Activists: Don’t blame breeds

To the carpenters and construction workers who build homes in Grass Valley’s Morgan Ranch subdivision, Atlas the pit bull is simply a good friend.

Atlas’ owner, Gary Marques, purchased the 60-pound dog for $60 and a truckload of firewood when Atlas was just a pup.

“It’s probably the best investment I’ve ever made in my life,” said Marques, whose co-workers have come to expect the 13-year-old dog’s presence at the job site.

So Marques and local animal activists were taken aback this week when San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom suggested changing state law so that cities and counties could restrict or ban certain dog breeds.

Newsom’s lobbying stems from the June 3 death of a 12-year-old San Francisco boy was mauled by one of his family’s pit bulls, but his idea of limiting such breeds has some animal lovers concerned the mayor might be directing his anger at the wrong party.

“I don’t think you see any more (aggression) out of pit bulls than other breeds,” said Anna Drummond, who runs the Pet Adoption League that helps place animals with owners through an extensive screening process.

“The dogs are highly intelligent and very loyal dogs, and sometimes people can use that for negative purposes.”

Drummond said owners sometimes use pit bulls’ loyalty to make them fierce guard dogs.

Drummond and others who work to adopt or house animals in shelters agree that a dog’s upbringing is crucial to how they’ll behave as they grow.

“In my opinion, there are no specific dogs prone to violence. A lot of people want to say it’s the breed of dog that matters, but it has to do with how they’re raised and how they’re treated,” she said. “It’s the same way with raising people.”

The Humane Society of the United States officially opposes “legislation aimed at eradicating or strictly regulating dogs based solely on their breed.” The society noted in its online statement that various breeds of dogs have been targeted for restriction over the years, including Rottweiler and Doberman pinscher breeds.

Raising a respectful animal, animal advocates say, involves giving them plenty of space and treating them with kindness, as well as spaying or neutering them.

“It’s very hard to blame the breed when the problem may very well be human related,” said Jean Shannon, a board member of the Golden Empire Humane Society.

“We’re very mindful in adopting animals out to be sure that they’re going to a place where the dog will be treated for and cared for appropriately.”

Grass Valley City Councilwoman Patti Ingram, while not speaking for the entire council, said restricting breeds would be a tough sell in western Nevada County.

“I personally can’t see that (restricting breeds) can take place here,” she said. Regulating the kinds of dogs people have within the city limits could lead to unreasonable regulations of other personal property, she said.

Marques, who has owned Dobermans in the past, said his dog Atlas is gentle simply because that’s the way he was raised.

“I understand what people are afraid of,” Marques said, “and that they’re a powerful breed, but I never allowed him to be treated as this macho animal. All he knows is the will to serve and be loyal.”

<I>To contact staff writer David Mirhadi, e-mail davidm@theunion.com or call 477-4229.</I>

What Are Pit Bulls?

Pitbulls are known for their strength and stamina. Though the American Kennel Club doesn’t officially recognize pit bulls as a breed, they are often classified as bull terriers. There are several different types, including Staffordshire bull terriers.

<I>Source: American Kennel Club</I>