Andrea Rosebrock 
Sioux City Councilman, Aaron Rochester, who pushed to ban pitbulls from the city is finding out what it feels like to be on the receiving end of having his dog labeled vicious, but in this case it may be warranted. Sadly, it looks like Rochester’s dog, a yellow lab, may be paying the price for his owner’s irresponsibility. Talk about irony!
On June 27th a neighbor was walking by Rochester’s house when the dog, Jake, who had been on the porch, ran out to the sidewalk and attacked him. The man suffered some scratches to his leg and chest and a bite to his thumb that required 5 stitches.
The dog was removed by animal control and after a hearing deemed vicious which could result in the dog having to be euthanized. Rochester, of course, is appealing the decision, saying the dog was only protecting his daughter from what it perceived as a threat.
Now this is a man who proposed and pushed through a ban on pitbulls in Sioux City because he believed they were dangerous, yet another who bought into the myth and hype that is so liberally tossed about. Think about all the dogs that have died because of this ban; dogs that couldn’t be offered for adoption at shelters any more, dogs that weren’t registered as “dangerous” that got loose, etc. Innocent, defenseless dogs… pitbulls that were killed just because of what they were, looked like or appeared to be, not because they actually did anything wrong.
And here’s Councilman Aaron Rochester’s dog, a yellow lab, that was not under anyone’s control, not contained in his yard, that bit a person who was just walking by because, Rochester claims, he was being protective. His own dog deemed “vicious” because he did actually do something wrong.
I don’t advocate the city kill the dog because Rochester was an irresponsible owner but I would like this to open his eyes and show him that any dog can bite. Oddly enough, if it weren’t for the irony of this whole situation, this would not have gotten any media attention. The headlines didn’t scream out “attack” or “mauling” or use any of those word you see associated when any of the breeds of dogs that so commonly fall under the label of “pitbull” bite.
So, gotta wonder how he feels now that the shoe is on the other foot and his own dog is facing death….
Every citizen of Sioux City that lost their beloved dog because of Aaron Rochester and his BSL (and I emphasize the B S), should send him a letter with a picture of their dog, asking him just that.
HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW????????
That’s good Andrea! Wonder how that would make him feel to have his mailbox flooded with letters and pictures from heartbroken families and children? Animal and pitbull advocates should take this just a step further and send pictures of pitties, telling him that they killed them with the same question.
D.
Andrea, you are right, this is B S, and so uncalled for.
In all honesty, any dog can be vicious – it is all on how you raise them. Yes, even a lab, who is known as a breed to have a great disposition. But then, if the owners want him to be an attack dog, he will be, just like any other dog who has gotten the reputation to be an attack dog.
D said it best, him being an irresponsible owner; but that does not justify all the other pups who have been put down, just because of their breed.
susie thats a fact . there too many stupid people that have gotten into dogs . i feel the really problem is owners treat there animals like kids dogs are dogs you need to train them correctly some are harder then others to train and i will say some arnt trainable a trainer will say any dog can be trained but he doest tell you how long it will take and there goes your money
Just like the story in the bible when all 1st born sons were to be killed because of fear of the coming Messiah. Needless to say that included the Pharoah’s own first born son! Some people just don’t think!!!!
i believe a dog is a dog . it seems to me there trying to get rid of all dogs . does any one know what john stosell is finding out about the spca and there taking health animals stealing he calls it will moving your dogs out of state save them what a shame to live in fear that your animals can be taken and killed because of a look
Well now. Isn’t this an interesting show of KARMA????? I pray they do not put that lab down. It certainly isn’t the dog’s fault, as we all know. Oh Andrea……what a fabulous idea. Sending pictures of every single person’s pup, that lost their precious baby to this crazy murderer. That should open this idiots eyes to what he has done and where his measly, tiny little brain is. What was his dog doing loose in the first place? This POS can demand that familys loose their four legged children and he has no responsibility for his own? I don’t get it. Send those pictures folks!