To whom it may concern;
My name is Kelsey Coutts and I've been a resident in the Parksville area since I was 11, so about 13 years.
I'd like to introduce my just-turned-1-year-old Blue Nose Staffordshire PitBull Terrier, MJ.
MJ loves snugging, swimming, running, playing fetch, tussling with other dogs, learning new tricks, going for long walks, and of course treats. When MJ meets new little dogs, or children, he lays on the ground to get as small and close to their size as possible, which is nearly impossible for all of his 70lbs, but adorable none-the-less. When he meets other big dogs, he is pure wiggles. Nothing makes him happier than getting to run as fast as he can with another dog of his speed, jumping over each other's backs, and wrestling each other to the ground in heaps of drool.
As a dog owner, I realize the extreme importance of constant socialization and contact for MJ, from all other creatures, which is why my boyfriend and I were looking forward to the time we would get to spend at the public dog park, running him.
I have been growing a pretty thick skin for the last little while. I'm getting used to fathers literally picking their daughter's up by the arm to move off the same side of street as me and my dog, getting used to the dirty looks I get when my dog cries because someone else's dog is FREAKING OUT, I'm getting used to a lot of things I had never experienced as a dog owner before; But one thing I was not prepared for in the least was the blatant discrimination against this breed and similar breeds to the extent that it is, being supported by town council. I could hardly believe my eyes as I read the public dog park rules.
"No vicious Dog Breeds"
My first thought obviously, who the hell decides what BREED is vicious? Is it fair for me to assume that all of those sitting on town council are racists or homophobes, because a past council member may have had an issue?
I had believed us to be a much more advanced species, but instead apparently we're still demonizing breeds based on separate cases in the breed. I believe even a bad tempered dog needs socialization (maybe more, perhaps), and it is the responsibility of the owner to take the necessary actions to keep their dog secure, and comfortable, as well as the people around them, and in this respect I do understand the "vicious dog" muzzling/dog park bylaw.... but for "vicious dogs".
MJ is not a vicious dog because he was born a Pitbull.
I am not on welfare because I was born Irish, nor am I an alcoholic because I was born Carrier.
How simple would it be to create a "bully breed" dog park for friendly bully breeds? How much funding would it really take to put up another row of fences? Our large breed dogs are not going to be socialized without the chance for socialization. I'm not talking about a dog park for the vicious, crazy, blood thirsty individual dogs of our town, I'm talking a dog park with the SAME rules as the dog parks we have now, but with no discrimination against breed.
MJ is not my first time dog.
For years I had a Shihtzu Maltese cross, a tiny black little bundle of adorable. My Shihtzu Maltese did not like other dogs. He did not like people very much, and he did not like children especially. It blows my mind constantly comparing my role as a owner, and how people react towards these two dogs- a 70lb who would harm not a single thing, a 5lb who had anxiety and would rather be left alone, and would get nippy if he was not left alone.
I ask Parksville to reconsider it's "vicious dog" ideas, and re-categorize "vicious dogs" properly. Demonizing a breed will do nothing but make the breed more attractive still for the wrong people.
As any dog trainer would be happy to tell you, It's never the dog breed, it's the way he's treated.
Thank you, Best regards
Kelsey
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