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ARLP response to the death of 7-year old Zach King
We at A Rotta Love Plus express our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Zachary King Jr., who was tragically killed in his home by the family’s pit bull. We cannot imagine what it must feel like to lose a young family member in such a tragic way, and we wish strength and peace upon those who are grieving the loss of their young son, grandson, nephew, cousin, and friend.
We are also saddened by the fact that this tragedy could have easily been prevented. With responsible dog ownership, education, and enforcement of existing laws, this attack would have never taken place. Dog attacks are not breed-specific; rather, they are a symptom of other problems, such as irresponsible ownership and a poorly educated community. A Rotta Love Plus has taken steps to combat these issues, such as rehoming abandoned pit bulls and other dogs in screened homes with educated owners who commit to obedience training; educating children in local schools on how to behave around dogs; and informing the community about the importance of enforcing existing dangerous dog legislation.
Minneapolis City Council Member Don Samuels, State Representative John Lesch, and others would like to ban pit bulls and other breeds from the state of Minnesota in order to prevent such attacks from happening again. We, along with Mr. Samuels and Rep Lesch, would like to prevent such attacks from happening again; however, we would like to prevent attacks by ALL breeds of dogs, not just the five listed in Lesch’s proposed ban.
Banning certain dogs from the state of Minnesota will not address the cause of dog attacks, which is irresponsible pet ownership. We would like to work with Rep. Lesch and Mr. Samuels in order to forge a solution that will protect all citizens—a solution that will keep the state’s children safe, hold irresponsible dog owners liable for their actions, and retain the rights of responsible dog-owning citizens.
To become involved in our efforts against breed-specific legislation, please contact us.
For more information on responsible dog ownership, please visit the:
AKC's 101 Tip on being a Responsible Owner.
To learn more about how to prevent dog bites and dog attacks in your neighborhood, please visit the following web pages:
AVMA - A Community Approach to Dog Bite Prevention
HSUS - Stay Dog Bite Free
Doggone Safe |
