The Sordid History of Pit Bull Fighting in 19th Century England

I have been critical of anti-pit bull legislation on a number of occasions, and have mentioned my opposition in at least five blogs here.  This has led to unpleasant—mostly anonymous—emails addressing me as or equating me to the orifice on my backside. (I do not post these accusations, not because I can’t accept criticism or don’t tolerate cussing, but because I hope that I am encouraging reasonably intelligent discourse and such emails vastly...

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Dogs of the Northeast Tribes in the Colonial Period

Indians of the Northeast used dogs for hunting, guarding, food, companionship, and in rituals.  Far to the north they were used for transport by pulling toboggans (until the use of sleds, as preferred by Indians to the west began to spread across northern Canada). Dogs appeared in myths and dream narratives of the Northeast Indians, as was true throughout the Americas.  Unfortunately, the cultures of the Indians and their dog cultures were...

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Fort Bliss Adopts Draconian Measures to Enforce Army’s Service Dog Policy

The Army Medical Command’s policy with regard to service dogs, announced on January 30, 2012, stated a goal that, to the extent possible, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) would apply to Army facilities and operations.  Interviews with Soldiers at Fort Bliss who have service dogs demonstrate that the opposite has been the case.  Before word of the new policy reached the post, Soldiers had been allowed by individual commanders, on a case-by-case basis, to keep their dogs in barracks, have them near during certain work assignments,...

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