Quarterback/Canine controversy in Boston

   The city of Boston has a “Dangerous dog” ordinance which requires owners of Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes to:

• register the dog with Animal Control
• keep them muzzled in public
• post a “PIT BULL DOG” or a “BEWARE OF THE DOG” sign on their property that is visible from 100 feet away

Owners must provide (1) a photo of themselves and the dog taken within 30 days, (2) written permission from the homeowner to own a Pit Bull, (3) signatures acknowledging compliance with the sign and muzzle laws.

The city has issued more than 500 citations to delinquent Pit Bull owners.

However, according to the Boston Herald, this law doesn’t seem to apply to a multi-millionaire franchise quarterback with four Super Bowl appearances and a wife who is a super model.

Tom Brady’s Pit Bull has not been registered with Animal Control even though he is often photographed with her and has talked about her in interviews.

A spokesperson for the mayor explained that the Bradys own “multiple residences” and the dog is “probably registered at their primary address… It wouldn’t be feasible to have people who visit here register their dogs.”

Which kind of misses the point.

Most cities don’t have this discriminatory law that requires Pit Bulls to be registered as dangerous dogs. And does that mean that a dog who “visits” Boston for the entire NFL season is not considered dangerous by the city? Is a privileged dog who jets off to her other homes exempt from a law that applies to the rest of the dogs?

According to Brady who adopted the dog from a shelter, Lua is “a great family dog who doesn’t have an aggressive bone in her body… She would definitely lick someone to death, whoever came in the house.”

Most of us can understand that, but if cities insist on passing discriminatory breed laws, the laws should apply to all owners—even ones who win Super Bowls and have really good hair.

Comments

[Dan W]

Maybe they're hoping that the pitbull will attack the super model and the quarterback will go back to his winning ways instead of leaving his best stuff off the field......

Just a thought

[BunGirl]

This is definitely one of those law that makes me want to scream. But if they're going to pass laws like it, they should at least enforce them across the board. (Maybe if the law were to inconvenience Brady, he could get his fans to rally against the law!)

[Dennis the Vizsla]

His hair isn't THAT good.

"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, to steal bread, and to own unregistered unmuzzled pit bull type dogs."

[jackie]

what ? your surprised that laws weren't made for the rich and famous?..silly girl.

[Jan]

Not surprised, just annoyed.

Laws like this penalize good dogs and good owners and the others don't obey them anyway.

[kasha]

His hair is pretty nice. Justice is never served. Keep up the good work though.

[Jennie/Kahshe Cottager]

It is always disappointing to hear confirmations that there are laws for the rich and famous that differ from the rest of us.

[Joanna]

Must be nice to be rich and famous becasue the law doesn't ally to you.

[southern quebec]

BSL doesn't work. Ontario went with the pit bull ban in 2005. Results are just out that the amount of dog bites has remained virtually the same. Less pit bulls...same amount of bites...

[cube]

Well, most pit bulls are sweet, loving family dogs. It isn't fair that they must be registered as dangerous dogs in certain areas and it's even doubly unfair that some pits from rich homes get a pass.