The Most Complete Pit Bull Information Web Site Online
Author of The Pit Bull Training Handbook
Categories: Pit Bull Blog |
6 Comments
