I’m sickened that Ms. Herckner would use a positive article about a very deserving dog to turn it into something negative.
All dogs can bite, not just pit bulls. If you own a dog of any breed, be responsible. Leash your dog; train your dog. If your pet is not properly socialized, not vaccinated, not trained, then you are setting your dog up to fail.
I understand and respect other people’s opinions about all dogs, pit bulls included. That being said, I do advocate to change people’s minds. Aladdin and I work with many different organizations, State Farm being one of them, to help educate people about dogs to promote how powerful kindness can be. We visit classrooms all over and work with thousands of children without ever having an issue.
Yes, I very strongly believe that discrimination against a breed of dog is the same as discriminating against a race of a person. Breed-specific legislation is a result of fear, and because of this antiquated law, in certain cities beloved family pets have been ripped away from their families simply because of the way they look. This affects people from all walks of life: soldiers, doctors, professional athletes and blue collar people who love their pets. BSL is wrong — plain and simple. Each dog should be judged on its individual behavior. Amazing dogs waste away in the shelter because of uneducated people who support dogsbite.
If you are frightened of things you hear about any breed of dog, research reputable sources and educate yourself. While I appreciate your comments about Aladdin, Shannan, I strongly disagree with your opinions. You asked me not to stereotype, but that is exactly what you are doing. Everyone and everything deserves a chance before being judged for something they are not.
Michele Schaffer-Stevens
