From: allygat0r07.1yap8l@dogbanter.com   
      
   Hey all,   
      
   I've posted here a few times (actually, the breed forum) about  what   
   kind of dog I should get (only an idea, I actually want a  mixed breed   
   from a shelter) and FINALLY realized that I really  really want a   
   German Shepherd mix. It took me forever to find a  decent apartment   
   that suited my other needs as well as allows dogs  (up to 100 pounds)   
   and I was ecstatic until I read the pet policy.  There are some   
   restricted breeds, including Rottweilers, Doberman  Pinschers, German   
   Shepherds, Chow chows, Pit bulls, and  Wolf-hybrids.   
      
   Naturally, when you can't have something, you want it more. But   
   still, I have a HUGE HUGE HUGE issue with that for many reasons.   
   Firstly, because I want a German Shepherd. Second, because that  breed   
   seems particularly out of place. Third, anti-breed  legislation for an   
   apartment complex is ridiculous. They should  screen resident's   
   individual dogs instead of going by a pedigree.  There are plenty of   
   mean labradors and poodles, but they wouldn't  even blink an eye at   
   them because they're known as "nice dogs". I  love labs, but even they   
   have the potential to be aggressive and  just because a dog is of one   
   breed does not mean it will act its  ascribed standard/OR, in my case,   
   negative stereotype.   
      
   There are PLENTY of other breeds of dog that would be more  deserving   
   of being on the list. Akitas, perhaps? They seem like  very naturally   
   aggressive dogs to me. Perfectly fine in the arms  of an experienced   
   dog owner, but a breed that should not be taken  lightly. German   
   Shepherds are CLEARLY not bad dogs. They're used  for so many things.   
   Police work, seeing eye dogs, etc. etc. Good  training is certainly a   
   must for GSDs, but they aren't  automatically aggressive. I don't think   
   there ARE any bad dogs,  but I can understand the hesitancy to allow Pit   
   Bulls because of  the profile of the typical stupid Pit Bull owner. They   
   can be  amazingly wonderful dogs in the right hands, but many people who   
   seek out Pit Bulls just want a big tough dog that can protect them and   
   make them look cool.   
      
   One of my huge problems is the hypocrisy of the situation. They go by a   
   photograph. Here's my case in point: two lab/german shepherd mixes. One   
   resembles a lab, the other resembles a german shepherd.  The   
   so-called-"lab" is completely aggressive and ill-trained and generally   
   unsuited for an apartment community, while the "german shepherd" (mix)   
   has been trained and is as sweet and docile as they come. Which dog   
   will be allowed? The one that resembles a lab, despite its viscious   
   behavior. This is NOT fair!   
   One of their main reasons is that they don't want to make an exception   
   once and have other residents see my German Shepherd mix and complain   
   about wanting their own. But I have agreed to show documentation of   
   extensive obedience classes and pay an extra monthly fee, which most   
   people aren't willing to do.   
      
   LASTLY, my main technical issue with the policy is that it does NOT   
   explicitly say no mixes containing any of the aforementioned restricted   
   breeds. That's where I could get them. They want to follow policy, fine.   
   What if my dog is clearly a mutt? They should  be more specific if they   
   don't want to be nitpicked apart by anal people like myself who are   
   stubborn and want what they want,  including the breed of dog that   
   would be perfect for their personality.   
      
   I also brought up the fact that many people assume german shepherd   
   when they see black and tan on a dog, and what if the dog had in fact,   
   NO german shepherd in it. They said that if the animal shelter/source   
   of the animal could verify there was no german shepherd (or whatever)   
   in the breed, they would accept it. This is SO subjective and   
   ridiculous! The subject aside, you have to agree that good laws are not   
   practiced on a sliding scale! How does deliberation go? "Hmm, well this   
   dog is clearly a poodle but...wait...there's some tan on it's muzzle   
   and paws. Looks like it might be German Shepherd to me! REJECTED."   
   Can't I just get the shelter to lie and say it's a Belgian Malinois   
   mix?   
      
   My moot but slightly worth mentioning additional points: I will barely   
   be there (neither will my dog...WE will be gone a lot of the time, and   
   if we're at home, we'll be INSIDE.) I am getting a PUPPY, by the time I   
   move out (August of 2007), the dog will still be a puppy. Most   
   aggression doesn't manifest until later.   
      
   I called the office today and they forwarded me to the landlord of my   
   community, who was out of office for the day. I left a lengthy message   
   and asked for him to call me back. Do you think I have much of a case?   
   I know it's at the landlord's discretion and I should just "accept   
   policy", but why should I have to abide by such a stupid rule? The   
   inconsistencies are too clear for me to just sit back and accept the   
   fact that I can't get the breed of dog that I want. I'm sure there are   
   many amazing dogs that would be perfect for me and contain no german   
   shepherd, but it's the principle of the matter. I don't want to have to   
   compromise because the dog is a little too black-and-tan for my   
   landlord. I am a stubborn girl. I jumped on my bed screaming "I WANT A   
   DOG" for six months straight before my parents yielded and got me my   
   first "own dog" when I was 6. Now, almost 15 years later, I'm ready to   
   raise the stakes and use real evidence against my opposition.   
      
   Anything else I should use in my favor? I don't want to be difficult,   
   but...I'm going to be difficult. I'm paying them thousands of dollars,   
   shouldn't I get a little something in return?   
      
   Ally   
      
      
   --   
   allygat0r07   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)