Last April, a particular black and white pooch named Lucy escaped her yard and located herself within the care of Leawood, Kansas Animal Control. This on a regular basis incident set off a determined authorized battle that is still unresolved.
Even although Lucy’s mother, Kristi Bond, rushed to choose her up the next day, a letter from town of Leawood quickly arrived. They had deemed Lucy a “dangerous animal” as a result of she match the “appearance and characteristics” of a Pit Bull.
Photo by way of Kristi Bond/GoFundMe
The Battle Begins
The Bonds had three days to rehome Lucy, or she could be taken based mostly on Section 2-102 (okay) of Chapter 2 of the Leawood City Code, which defines “any pit bull dog, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, or any animal having the appearance or characteristics of being predominantly of the breeds” as a harmful animal.
When their three days have been up, an armed officer arrived on the Bond house to confiscate Lucy, however Kristi refused to provide her over. Instead, she turned to the courts, armed with a letter from her veterinarian declaring Lucy a “Boxer mix.” Unfortunately, the decide was not swayed and dominated on the facet of town.
But Bond refuses to surrender the combat. She is interesting the decide’s ruling on behalf of Lucy and all canine unfairly judged by the breed-specific laws. Her purpose is to have the ban revoked, and she or he has near 100 supporters backing her on GoFundMe.
Photo by way of Kristi Bond/GoFundMe
From Sick & Abandoned To Safe & Loved
Updates on the location describe how Lucy was adopted from a neighborhood shelter when she was 5-months-old. The pup had a tough begin to life. She was found in a crate inside an deserted house, frightened and affected by parvovirus. Lucy beat the chances and was quickly chosen to spend the remainder of her life with Bond and her 4 youngsters.
According to the GoFundMe web page, Leawood City Council won’t even put the breed ban challenge on the agenda for dialogue, regardless of group assist gathered by Bond. The fundraiser is “a last-ditch effort to pay for legal expertise for our hearings.”
The attraction listening to is ready for May and if issues don’t go effectively, Bond could contemplate shifting.
“I was like, ‘You know, what, I’d like to move somewhere where our taxpayer dollars are spent more effectively,’” she advised KSHB Kansas City. “Rather than bullying people who have a friendly family dog who they just don’t like the look of.”
Photo by way of Kristi Bond/GoFundMe
What Makes A “Dangerous Dog”?
According to Dr. Sadie Scott, president of the Kansas City Veterinarian Medical Association, breed bans are outdated and don’t make communities safer from canine bites. The legislation must assess canine on a case-by-case foundation moderately than portray them with a broad brush based mostly solely on bodily traits.
She identified three traits discovered to find out whether or not a canine is harmful:
- Love: Dogs saved exterior on a sequence with little human interplay usually tend to pose a risk than beloved pets which can be saved indoors.
- Spay/neuter standing: “Animals that are not spayed or neutered have a much higher propensity to cause dangerous bites,” Scott mentioned.
- Gender: Male canine are 5 instances extra more likely to trigger deadly bites.
Lucy has none of those components. Dr. Scott additionally factors out that even animal professionals fail to establish breed mixes based mostly on look alone.
“Most cases, 60% of the time, we’re wrong on Pit Bull breed,” she mentioned.
Photo by way of Kristi Bond/GoFundMe
In current years, a number of different Kansas cities have reversed their ineffective breed bans. Bond hopes Leawood will observe go well with. If not, she is prepared to relocate her household with a view to preserve Lucy house secure the place she belongs.
You can observe for updates or donate to the household’s trigger right here.
H/T to KSHB Kansas City
Featured Image by way of Kristi Bond/GoFundMe
