Monday, May 9, 2011

Proud To Be A Canine Good Citizen

We adopted Astrid on December 28, 2006 and that following May we moved to Charlotte, NC. At that point, I was totally unfamiliar with BSL - Breed Specific Legislation. When it comes to BSL and a dog's temperament, there are all kinds of opinions out there but the facts are that a dog's temperment is determined by the nurturing and training methods used. 

I quickly became aware of Breed Specific Legislation when we were denied insurance for the house we rented while looking for the home we wanted to buy. Astrid had been labeled a Rottweiler at the shelter and Rottweilers were discriminated against by our first choice of insurance companies. Being unaware of the magnitude of the BSL issue, I didn't take it seriously at that point but started to do a little research. Turned out, BSL is everywhere usually starting out with a dog bite incident that is sensationalized by the media spreading fear throughout a community. 

Immediately, Astrid and I took action. Yes, we absolutely understood that Astrid will be judged by her color. Even though she is a mix of 'who knows what' and about 20 to 60 pounds lighter that a Rottweiler...she will be labeled such because of her black with brown markings. Our very first course of action was to show that Astrid and most Rottweilers are good companions and community members. We discovered the AKC Canine Good Citizen  program and learned the requirements. Having fun with the training required, that following year Astrid became an AKC Canine Good Citizen proving that she meets the program's standards for being a good member of her family and community.

An excellent, common sense approach to the dangers of Breed Specific Legislation can be found at 'NO BUTS ABOUT BSL...Stand Up & Help Stop Breed Discrmination.

Many dogs sport the same colors. Here's just a few that show a striking resemblence to Astrid's own colors...and no, that last picture is not Astrid. It appears to be that wonderful breed called 'All Mixed Up'.










3 comments:

Unknown said...

This is all so true..and Astrid was so lucky to have been adopted by you and given a second chance.

selena bell said...

omg my dog is an identical match to astrid her name is dori! i have hunted everywhere for what type she is! but she is my baby! wishing u and astrid luck

Unknown said...

We found a litter on the side of the road and immediately picked them up. Two had the same color as astrid and one had a chocolate lab coat and color but blue eyes. The other two had white coats with brown speckeled all over but blue eyes. We wasn't sure what the two black and tan were intil they got older and we realised they had rottweler in them. We kept these two as they were brother and sister and Nobody wanted them. The male was bigger and really smart. The female not so much. We named them Joe and Zoe. When they got almost 3 Joe started having seizures and we took him to the vet snd they kept him for a week. Eventuallt we were told that he wasn't getting better and there was nothing else that could be done. We rnded up ittimg him down. This was the saddest day not just for us but also to his sister Zoe. We took Joe home and gave him a proper burial with his sister right there watching. It was tough gor a coule months and then we decided it was time to get Zoe a friend. Joker would be his name. He was blue healer/pitt mix. He to was 3 and a little more calm than Zoe. They are now inseperable. Joe lives on im Zoe.