Run, Buck, Run

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The rant today is not about finance.  This is much more serious.  It appears that Buck, my son's bull terrier, is a victim of racial profiling.  Or, perhaps, canine profiling. 

It's been pretty much of a up and down week for Buck.  He had to feel good when Rufus, a colored bull terrier, took home the gold at the Westminister Kennel Club show.  Then Marc said Buck wasn't himself for a couple of days, moping around the house, doing his Brando impersonation from 'On The Waterfront', "I coulda been a contender."

Seems Rufus scored big because Rufus has, as reported by the Associated Press, " a perfect egg-shaped noggin the size of a football."  If Rufus is a football, Buck is a rugby ball and he knows it.  Yes, Buck could of been a contender EXCEPT for EED, ear erectile dysfunction.  Seems the old ear, the right one, won't stay up.  See a picture of Rufus and he's at attention all the time.  Buck is perfect in practice but a flop, literally, on game day.   I thought of some Viagra but that would have all kinds of different side effects at a dog show.

Then Buck really hit bottom.  In cities in more than 20 states, Buck is a fugitive, a victim of BSL, short for breed specific legislation.  BSL is designed to control certain types of dogs deemed dangerous and aimed specifically at pit bulls, a distant and unwanted cousin of bull terriers.  Every family has secrets and the pit bull is the bane of the breed. 

BSL started in Denver in 1989 when some minister (religious persecution?) managed to get mauled by a pit bull.  Bull terriers are not banned but often confused in Denver (what's wrong with those people?) with pit bulls.  Juan Zalasar, animal control officer for Denver, admitted "It's not a fun job" and he does try to educate people as to the differences between the dogs.  Juan says, "As far as we're concerned, we don't have a problem with that dog."  Good for Juan but some cities have jumped the gun on Denver and one is Alburnett, Iowa which bans bull terriers outright. 

And BSL is gaining momentum.  Even the Terminator is in on the act as Arnold recently signed a bill that lets cities and counties pass ordinance against specific breeds.  "It's our No. 1 concern," said Dale Schuur, president of the Bull Terrier Club of America.  "It has shown no signs of letting up.  Are we going to be able to have these dogs in the future?"

Shame.  Where is Jesse Jackson when you need him? 

As for Buck, he's not planning any trips to Allburnett, Iowa.  Wherever that is.