gormenguast
02-18-2007, 07:39 PM
SCOOP QUIZ: What's the Difference Between a Pit Bull and a Chihuahua? (Don't Bother Asking These Three Idiots)
IRVINE, Calif. (USA) — Suddenly I don't feel so bad for thinking a Saluki is a type of motorcycle.
On Dec. 1, three men stole two "pit bulls" from a shelter, presumably with the intent to use them in a dog fighting ring. Before being arrested, the trio was informed that the pooches weren't pits; they were taco dogs.
Court TV reports that Kamyar Katouzian, 24, Mehrad Sepanjasa, 19, and Ariyo MacKay, 18, were perturbed when employees at a local PetSmart told them that they had a pair of Chihuahuas. The thieves demanded to speak with a veterinarian to get a second opinion.
"Of course he's a pitbull, you numbskull.
We found him in a pit, didn't we?"
A case of mistaken identity landed three dog thieves in jail this month.
(A second opinion? OK... They're Chihuahuas and you're a bunch of morons.)
The store's director, Lisa Morgenthaler describes the thieves' bewilderment: "They said, 'No way, it's a pit bull.' They didn't believe me."
Ms. Morgenthaler became suspicious, believing that she recognized the two pups from an Irvine Animal Shelter flier that described two stolen dogs with microchip identification tags implanted.
Two days later when the men returned to the clinic with the dogs for vaccinations, Ms. Morgenthaler was prepared. She describes: "We said we were going to take them into the back to cut their nails and take their temperatures, and we called the police. It was pretty scary."
Katouzian, Sepanjasa and MacKay were arrested moments later and charged with receiving stolen property, according to an Orange County court clerk.
"They thought they were stealing pit bulls," says Ms. Morgenthaler. "These guys are idiots."
EXTRA CREDIT:
What's the Difference Between a Pit Bull and a Staffordshire Terrier?
The difference is that "pit bulls" are generally associated with attacks, maulings, murder, mayhem and plots to assassinate the Pope. The rest of the time, newspapers simply call them Staffies.
In recent years, the term "pit bull" has become a sensational epithet designed to terrorize an already paranoid public. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Ed. (2000), defines:
pit bull, n. 1. See American Staffordshire Terrier. 2. Slang One who behaves in a markedly aggressive or ruthless manner.
Staffordshire Terrier
Pit Bull
Even worse, the phrase is no longer limited to one breed of dog but now generally applies to any short-haired, stocky pooch with a brick-shaped head. Often caught in the mix are Boxers, Bulldogs, mixed-breed Labradors ...and Chihuahuas, evidently.
And drug dealers are not the only ones who are confused. Just wait until you read what some recent lawmakers are calling a "pit bull"...
Maryland's proposed HB567 listed all of the following animals as pit bulls: "American Bulldog, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or any dog of mixed breed that exhibits the physical characteristics of any of these breeds more than any other breed." 1
Chihuahuas, Bulldogs and things that look like Chihuahuas and Bulldogs have been called "pit bulls" by people who don't know better..
The Maryland breed ban was voted down by a narrow margin last year, and for the moment, common sense prevailed: dogs should be judged by temperament, not by name or appearance.
Of the 50 United States, 49 currently avoid singling out races. Ohio is the exception. Even so, breed specific legislation continues to crop up and is enforced on municipal levels all over America. (We won't even mention Europe and other places, where it's definitely not wise to resemble a pit bull, Rottweiler or in some cases German Shepherd in public.)
"Ohio—the only state in the nation with a breed-specific dangerous dog law—labels all 'pit bull dogs' (including some AKC bull breeds) to be vicious, regardless of how loving and obedient they may be."
American Kennel Club,
"Ohio Ban Threatens Responsible Dog Owners" 2
Short-haired, stocky, brick-headed dogs should be on the alert in the following states:
OHIO - Revised Code Chapter 955.11 was the first state legislation to declare that any dog who "belongs to a breed that is commonly known as a pit bull dog" is "vicious" and shall be treated accordingly. (A)(4)(a)(iii)
NEW JERSEY - Bill A2906 (pending) targets Rottweilers as well as "pit bull type dogs" and would require the dog's guardian "to provide proof that the dog is not a pit bull." (Section 3. c. (1))
IRVINE, Calif. (USA) — Suddenly I don't feel so bad for thinking a Saluki is a type of motorcycle.
On Dec. 1, three men stole two "pit bulls" from a shelter, presumably with the intent to use them in a dog fighting ring. Before being arrested, the trio was informed that the pooches weren't pits; they were taco dogs.
Court TV reports that Kamyar Katouzian, 24, Mehrad Sepanjasa, 19, and Ariyo MacKay, 18, were perturbed when employees at a local PetSmart told them that they had a pair of Chihuahuas. The thieves demanded to speak with a veterinarian to get a second opinion.
"Of course he's a pitbull, you numbskull.
We found him in a pit, didn't we?"
A case of mistaken identity landed three dog thieves in jail this month.
(A second opinion? OK... They're Chihuahuas and you're a bunch of morons.)
The store's director, Lisa Morgenthaler describes the thieves' bewilderment: "They said, 'No way, it's a pit bull.' They didn't believe me."
Ms. Morgenthaler became suspicious, believing that she recognized the two pups from an Irvine Animal Shelter flier that described two stolen dogs with microchip identification tags implanted.
Two days later when the men returned to the clinic with the dogs for vaccinations, Ms. Morgenthaler was prepared. She describes: "We said we were going to take them into the back to cut their nails and take their temperatures, and we called the police. It was pretty scary."
Katouzian, Sepanjasa and MacKay were arrested moments later and charged with receiving stolen property, according to an Orange County court clerk.
"They thought they were stealing pit bulls," says Ms. Morgenthaler. "These guys are idiots."
EXTRA CREDIT:
What's the Difference Between a Pit Bull and a Staffordshire Terrier?
The difference is that "pit bulls" are generally associated with attacks, maulings, murder, mayhem and plots to assassinate the Pope. The rest of the time, newspapers simply call them Staffies.
In recent years, the term "pit bull" has become a sensational epithet designed to terrorize an already paranoid public. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Ed. (2000), defines:
pit bull, n. 1. See American Staffordshire Terrier. 2. Slang One who behaves in a markedly aggressive or ruthless manner.
Staffordshire Terrier
Pit Bull
Even worse, the phrase is no longer limited to one breed of dog but now generally applies to any short-haired, stocky pooch with a brick-shaped head. Often caught in the mix are Boxers, Bulldogs, mixed-breed Labradors ...and Chihuahuas, evidently.
And drug dealers are not the only ones who are confused. Just wait until you read what some recent lawmakers are calling a "pit bull"...
Maryland's proposed HB567 listed all of the following animals as pit bulls: "American Bulldog, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or any dog of mixed breed that exhibits the physical characteristics of any of these breeds more than any other breed." 1
Chihuahuas, Bulldogs and things that look like Chihuahuas and Bulldogs have been called "pit bulls" by people who don't know better..
The Maryland breed ban was voted down by a narrow margin last year, and for the moment, common sense prevailed: dogs should be judged by temperament, not by name or appearance.
Of the 50 United States, 49 currently avoid singling out races. Ohio is the exception. Even so, breed specific legislation continues to crop up and is enforced on municipal levels all over America. (We won't even mention Europe and other places, where it's definitely not wise to resemble a pit bull, Rottweiler or in some cases German Shepherd in public.)
"Ohio—the only state in the nation with a breed-specific dangerous dog law—labels all 'pit bull dogs' (including some AKC bull breeds) to be vicious, regardless of how loving and obedient they may be."
American Kennel Club,
"Ohio Ban Threatens Responsible Dog Owners" 2
Short-haired, stocky, brick-headed dogs should be on the alert in the following states:
OHIO - Revised Code Chapter 955.11 was the first state legislation to declare that any dog who "belongs to a breed that is commonly known as a pit bull dog" is "vicious" and shall be treated accordingly. (A)(4)(a)(iii)
NEW JERSEY - Bill A2906 (pending) targets Rottweilers as well as "pit bull type dogs" and would require the dog's guardian "to provide proof that the dog is not a pit bull." (Section 3. c. (1))