gdp's Comments

KATU - Portland, OR : Big liquor and cig tax hikes take effect today | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | Local

Thu, 2 Apr 2009 17:01:01 +0000

It did not affect it in a way that EVERYONE stopped driving. And I never said it affected driving, I said people still continued to drive, was the comparison I was making. No matter the price of anything, a lot of people will continue to do whatever it is. Driving, smoking, drinking, cable, internet. etc. Don't you pull your head out of your ass before you respond?

KATU - Portland, OR : Big liquor and cig tax hikes take effect today | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | Local

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 22:46:28 +0000

I don't think a tax increase will get millions of smokers to quit! When the price of gas/fuel went over $4.00 a gallon, people still continued to drive. Complained about it every second of every day, but did not change their habit. Smoking unfortunately, is an addiction. It takes on average a person 8 tries to quit 100%. It is harder for someone to quit smoking then a person to quit heroin. Smoking and alcoholism are 2 of the most addictive, deadliest drugs and you can get them anywhere! That is why they are one of the first things to get taxed.

KATU - Portland, OR : Big liquor and cig tax hikes take effect today | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | Local

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 20:39:20 +0000

No, I do not smoke. I am watching my mother's health deteriorate from smoking; 2 mild strokes and emphysema, yet she STILL continues to smoke 3-4 cigs per day. Do I blame the tobacco industry, no I blame her. The person that said they smoked for 20 years with no illnesses, she has smoked just over 35 years and all these health issues popped up in the last 2 years. She is only 53 years old and will be lucky to see 60.

KATU - Portland, OR : Big liquor and cig tax hikes take effect today | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | Local

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 17:38:08 +0000

And no, I am not guilty of drinking and driving.

KATU - Portland, OR : Big liquor and cig tax hikes take effect today | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | Local

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 17:37:43 +0000

Yes alcohol is a drug too. Alcohol and smoking kill more people per year then anything else in this world and they are both legal. I do not get that? Not only are people killing themselves when taking these drugs, but they also put others in harm; second hand smoke and drunk driving.

KATU - Portland, OR : Big liquor and cig tax hikes take effect today | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | Local

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 17:21:35 +0000

Actually yes, the tax increase for alcohol is to fund Alcohol Treatment programs for individuals that cannot afford it. People will continue to smoke if a pack cost $20, it's a drug they are addicted to. Just funny to hear people complain about paying so much to kill themselves.

KATU - Portland, OR : Pit bull bill will go no further, lawmaker says | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | Local

Thu, 5 Mar 2009 21:41:46 +0000

Since they are such a docile breed, it doesn't take much energy to train and socialize them into great pets. The most energy spent is training and educating people like yourselves that don't do anything to resolve an issue, but want to complain and state your opinion about it. You are part of the problem, not the solution!

KATU - Portland, OR : Pit bull bill will go no further, lawmaker says | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | Local

Thu, 5 Mar 2009 17:04:34 +0000

“No longer do you hear about German Sheppard’s, Dobermans, or even the Rottweiler, because all the other attacks added up to not even come close to the damage "some" of these pit bulls are doing.” In the public and media’s eye, a pit bull consists of 26 different breeds, so YEAH, the statistics will be higher when you refer 26 breeds as one and compare those attacks to another single breed. “The 'Poor' owners I keep hearing about who give the dogs a bad name. If that's the problem, then let's do something about it.” I have stated it before, trying to keep bad people from owning a dog would be like trying to stop them from having children. You figure that one out genius and you let us know. “Instead of defending your case on this website, find a way to make a difference, because right now, you are in a losing battle” I send letters to our government officials on a daily basis, I rescue pit bulls from Humane Societies before they are euthanized, rescue from owners that are mistreating them, I foster pit bulls and give complete training and socialization before they can be adopted to a loving home, I pay close attention to BSL and TRY to educate the general public that focuses on what they see on the news! So what exactly ARE you doing?? I’ll pull my head out of the sane when you pull yours out of you’re a$$

KATU - Portland, OR : Pit bull bill will go no further, lawmaker says | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | Local

Wed, 4 Mar 2009 18:23:10 +0000

Well thank you!!

KATU - Portland, OR : Pit bull bill will go no further, lawmaker says | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | Local

Wed, 4 Mar 2009 17:22:50 +0000

I really love when people say they have been around enough of them to know, but still say negative things about the breed! How many have you been around? What was the environment you were in? What breed were they since the term "pit bull" does not classify one breed? Were they spayed/neautered or trained? I ask these questions because I have spent the last 3 years consistently rescuing, fostering, training, and adopting pit bulls. I have never once felt in any type of danger. Dogs are just like any animal, they can sense emotions given off by the body. Your statement about knowing labs or retrievers are not perfect, but you would leave your kids around them baffles me. No one should EVER leave children around any type of animal alone. If no one is there to notice the kid kicking, punching, pulling, etc on the dog and gets bit for it, the dog is blamed and euthanized for defending itself. If you truly have been around enough pit bulls to really know them, you would know with proper training and socializing, they are one of the top breeds to have as a family dog. With a nickname of the nanny dog, really doesn’t sound vicious. We celebrated this breed as a National symbol for the World War 1 posters, Petey from The Little Rascals, the American Pit Bull Terrier is the only breed to be displayed proudly 3 times on the cover of Life magazine, Helen Keller’s therapy dog, and well known individuals that own this breed include; Jessica Biel, Pink, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Rachael Ray, Jamie Foxx, Jon Stewart, Ken Howard, Jessica Alba, General George Patton, and others. This is the era to fear this breed, in the 70’s was the German Sheppard, 80’s the Doberman, 90’s the Rottweiler, and now pit bulls. Pit bulls were once a sign of dignity and strength to the United States and for the people therein. The never-quit attitude that they held was a statement towards the United States. They were once posted in advertisements, on magazines, and in movies. Today, people fear the breed. They fear the myths surrounding the breed. They fear the bad reputation surrounding the breed. They were once, highly dignified and loved.

KATU - Portland, OR : Pit bull bill will go no further, lawmaker says | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | Local

Tue, 3 Mar 2009 22:36:32 +0000

An email received in regards to a new proposed bill in Oregon: HB 2852 requires pit bull owners to have liability insurance (BSL): Thank you for contacting my office regarding the Pit Bull issue. As you may have heard, the ban on pit bulls has been dropped and the bill will not be moving forward. However, you have referenced a bill that is being pushed forth about requiring pit bull owners to carry liability insurance from Representative Vicki Berger’s office. I know that it is important to make sure that our community is safe, but I also understand that responsible pit bull owners should not be punished. I will be paying close attention to the language of this bill once it comes out of Committee with any amendments and changes to the bill, and then I will make up my mind on how to vote. I know that the majority of pit bull owners are cautious and keep their animals safe and maintained so they are not a safety issue and therefore should not be penalized and have to carry insurance. But I do understand the reasoning for bringing this issue forward as to keep owners accountable for their animals, but am not sure if I can agree with the bill. I vote with what is best for my constituents in mind and what I believe is fair. Thank you for emailing me and voicing your opinion on this issue, Gene Whisnant State Representative, District 53

KATU - Portland, OR : Pit bull bill will go no further, lawmaker says | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | Local

Tue, 3 Mar 2009 22:20:01 +0000

I agree with you completely that our jail/prison facilities are already over populated. I was hoping the sentencing Michael Vick received would impact the dog fighting ring of people, unfortunately, they have discovered new ways that are less obvious. Trunking is one of the new ways that police officers driving by would not take notice to. This is an issue that will not be solved over night, mankind has been around for thousands of years and we still commit acts/crimes towards each other. Proposing all registered owners of a pit bull type breed insure their dog, does nothing but ensure coverage after the fact. Police officers would not stop every owner walking their dog to check insurance papers, they are already over worked and understaffed. Things society as a whole can do are; not purchasing an animal from a puppy mill/backyard breeder, not purchasing a dog from a newspaper ad or internet listing, adopting an adult dog (over 1yr old) from a local rescue agency, spay or neuter your pets, enroll you dog into a training program like American Good Canine Citizenship, leash laws for all breeds in the general public, socializing your dog with other dogs of both the same sex and opposite sex, constant training and activities to keep your dog occupied, a tired dog is a happy dog.

KATU - Portland, OR : Pit bull bill will go no further, lawmaker says | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | Local

Tue, 3 Mar 2009 21:30:50 +0000

The $1,000 per month is based off the very limited insurance companies that would offer a million dollar insurance policy on a dog. The other proposal I read about, was $125,000 insurance policy with payments of $100 per month. Responsible owners will insure and register their dogs, they are family to them, but unfortunately, many won't. The one's that do not, should face harsher punishments if something does happen, jail time preferably. For instance, the attack in Beaverton a few weeks ago where the pit owner left the two alone in the backyard with the gate open. They should be charged with animal neglect and face the legal consequences. If the laws tighten up on the punishment one will receive, the amount of incidents would decrease. Holding people accountable for the actions the cause with these dogs is key, slapping on the wrist and euthanizing the dog does nothing.

KATU - Portland, OR : Pit bull bill will go no further, lawmaker says | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | Local

Tue, 3 Mar 2009 21:12:25 +0000

So all Mexicans are drug dealers??!! How about they know a loving family dog when they see one? Placing a label on a human race with a certain dog breed is ignorant. So all white women that have a Chihuahua are rich snobs because Paris Hilton has one?

KATU - Portland, OR : Pit bull bill will go no further, lawmaker says | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | Local

Tue, 3 Mar 2009 21:06:57 +0000

It is one thing to register and insure your dog, it's another for the fee to be $1,000 per month on a million dollar insurance policy!! So I insure my dogs and get bite by your labradoodle, where's the insurance coverage there? Trying to force owners to insure their dogs is like putting a band-aide on a gash! We have a law that enforces drivers to have insurance on their car, but yet, many don't. We can try as hard as possible to keep these dogs out of the hands of bad owners, but it would be like trying to stop bad parents from having kids.

KATU - Portland, OR : Pit bull bill will go no further, lawmaker says | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | Local

Tue, 3 Mar 2009 18:34:47 +0000

For this proposal, I believe it went something like this: Reporter, "Senator Donkey, what do you propose we do to help in the economy crisis?" Senator Donkey, "I propose we pinpoint owners of the vicious breeds pointed on our BSL bill and require them to have a MILLION DOLLAR (finger to the lip like Dr. Evil) liability insurance plan that costs $1,000 a month!" Report, "How will this increase the economy?" Senator Donkey, "The insurance company and victim will get paid and the owners get screwed!!" House of Representatives, "BRILLIANT!!!!"

KATU - Portland, OR : Pit bull bill will go no further, lawmaker says | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | Local

Tue, 3 Mar 2009 18:18:19 +0000

They are proposing a million dollar liability insurance plan for registered owner's of American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or any dog that RESEMBLES any of those 3 breeds. This would roughly cost $1,000 per month. Our American government hard at work, put a high dollar value on things and they will resolve themselves!

KATU - Portland, OR : Pit bull bill will go no further, lawmaker says | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | Local

Tue, 3 Mar 2009 17:54:28 +0000

And anytime it was a Pit Bull type, made National news. Always was reported that a "pit bull" attacked a child, this would be the report I would like to see "Pit bull bites child after spending thirty minutes having it's ears pulled, face grabbed, side kicked, and jumped on." But that is wishful thinking. I have seen first hand through fostering of pit bull types the damage human beings cause to these dogs. Yet after years of neglect and abuse, they still show love and compassion. I love getting home every day to a house of happy pities and those beautiful smiles.

KATU - Portland, OR : Bill talks of banning pit bulls, euthanizing them | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | News

Mon, 2 Mar 2009 21:23:49 +0000

In my ideal world, there would be no "pit bull" puppy mills, backyard breeders, dog fighters, dog abuse, dog neglect, etc. Basically, human beings treating a dog like a pet, a member of the family. I currently have a foster/rescue, a pit mix, that made headline news for what her owner did to her and he received 12 months in jail for it! I propose leash laws for every breed at all times outside your home, harsher punishment on individuals that abuse or fight dogs, accurate reporting by our news crew on all accounts when a dog attacks (ie; exact breed of the dog, what the individual/animal was doing to the dog to instigate the attack), want people to research and understand the breed before making a judgment call about banning them altogether. Human beings are supposed to be the inferior creature on this planet, we are the one’s that have made the few bad “pit bulls” the way they are. Will end with my favorite quote; “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated”. Mahatma Gandhi

KATU - Portland, OR : Bill talks of banning pit bulls, euthanizing them | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | News

Mon, 2 Mar 2009 19:48:49 +0000

Compare apples to oranges, when a "pit bull" attacks another dog, instantly people say "Well what IF it would have been a child?" No child around, but had to use the word IF. That's comparing your apples to oranges right? Patrolling and neighborhood watching for what exactly? You see a "pit bull" type dog walking down the sidewalk, are you to contact animal control? I have been around dogs, mostly American Pit Bull Terriers, my entire life and sometimes I can't tell which dogs are societies "pit bulls", so how would your ordinary person that does not know the breeds determine this? Here is a link that shows several breeds mistaken as a "pit bull", see if you can determine which one you would contact animal control on: http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.h...