Spencer Saved - But Breed Specific Policy To Stay, Declares Mayor Of Mobile
The Good News
Spencer will live! Best Friends Animal Society in Utah stepped forward with an offer to take Spencer - a deal which saves his life and allows the City Of Mobile to save face under the glare of public scrutiny over the city's breed-specific policy of killing unclaimed pitbulls at the shelter.
In a phone interview with Dog Politics last evening, Amanda Kramer, who took legal action against the City Of Mobile to save Spencer, said, "I'm thrilled for Spencer. I didn't get to keep him, but he will live. I can't imagine (Best Friends) a better place for him". Barbara Williamson, media spokesperson for Best Friends, told Dog Politics, "We're happy we could save a life".
Now the bad news............
The Bad News
The City Of Mobile refuses to change it's breed-specific policy of killing unclaimed pit bulls. A single dog was saved - but many more will die.
Then in a political move on a par with with Jersey politicians - Mobile's Mayor Sam Jones issued a press release yesterday taking full credit for saving Spencer - now that's spin! We'll share it with you here:
""Mayor Sam Jones Rescues Pit Bull Terrier
Mobile Mayor Sam Jones has negotiated a new home for the Pit Bull Terrier found in Midtown last month – a move that will protect the safety of the public and not alter the city’s policy on these breeds.
The Pit Bull, which was found underweight, ill-fed and dehydrated, will be sent to the Utah-based Best Friends Animal Society, a group found Friday by Jones and animal shelter officials.
"The issue with the dog has taken away from the city’s award-winning adoption program at the shelter,” said Mayor Jones. “This arrangement will hopefully return the focus back to the need for good homes for adoptable animals in our shelter.”
There are currently 109 dogs in our kennel, with 51 up for adoption. Jones said the Best Friends Animal Society has assured the city that the dog will not be adopted.
“This will allow the city’s policy to remain intact,” said Mayor Jones"".
Pitbulls Get The Needle In Mobile
Gee, Sam, that's really not the answer I had in mind. Hey - glad you could help Spencer out, but you're saying you're really OK with killing all those "underserving" pitbull dogs that come into your shelter. They get the needle 'cause 
they're the "wrong breed"?
That's too funny - not ha ha funny - coming from a man that actually owns two pitbulls. I hope Amanda Kramer and other dog lovers in Mobile move forward with Spencer's Law - legislation that will prevent municipalites and shelters in Alabama from discriminating based on breed. Because every good dog deserves a home - regardless of breed.
Mobile cut a deal to make the bad press go away - for now. But I doubt dog lovers are likely to forget this debaucle & just to make sure they don't forget - maybe I'll just have to remind them come election time.
Hey Mayor Sam - let's just hope that your dogs never get loose and end up in a shelter in "Bama - 'cause good ole Bill, your "award- winning" shelter manager, will take a needle to them quicker that you can say, My Dog Votes!
SHOUTOUT!
Now here's a shoutout to all of the great people out there that worked so very hard to save Spencer (Cherish, Leisa, The Granny Warriors, Jodi, and many, many others - I may not know your names, but thank you!)
Mayor Sam Jones FORGOT to thank you in his self congratulatory press release, but know this - you're the ones that made it happen - the calls, the letters, emails, the press coverage - without you, Mayor Jones and his staff wouldn't have blinked. You made some noise here, and you can make an even bigger noise come election time.
The Spencers of this world will thank you.
First, Barbara is absolutely right. DogPolitics is a unifying force for dog owners' rights in the United States, as the Dog Legislation Council of Canada is north of you.
Next, I see that one city in Alabama still lives down to that state's reputation. Which side of his mouth was Mayor Jones talking out of when he issued that press release?
There's nothing more vicious than a self-serving politician.
Posted by: Dianne Singer | June 18, 2006 at 12:35 AM
This blog seems to be the only resource to unify dog owners, whatever their breed. We better join ranks or we will never be more than "complainers" who get only tiny scattered victories while we lose the war.
Posted by: Barbara Andrews | June 17, 2006 at 08:56 AM