Tell us about yourself.
I am a dog owner living in southern Ontario. I grew up in Toronto but now live in a small village near Woodstock. I am supposedly retired but am so busy now that I wonder how I found the time to go to work for so many years. I am a lifelong dog lover, gardening nut, painter and now blogger, which really means amateur writer. I’ve always been interested in politics and have become an activist lately.

What is your blog about?
My blog is about debunking breed bans and putting fears about dogs into perspective.
It is also about the erosion of democratic principles inherent in breed bans, hence the name ‘Caveat’. I’m very attached to my civil rights, which were hard-fought-for and hard-won in centuries past. If my neighbour doesn’t have equal rights, then neither do I.

Are you the only author/contributor?
It’s mostly me. I’m too radical say some, not radical enough say others so it must be about right. There are a couple of people who contribute the odd post to my blog but my readers are usually stuck with Me, Myself and I.

How did you get started?
A friend suggested I try blogging in the fall of 2005. I write a lot of letters to editors. I had been sending in op-ed pieces on my issue which were all rejected. So, I started Caveat on October 7, 2005. Now I run my own op-eds.

Why do you blog?
I was frustrated by the lack of honest coverage about dogs and their owners in the mainstream media and by the nonsense being spouted by politicians. Let’s face it, the news outlets (who have profited from gratuitous use of the term ‘pit bull’ for years), either weren’t listening or didn’t care about presenting accurate information. If I were a conspiracy theorist I’d think they had an agenda deliberately geared towards mis- and dis-information campaigns. Since I’m not, I assume they just don’t have the time or resources to fact-check or do in-depth reporting anymore. This is likely due to the amount of space they have to fill these days and the constant deadlines. This is not an excuse but it is an explanation. I wanted to combat hyperbole, mythology and fear-mongering. Since I am constantly researching, I am constantly learning, which makes blogging great for someone like me. I’ve never been the formal learning type, I prefer to sniff around on my own.

What is the source of your content?
I write my own essays and editorials. I comment on articles by the mainstream media and link to other blogs and media articles I find interesting. I have sources who send me exclusive items to post. I publish news of interest to my audience which is not being covered by the mainstream. I criticize politicians and bureaucrats. Often. They are a good source of blog fodder.
The source of my factual material is the scientific literature, books by respected authors, information from personal experience and quotes or contributions from recognized experts. The latter are few and far between as the field is cluttered with many bogus experts - the ones normally quoted in the press.

How frequently do your write/post?
I post a few times a day, most days. Sometimes I don’t post anything. That usually means I’m involved in a fundraising or political event, I’m out of town or I’m asleep, in order of likelihood.

Does your blog generate revenue?
No, I put up some ads to sell books in an attempt to fundraise for our cause. I don’t think any cheques have arrived at headquarters yet! I’m in it for love, not money.

Who visits your blog?
I have readers who are interested in breed banning, dog lore, politics and democracy. Based on the comments, my readers appear intelligent and educated. I wish more people would leave comments because it’s fun to read them.
I have a niche blog, so I don’t get (or expect) thousands of visits each day. Readers on all continents check in regularly. I even get visits from the Ontario government. I’m glad they are finally coming around to my way of thinking…

Would you like to add anything else?
I hope people will visit my blog and learn a bit about why we fight breed bansso fiercely.
There are resources available at Caveat for those who want to learn more as well as links to other interesting blogs, court rulings and government testimony. There is no measurable difference between dog breeds in terms of aggressive behaviour.
There is no science to support the idea that aggressive behaviour is inherited or breed-based rather than learned and perfected through practice. It really is the owner’s handling of a dog which determines its adult personality.
That is what is supported by science. The rest is fiction.

Tags: Dogs, Civil right, Caveat, Selma Mulvey, Breed bans