Posted On: April 27, 2004, 6:04 pm CDT

Posted By: Dawn Buxton Turin NY

My heart feels for Elijah's Family, but not all dogs are dangerous.
Owning a dog is as american as apple pie. I have 2 doberman's and they are as gentle as can be. They would sooner urinate on your feet than bit you. As a responsible dog owner I make sure that my dogs are licensed and vet check yearly and vaccinated. As a responsible dog owner I have spent a lot of money taking my dogs to obedience class and they have blue ribbions to prove it. I don't have children; however, my dogs are my children. Six years ago when I had to put my 14 year old doberman to sleep
it almost killed me. For a dog owner that is the worst thing they'll ever have to do. I'm a nurse and I have never had to care for a inpatient that had been bitten by a dog. However, we admit and treat patients all the time for cat bits. By passing Elija's law there will be an overwhelming amount of dog owner who will no longer be able to afford to own a dog. This will place an increased burdened on the SPCA and local pounds. Dogs will be abandoned and allowed to run and we will have problems with farrel dog like we do farrel cats. Who's going to pay to clean up that mess. Dog's are pack animals and allowed to run this could become and even greater problem.
As a pack they may begin killing livestock to survive. I know that I speak for dog owners all over. It would be less painful to stab me throught the heart as to take my dogs away. If this proposal is passed I will no longer be able to afford to keep my dogs. I live for my dogs without them life wouldn't be worth living. There has to be a better solution to this problem and not at the expense of Man's Best Friend.