Dana Johnson Legislative Director
Becca Riggs Deputy Legislative Director
Michelle Kramer Deputy Legislative Director for Website Development
Ban the Deed not the Breed Magnets and Donations. Support our cause and speak your mind or donate.
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Breed Specific Legislation is Like Racial Profiling
BSL punishes dogs for being a certain breed rather than their deeds. It is designed to place restrictions on owning specific breeds of dogs. The most common kind of breed specific legislation completely bans all dogs of a certain breed. This means that all dogs of the banned breed must be removed from the area or euthanized.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Do you think requiring dogs/cats to be spayed/neutered is a good idea? More...
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DPCA Summary Position Statements
Animal Terrorism
Breeding Restrictions
Canine Population Issues
Dangerous Dog Control Legislation
Ear Cropping, Tail Docking and Dewclaw Removal
"Guardian" v. Owner
Homeowners' Insurance and Dogs
Proper Care and Humane Treatment of Dogs
Purebred Dog Rescue
Responsible Breeding Practices
Spaying and Neutering
The Right to Keep and Enjoy Dogs
Use of Dogs for Assistance and Service
Use of Dogs in
Sporting, Working, Competition Activities The Doberman Pinscher Club of America abhors acts of violence
committed against dog owners, dog handlers, kennels, and research
facilities by those who object to the keeping and use of animals. We
respect the right of all individuals to express and advocate personal
opinions in lawful ways. We strongly condemn illegal actions such as the
"liberation" of dogs or destruction of property, which are acts of
terrorism. The Doberman Pinscher Club of America supports the right of
Americans to breed, own, train, interact with, and exhibit their
purebred dogs without interference. The Doberman Pinscher Club of America strongly supports and actively
promotes a wide range of programs to educate the public about
responsible breeding practices and the responsibilities of dog
ownership. The DPCA opposes the concept of breeding permits, breeding bans and
mandatory spay/neuter of purebred dogs. Instead, we support reasonable
and enforceable laws that protect the welfare and health of purebred
dogs and do not restrict the rights of breeders and owners who take
their responsibilities seriously. The Doberman Pinscher Club of America commends experienced breed
enthusiasts who educate the public and other breeders about the need for
long-term commitments and responsibilities. We encourage breeders to
help new owners address issues that could otherwise result in the
premature relinquishment of their pets. National research organizations
have reported that the majority of dogs relinquished to animal shelters
in the United States come from owners who are unable or unwilling to
train, socialize and care for their dog. The DPCA also encourages pet
owners to spay or neuter their dogs if they do not participate in kennel
club events or engage in responsible breeding programs.
The DPCA further supports programs dedicated to teaching the
pet-buying public how to find a responsible breeder and how to make
well-informed decisions when buying a dog rather than buying on impulse.
Such programs help to ensure that pet purchasers find a puppy or dog
that is a good match for their lifestyle, at an appropriate time in
their lives, thereby increasing the likelihood that the animal will stay
with the owner for its entire life. The DPCA encourages owners and
potential dog owners to visit the Doberman Pinscher Club of America
website at www.dpca.org and utilize the public education materials for
extensive information about Dobermans to find out if a Doberman is the
right breed for them. The DPCA believes euthanasia should be employed only as a last resort
when all reasonable efforts to place dogs have failed. At the same time,
DPCA recognizes that not all dogs are placeable due to temperament and
health issues. The Doberman Pinscher Club of America Club supports reasonable,
enforceable, non-discriminatory laws to govern the ownership of dogs.
The DPCA believes that dog owners should be responsible for their dogs.
We support laws that: (1) establish a fair process by which specific
dogs are identified as dangerous based on stated, measurable actions; (2) impose appropriate penalties on irresponsible owners; and establish
a well-defined method for dealing with dogs proven to be dangerous. The DPCA does not believe in punishing any specific breed, but does believe
in punishing the deed, hence we strongly oppose Breed Specific Law as
unjustifiable breed profiling. The DPCA strongly opposes any
legislation that determines a dog to be dangerous based on specific
breeds or phenotypic classes of dogs. The DPCA strongly supports the freedom of Doberman Pinscher breeders and owners
to choose to procure the cropping of the ears, tail docking, and dew claw
removal of their dogs to advance the
purpose of the breed and breed standard, so long as the cropping of dogs’ ears
is performed by a licensed veterinarian in the state in which the surgical
procedure is conducted, or under the direct supervision of a licensed
veterinarian in states which allow that practice. The Doberman Pinscher Club of America supports the use of the term
"owner" rather than "guardian" when referring to the keeping of dogs.
The DPCA believes that the term guardian is advocated by those who
intend to reduce the legal status and value of dogs as property and
thereby restrict the rights of owners, veterinarians, and government
agencies to protect and care for dogs. It may also subject them to
frivolous and expensive litigation. The term guardian does nothing to promote more responsible treatment
of dogs. We strongly support efforts to educate the public about
responsible dog ownership to ensure that all dogs receive the care,
love, and attention they deserve. The Doberman Pinscher Club of America believes that insurance
companies should determine coverage of a dog-owning household based on
the dog’s deeds, not the dog’s breed. Additionally, whether a home has
breedable dogs or not should not be a determining factor for insurance
coverage. If a dog is a well-behaved member of the household and the
community, there is no reason to deny or cancel coverage. In fact,
insurance companies should consider a dog an asset, a natural alarm
system whose bark may deter intruders and prevent potential theft. The DPCA strongly favors and promotes legislation that prevents
insurance carriers from refusing to insure or cancelling liability
coverage based on the breed of dog owned in a household. Dog owners bear a special responsibility to their canine companions
to provide proper care and humane treatment at all times. Proper care
and humane treatment include an adequate and nutritious diet, clean
water, clean living conditions, regular veterinary care, kind and
responsive human companionship, and training in appropriate behavior.
The Doberman Pinscher Club of America believes that dogs should not be
kept in circumstances or numbers where these needs cannot be adequately
fulfilled. The Doberman Pinscher Club of America supports and encourages the
efforts of clubs, organizations, and individuals committed to rescue
placeable purebred dogs. These dogs may originate from animal shelters,
or from owners who can no longer care for their dogs in a responsible
manner. The DPCA encourages all such groups and individuals, after
exhausting all possible means to contact the breeder of such animals, to
spay or neuter all placeable purebred dogs prior to placing them with a
responsible owner. The Doberman Pinscher Club of America Club believes that breeding
programs should be undertaken responsibly for the purpose of preserving
breed characteristics and producing healthy, well-socialized puppies.
Responsible breeders are expected to give careful consideration to
health issues, temperament, and genetic screening, as well as to the
individual care and placement of puppies in responsible homes. The DPCA strongly opposes the breeding of dogs by those who do so
without regard for the dogs' welfare. We support scrupulous enforcement
of the federal Animal Welfare Act, and state and local regulations
governing the humane care of animals. If utilized appropriately, in most
circumstances, the local, state and federal laws will protect dogs and
there is no need for other legal measures. The Doberman Pinscher Club of
America believes that owning a dog is a rewarding experience that brings
great joy and happiness to any household. With the ownership of a
Doberman comes long-term emotional and financial commitment and a
variety of responsibilities. Accordingly, we encourage potential owners
to closely evaluate their lifestyle before deciding to obtain a Doberman
and to give careful consideration and research to determine if a
Doberman is the best breed to suit them. The DPCA strongly urges puppy purchasers to seek reputable, ethical
breeders as resources for their dogs. We further encourage owners to
provide proper care, training and socialization to ensure that their
pets remain happy members of their family, respectable members of the
community and well-mannered canine good citizens. The DPCA and its
Chapter Clubs offer a wide range of educational programs and materials
to teach dog owners how to reach these goals while enjoying their dogs
for many years to come. The Doberman Pinscher Club of America encourages breeders to discuss
spaying and neutering options with puppy buyers to prevent accidental or
unwanted breedings and to provide additional health benefits. The Doberman Pinscher Club of America strongly endorses the right to
own, keep and breed dogs in a responsible and humane manner. The DPCA
recognizes the special obligation of dog owners, not only to their pets
but also to their neighbors. The DPCA supports "curbing" and clean-up
ordinances, leash laws, nuisance laws, and other reasonable regulations
designed to ensure that dogs and their owners remain respected members
of their communities. The Doberman Pinscher Club of America strongly supports the training
and use of dogs to provide assistance and service to humans. Dogs
provide valuable service as seeing-eye dogs; hearing dogs; therapy dogs;
handicapped assistance dogs; drug, bomb, and arson detection dogs; and
tracking dogs to locate missing persons and fugitives. The Doberman Pinscher Club of America opposes those who seek to
define the assistance that service dogs provide to humans as
exploitative. The DPCA encourages the continuation and further
development of the use of dogs for these and similar purposes. The Doberman Pinscher Club of America encourages and strongly
supports the interaction and mutual enjoyment of owners and dogs in
working activities. The DPCA believes that dogs should be properly cared
for, humanely trained, and not pushed beyond reasonable limits for which
they were bred.
Animal Terrorism
[top]
Breeding Restrictions
[top]
Canine Population Issues
[top]
Dangerous Dog
Control Legislation [top]
Ear Cropping, Tail Docking and Dewclaw Removal
[top]
"Guardian" v. Owner
[top]
Homeowners' Insurance and Dogs
[top]
Proper Care and Humane Treatment of Dogs
[top]
Purebred Dog Rescue
[top]
Responsible Breeding
Practices [top]
Responsible Dog Ownership
[top]
Spaying and Neutering
[top]
The Right to Keep and Enjoy Dogs
[top]
Use of Dogs for Assistance and Service
[top]
Use of Dogs in Sporting, Working, and Competition Activities
[top]