Quote:
Originally Posted by polak
I said earlier in this thread there should be proper licensing for dogs. That'd be better than a ban but people are unwilling to do it so they go with the easier, less expensive option.
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Are they? I don't recall the possibility of dog licensing ever being raised in Calgary.
Here's the process we went through to get a dog from a rescue organization:
- Filled out a lengthy online form (took about 1 hour), including answering detailed questions about our living arrangements, dog training, and how we would respond to various scenarios.
- Had a follow-up phone interview with someone from the rescue organization that lasted about 30 minutes, and asked questions about how we would address a series of problems (destructiveness, biting, barking, etc.) with a dog.
- Went to a location to meet the dog and speak with the dog's foster parent. They watched us and our kids closely while we played with the dog.
- If you make it through all those steps, that means you've beaten out several (in the cast of our last dog, almost a dozen) other potential adoptees.
- At this point, they do a home inspection. The look at your yard, your fencing, and examine every single room in your home (including closets and bathrooms).
- If your home passes muster, they leave the dog with you overnight.
- If the overnight goes well, you can adopt the dog (after paying for spaying/neuturing).
I have no problem with a similar system being set up to license dogs. The problem, of course, is how to stop illegal puppy mills from selling dogs to the kinds of d-bags who would disregard licensing (who it's safe to say have a large overlap with the kinds of d-bags who raise savage dogs). At that point, it's a matter of enforcement. Which is costly. And that's probably why the city hasn't tried to introduce mandatory dog licensing. Easier just to ban one breed and give the impression that you're trying to do something (even though you know it will be ineffective). This is all optics.