The timeliness of the Canine Legislation Conference 2007 hosted by the Kansas City Dog Advocates in Missouri couldn’t be better.
by Denise LeBeau, Best Friends2007 is the year animal law is becoming part of the popular consciousness. From star athletes from the streets, to ten year olds from suburban homes there seems to be more national coverage of animal issues everyday. Elected officials are taking notice, and they are part of the frontlines that includes Animal Control Officers, lawyers, grassroots animal advocates & rescues to help strengthen the laws that protect them. A broad spectrum of these dedicated leaders were present at the
CLC Conference. The Keynote Speaker was Russ Mead, the General Counsel for Best Friends. He has fought tirelessly on behalf of animals in trouble across the country.
Mr. Mead kicked off the conference with a discussion on the importance of advocacy. He focused on seemingly small acts that can make a big difference: like gathering a few likeminded people and staging a rally. Such a rally caught the attention of the media and helped pass the Louisiana Pet Evacuation law following Katrina. He highlighted the importance of how each action should not be underestimated. From writing a legislator, to attending a protest, to fostering a pit bull, there is a ripple effect that leads to change! Mr. Mead was thanked after his segment by many people that felt overwhelmed by the number of animals in need, but felt validated that their work was important by his words.
While the title of the conference was Canine Legislation, the focus was clearly on breed specific legislation and how advocates can stop it or repeal it in their communities. There were presentations on key cities like Denver, Louisville, Kansas City and the recent Ohio Supreme Court decision that found that breed bans were constitutional. The Kansas City area has also been inundated with the number of breed bans that have passed or have begun to be enforced with rigor, making this an apropos place to hold this event.
Mr. Mead reflected these sentiments in summing up the conference, “This was a great opportunity for rescuers and other advocates to come together and talk about how they have been fighting BSL and trying to save pit bulls in their communities. We could discuss what has worked and what hasn’t to stop the high shelter intake and mercilessly high euthanasia rates for these great dogs. I was honored to meet so many people who work day in and day out to pull pits from shelters and the streets, and write, call and meet with legislators and others to fight BSL, often while holding down another job.”
Even with the number of challenges facing pit bull advocates today, there are some victories on their behalf. Midge Grinstead, the Executive Director from the Lawrence Humane Society, spoke about the effects of an anti-tethering ordinance that has resulted in a dramatic drop in complaints of cruelty and dog fighting! She also assuaged the apparent myth that pet owners will dump their dogs if they can’t chain them (opponents of anti-tethering laws bandy this about a lot)! There was not a spike in dogs being dumped at their shelter, nor, was there an increase of dogs being dumped at shelters in Wichita which also has a similar law. Ms. Grinstead works with the pet owners of her community on alternatives to chaining and this is another way to strengthen the communication between pet owners and the authorities that govern them.
Another speaker and proponent of the anti-tethering movement (the woman who put it on the map) was Tammy Grimes. She has said repeatedly, that it comes down to the laws. The laws must reflect society’s wishes, and society has stated loud and clear that we want companion animals to be part of the family, not just for safety’s sake, but for our sake.
Tio Hardiman, the Director of Gang Mediation and Community Organizing at Cease Fire of Chicago, and a Best Friends partner, was also on hand to tout the importance of education and awareness, especially to the younger generations. He’s been working on the streets of that hardened city to try and reach kids before it is too late – to help teach them empathy and compassion for all living things. He engages kids in a dialogue that is lacking in their lives and gets them to think about their actions and attitudes, he also knows what it’s like to be them. This will surely be a winning combination to help kids and animals at risk.
Last but certainly not least, the guests of honor included pit bull ambassadors or ambassadogs! These happy hounds are a must to help improve the image of the pit bulls. There were fun demonstrations on what these dogs can do, like showing off their skills on the Frisbee field, and brought a fun twist to a serious conference.
With the help of organizations, individuals, and gatherings such as the Canine Legislation Conference 2007, our legislators will continue to vote for laws that will bring about a safer and kinder nation for all its members. Animals are not just property, nuisances or disposable and it’s time the laws reflected it!
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