There was some good news that came out of the controversial Farm Bill that the U.S. Senate recently passed. That is anyone who knowingly attends an organized animal fight will face penalties of Federal law. In this case, up to one year in prison for the violators. In addition, if anyone brings a child to participate in the viewing of these horrific events, the time spent in jail increases up to a possible three years. This includes cock fights, dog fights, any organized event where animals are pitted against each other. Score one for humanity!
The Farm Bill itself is a piece of U.S. Federal Legislation which is renewable every five years. But in the case of the additional penalties for animal fighting spectators, these are now permanently added to the already established Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, and rightfully so.
Abusers who use animals for blood sports impose a Karmic strike against themselves. Probably multiple strikes. (One would hope.) It’s a start that at least one new Federal law in 2014 has been passed to help protect these animals from the ground level. But we need more. Cruelty to animals and to each other is anything but acceptable, and human beings need to work on changing how we treat each other, the animals on the planet, and Mother Earth, Herself.
Pit Bull Hazel Schmid Nanan of Your Pit Bull and You. Photo courtesy of Lori Schmid Nanan.
Though any breed of dog can be brought into the dog-fighting nightmare to be used as bait dogs, the Pit Bull is usually targeted as the breed of choice that dog-fighting sickos use and abuse for the main event. In and around town, Pit Bulls are generally seen wearing pinch collars, choke chains, and sometimes to the extreme, heavy linked chains that were never meant to be on any animal.
But here is what a Pit Bull should look like. Smiling, trusting, and even wearing a colorful bandana that announces she was Trained Force Free.
This is Hazel, who is a super star Pittie from one of the founders of the organization, Your Pit Bull and You. The YPBY Facebook page is full of positive reinforcement training tips, engaging comments where YPBY members share their Pittie stories and pictures, and feel-good posts about everything Pit Bull and the way they should be recognized, as loving, intelligent, force-free trainable family members. I highly recommend popping over there and clicking on the YBPY like button.
Your Pit Bull and You also has a fabulous website, which is also worth your time and attention. Even if you aren’t a Pit Bull owner, you’ll learn lots from them and if you don’t already, you’ll feel really good about the Pit Bull breed because YPBY is run by people who are Pit Bull parents and understand behavioral science and how to apply it. And they’re dog training friends of mine!
Those of us who are getting that top-knotch Academy For Dog Trainers education are putting our know-how to good use in many ways, and the YPBY founders and trainers, Lori Schmid Nanan and Kelly Shutt-Cottrell are breaking ground to change the way Pit Bulls are trained and regarded in society. Brava!
By Helen Verte
Certified Pet Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed, Certified Trick Dog Instructor
A Your Pit Bull and You Fan
