Washington Votes Forum

 Just abolish this whole stupid law.

To be useful, legislation must be effective, enforceable, economical, and reasonably fair. Recently, a resolution has been placed before you that fails all of these tests. This legislation is motivated by fear and lack of relevant knowledge. It is discriminatory, impractical, and unenforceable. Worst of all, it will not solve the problem. I urge you to vote against it.

The Wolf Dog is no more dangerous than any other large breed.  Every dog of any breed and of any size has the potential to be dangerous, it is only in the hands of humans that dogs become what their owners put into them.  It is the responsibility of every dog owner, large or small, purebred or mixed mutt, to make sure their dogs are well socialized, properly trained, and model canine citizens.

I know wolf dogs that are licenced Service dogs, Registered Therapy dogs, even Search and Rescue dogs.  I even know one that has her own pet gerbil.  She packs this gerbil around in her mouth, plays with her, grooms her, makes sure she is cared for.  I myself am an owner of two dogs of possible wolf decent.  I rescued both from differing situations, so actual genealogy can not be proven one way or another.  Both of my boys are loving, playful, cuddly, and as well behaved and friendly as my Purebred Siberian Huskies and Labrador that they spend their days with.  In light of these facts I must urge you to take the following actions:

1. Reject the current legislation, which is contrary to fact and distracts from the real issue: responsible ownership.

2. Work to establish reasonable guidelines for responsible pet ownership, and encourage legislation that supports owner responsibility without reference to specific breeds.

Study after study shows that ANY dog, regardless of breed, will be whatever its owner makes of it....nothing more, nothing less. Owners can and should take responsibility for their pets. I suggest that the appropriate policy is "blame the owner, not the dog." If a dog attacks a person, the law should treat it as though the owner attacked that person.

Voting for this proposal as it stands will harm both the law abiding, responsible dog owners and the victims, but it won't solve anything.

I am sure the Senators mean well. They are just uneducated. The responsibility is on the owner of these dogs. NOT THIS BILL. I own a wolf -dog. He is the most loving family dog and his best friend is the cat and golden retriever. He has never had an aggressive moment. Wolf dogs are pack animals and therefore very family focused. My sister's 7 year old twins - who are afraid of all dogs will walk my wolf dog because he is so gentle. The owners must have a commitment to the special needs of a wolf dog. The challenge is the breeders who sell these dogs to the wrong homes. This is not specific to this breed. As I write this my dog is sleeping on the floor in my office with his cat. He sleeps at the foot of my bed every night and alerts if there is noise. These dogs are not guard dogs because they are very shy.

Some of the owners who think it is cool to have this type of dog are not responsible and here is your problem. I would support legislation placing more financial responsibly on retarded dog owners this should apply to all dog breeds.

I will be fighting this bill to not make it through the House. I ask all responsible wolf dog owners to call your district representative as we can stop this legislation before more uneducated lawmakers in Olympia make a bad law

Thank you!

Ms Stevens,

I was very sorry to hear of your vote to define wolf dogs as a “Dangerous wild animal”. Senate Bill 5383

In the past I believed that you had been a representative of your constituents. Apparently, that’s not the case.

I have been an owner of a variety of wolf-dogs for the last twenty years. I have never had more family oriented pets.

By nature wolf-dogs are non-aggressive, family oriented animals. These animals have had a presence in the Pacific Northwest

far longer than any special interest groups… (Wolf-dogs have had a documented presence in the Northwest since 1790’s).

With your broad brush vote to generalize and condemn a recognized linage, you’ve lost a long supporter.

It would be my humble opinion that the law makers of Washington have enough on their plate dealing with the budget crisis.

But once again you turn to enacting (safety) laws that are pure nonsense, non-enforceable bunk…

 A former Val Stevens support

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CURRENT STATUS OF WOLF-HYBRIDS: THE SENATE HAS PASSED 48/0 ON THE FOLLOWING HYBRID AMENDEMENT; TO BE HEARD BY THE “HOUSE” IN OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON BEGINNING JANUARY 2010

WASHINGTON’S PROPOSED BILL #5383:

SB 5383-S - DIGEST

(AS OF SENATE 2ND READING 3/3/2009)

Revises the definition of "potentially dangerous wild

animal" to include a wolf hybrid.

Allows a person in legal possession of a wolf-hybrid,

prior to the effective date of the act, and who is the legal

possessor of the animal to keep possession of the animal for

the remainder of the animal's life.

Authorizes an animal control authority or a law

enforcement officer to: (1) Immediately confiscate a wolfhybrid

under certain circumstances; and

(2) Euthanize a potentially dangerous wild animal only if

all known reasonable placement options, including relocation

to a wildlife sanctuary, are unavailable.