Louisiana Family Fights to Save Pit Bull From Town’s ‘Vicious Dog’ Ordinance

Pit Bulls are likely the most misunderstood dogs known to man. Because these breeds are targeted by cruel owners for use in dog fighting rings, they are all assigned the label of “vicious” and “aggressive,” regardless of their true nature. Pit Bulls are notoriously loyal and loving dogs who are wrongly feared and sadly, victimized by Breed-Specific Legislation. This sort of legislation can ban guardians from keeping certain dog breeds as pets. Often this legislation is passed under the guise of neighborhood “safety” concerns, despite the blaring evidence that these laws are ineffective and enacting them plays zero role in lowering instance of dog bites.

When Breed-Specific Legislation (BSL) is passed in a municipality, either the guardians have to find a new home for their beloved pets, or the dogs are impounded by the local government. In the case of the latter, the fate of the dogs is largely unknown. In some instances they will be sent to shelters. Given the fact that Pit Bulls in shelters have a euthanasia rate of a staggering 93 percent, BSL appears to be a cruel, systematic way to kill innocent animals.

Moreauville, Louisiana passed a “vicious dog” ordinance this past October and families with “vicious dogs” (i.e. Pit Bulls and Rottweilers), are being forced to give up their four-legged family members by December 1. While this is devastating news for all families who have to give up their dogs, one particular family is fighting back. Joanna Armand has launched an online petition to protect her family’s Pit Bull, Zeus, and many other dogs from this cruel law.

Not only is Zeus far from a “vicious” animal, but he also acts as a therapy dog for Armand’s daughter, O’Hara, who suffers from a severe neck injury and uses a wheelchair and Halo brace. Zeus sleeps with her at night and wakes up her mother if she has a seizure or is in pain in anyway. Without Zeus, O’Hara’s life would be incredibly difficult.

“If anything ever happened to him, I would just shut down,” says O’Hara.

According to Alderman Penn Lemoine, the ordinance was passed to appease residents who felt the town was being overrun by “these dogs.” In an interview with Washington Times, Lemoine said he would “rather not elaborate” on whether or not the dogs would be killed once they are impounded. If that doesn’t sound like plain-old animal bigotry, we don’t know what does.

Armand’s petition to repeal this senseless, harmful legislation has garnered 166,403,000 signatures so far and has the goal to reach 175,000. Lemoine says the town will consider reversing the ban if there is enough of an outcry from the public. The next council meeting will be held December 8th, so action to protect the dogs of Moreauville is needed as soon as possible! You can help getting this cruel ordinance repealed by joining Armand and signing the petition, here.

To follow news about the ordinance, like the Saving Zeus Facebook page.

Image source: Saving Zeus/Facebook