I consulted with my wife Les, about these issues since she is the Bona Fide animal lover in our home. She has four (4) 'Yorkies'. (At times we've had 11 when they bred!). On the other hand I come from a Tropical Island environment where the dogs are larger ("Alsatians" we called 'em. I guess those were your "German Shepherds.")

In Jamaica we sort of co-exist with our dogs. They live in the yard and sleep on the porch ("Verandah") and wonder about the house at will. The floors are generally tiled, and the dogs are pretty well trained to "Go" outside. We fed 'em at the back door; and they are very much more independent than here. We don't have a big "stray" problem that I could discern as a kid. Also, our dogs are generally docile. We don't tie 'em up or abuse them. We don't train them to be vicious. I don't remember the Pit Bull in Jamaica from my youth.

On the other hand, here in the U.S. the dogs must generally be housed indoors, strays ARE a problem AND you've got some potentially vicious breeds that every once in a while attack & Kill kids.

NOW YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT I HATE GOVERNMENT REGULATION. But Les and I believe that, under U.S. conditions you MUST mandatorily spay and neuter homeless animals only. Because if they reproduce the mothers starve trying to feed the litter, the babies become diseased without proper care, etc.

We are however AGAINST BREED SPECIFIC LEGISLATION SUCH AS BANNING PIT BULLS. Les tells me that these DOMESTIC, Canine animals only become vicious if they are so trained (in spite of variation in breed characteristics. Here we ARE NOT talking about WILD ANIMALS. Tiger cubs raised in captivity are unsuitable for pets).

We love dogs. I grew up with a number of them. I believe exposure to, and and interaction with, pets is good for kids.

I hope this helps,

Bill