by Dave McKague

The pursuit of some measure of security and happiness is for every person a vital quest. Because of the relationships we have with others, their actions can either aid or impede our own survival and happiness. This is why morality, honesty, decency and integrity are still important, despite what some might have you believe.

It is especially vital that those in positions of authority and power exercise sound judgment, as their decisions can impact on so many others. When the Ontario government passed the Dog Owners’ Liability Act, it did so ignoring the facts and thus created hardship for untold numbers of pet owners and their dogs.

Declaring that all "pit-bulls" are dangerous, as the Ontario government has done, is patently false. And it is false because our lawmakers have substituted a generality for any real observation or thinking. Imagine the outcry if they had tried the same with humans. "[insert Race here] are inferior." "[insert Religion here] are fanatics." "[insert Nationality here] are terrorists." Yet that is exactly what they have done with our canine friends.

It is a very unhappy fact that the Humane Society has been inundated with "pit bull" type dogs since the passage of this act. Owning a dog such as Hunny in the wake of such a law has its own potential problems and pitfalls, making it extremely difficult to find homes for these animals in the current politically unfavorable climate. And let’s face it, it is not likely to be the criminals or irresponsible dog owners (who should have been the real target of our lawmakers) who will give up their dogs, but the responsible owners who feel they cannot cope with the onerous demands of the legislation or the social ostracism that potentially comes from owning a "pit bull." As a result, many innocent dogs have been euthanized.

Once thinking has been subverted by prejudice and false information, it is not too much of a step to go the way Denver, Colorado has in being able to cause a lot of misery to a minority population; since they have enacted similar legislation over 1,000 "pit-bulls" have been seized from their homes and destroyed.

In The Way to Happiness, L. Ron Hubbard gives us some guidelines to improve our chances of achieving harmonious relationships and happiness. One of the points made is "Seek to live with the truth."

The truth is that one should be cautious with any dog one doesn’t know. All dogs can bite. Some dogs are extremely territorial and protective; others are not. Some will cower to a threat; others will react aggressively. Most dogs are simply companions to their owners; a very small percentage are brutalized and trained to be aggressive. Breed, like race, has nothing to do with it.

Prejudice and bias are born in ignorance and can only flourish in the absence of true data. It should be the function of our lawmakers to help dispel lies and myths and not to promulgate them. And if you are a pet owner, be aware that the precedent has already been set … "[insert Breed here] are dangerous and hereby banned" might find you and your pet in the dog-catcher’s net.