We need a license to drive a car, a license to own a firearm, a license to operate a business, to sell real estate, to run a daycare, to fish in fresh water.
All dogs within the city of Toronto require a license, under Chapter 349 of the Municipal code. Renewable every year.
Failure to do so may result in a $240. fine.
The city doesn't care if your dog is healthy, if it has up-to-date shots, if you are a responsible or abusive owner--in other words, it's a money grab. Every year!
In theory, the reasoning behind the license is if your dog gets loose and lost, the tag number on its collar will enable Animal Control to check the records and be able to return your dog to you.
In the UK, the government now wants people to be 'competence tested' before they are able to own a dog.
A good idea? You bet!
Why NOT license the owner . . . ??
We have classes for expectant mothers before they welcome their new baby into their home.
We study the driver's handbook ( or should!) before we get behind the wheel.
We are required to pass a course before we are able to be licensed to own a firearm.
Why, with dogs, can we bring one into our home and lives with nothing more than the asking price necessary?
There are just too many breeds owned by far too many people who don't realize what they have at the end of the leash.
A dog is an investment. In money, time, energy, emotion and hopefully your heart.
Obedience schools are cleaning up on wrong choices made. Rescue organizations of all breeds are full with people's bad decisions.
The warnings in the various dog breed standards letting people know what kind of temperament their adorable puppy has coursing through its genes are there for a reason:
*NOT recommended for the faint of heart or those used to handling a poodle; nor would they suit a first time dog owner who has no experience handling dogs.
*Self-confident and fearless, requiring a dominant owner, able to keep his alpha position within the pack.
*This natural guard dog is protective, courageous and fearless. They need an owner to know how to display leadership at all times. Aggression and attacks on people are due to poor handling and training. For the most part, they are generally good with other dogs.
*They will be aggressive with strangers unless they are trained and socialized from a young age. Proper training must be stressed for them. They never fall back from a fight.
*Suspicious of strangers. A watchdog that cannot be bribed.
It's just too easy to purchase a dog online with a credit card number and Paypal.
Some of these interesting breeds whose temperaments I've cited above, can be purchased online on Kijiji, GetAPuppy,TerrificPets or a thousand other similiar sites.
Unfortunately even some breeders are guilty by omission by not mentioning their breed's less desirable traits--just to make a sale.
I would like to see anyone interested in owning a dog taking a course first, pass the course and then proceed on to selecting one of three or four breeds suggested by the instructor of the course, as a good match for their personalities and lifestyles.
Too many people fall in love with 'the look' of a particular breed as a six-week old pup, never taking the time to research the breed history and function.
"It's so cute--I want one!" Many times an impulse purchase.
Taking a course and receiving a license to own, would do away with impulse shopping. It would give aspiring puppy owners a glimpse into the responsibility and nurturing it takes to end up with a well-balanced companion.
A darned good idea!!
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