Get tougher on dog owners, not breeds

Amy Mack's column Oct. 19 today hit the nail on the head when she addressed the issue of inadequate animal control laws.

My wife and I owned and trained Rottweilers for nearly 25 years. I have many friends who own pit bulls and pit bull breeds. I am also an obedience instructor at Northwest Obedience Club in Cary. I love well-behaved dogs.

Given my experience, I would say that Mack's column is right on the mark. We are now going to start hearing a clamor for breed-specific legislation. The breed is not the problem.

The problem is an irresponsible dog owner, an owner whose dog has already threatened people and bitten other dogs.

The first issue is putting more pressure on the owner of this dog to get it under control. If they can't control the dog at all times, it needs to be re-homed or put down.

McHenry's and Algonquin's response is that their hands are tied by the laws. Well, if the laws are not stringent enough, have the laws changed! It isn't as if you haven't already been put on notice that there's a problem in light of the dog-bite incident in Cary.

So what has changed since that incident? Apparently not much. Fining the owners sufficiently to get their attention, incarcerating the dog and/or owner, etc. can solve the problem.

I'm sorry, but once a dog threatens a human being we have been put on notice that there is an issue that needs to be addressed immediately.

Walter E. O'Brien

Dundee