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(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.
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Staffordshire Terrier
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Pit Bull
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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"...
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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..
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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.)
Short-haired, stocky, brick-headed dogs should be on the alert in
the following states:
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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)
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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))
So here's some advice to Terriers, Bulldogs and mutts passing
through Ohio and Jersey:
Just tell them you're a Chihuahua.
§§§
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