Hi everyone, I've read many threads from this website for a long time now as a guest. However, since this whole nonsense from the Victorian government started, I've been frantically trolling the web to see what other owners in a similar predicament to mine are doing. Thanks so much to everyone. You all give me hope and I'm glad I'm not the only one disgusted by that "quacks like a duck" analogy. I have an American Staffy cross. His name is Kilo--his dad may have been a Staffy or Pitty X Mastif, really not sure, and his mum Brandy is an English Staff x Amstaff. So if this legislation ever came to play here in NSW I'd be in big trouble. I've put them both through obedience training and continue to train with Bark Busters who have been really great! They're now both desexed as well and I definitely think of myself as a responsible owner and agree that owners SHOULD be punished for and if their dogs step out of line. But just last weekend I was walking Kilo and a woman pushing a tram gave me the WORST death stare as she held her kids back from crossing paths with us. I told Kilo to sit and drop so that she could pass but that didn't stop her from turning around and giving me the evil eye. On the same day, a lady completely froze in her steps and asked me to quickly walk past because she was terrified. I've been finding younger kids usually come up and ask me if they can pat him and I let them, but sometimes older kids who may have been exposed to this media nonesense will start screaming (if they are girls) and moving back or will start yelling pit bull pit bull (if they are boys). It's all too sad and scary and I have no idea how people can justify BSL.
Just wondering, I was going through Facebook and noticed there hasn't been a page dedicated to this cause as yet (to overthrow or rethink the legislation in VIC)--if you guys are looking for a way to get media attention, this might be a great option especially since media outlets are now paying more and more notice to these kinds of things on Facebook...?
If ever my dogs would be put at risk of being confiscated by the council and put down, I too might become one of those crazy ladies on the news you hear about. Probably cuff myself to my dogs and threaten a hunger strike. :p
