DogGoneCalifornia - the combined effort of a group of dog owners with a long-term commitment to opposing breed specific legislation. In the 1980’s some were founding members of Responsible Owners of the Golden State (RDOGS), the organization responsible for originating the landmark California state law that protected dogs from Breed Specific Legislation (BSL).

Since then, other groups and individuals have joined the BSL fight against not only ill advised legislators and a misinformed public, but also animal rights groups who want to limit or restrict dog ownership, area by area, and dog breed by dog breed. Dog owners are faced with increasing restrictions and demands on
their dogs. Only if we unify and fight together can we ever prevail.

We vigilantly protected the preemption for 15 years and dedicated ourselves to opposing California Senator Jackie Speier’s 2005 SB 861 which modified the preemption. We published alerts and analyses for organizations and grassroots opposition, evaluated strategies, met with legislative staff both in Sacramento and district offices, wrote to legislative committees and legislators, appeared at the committee hearings and spoke to the media.

Enactment of the 1989 BSL preemption was the culmination of 3 years’ effort by RDOGS and the support of the entire dog-owning community. Only with the support of Dog Owners of ALL breeds can we support and defend the rights of all responsible dog owners to own and breed dogs that are currently on the “BAN LIST” of certain legislators or that may be placed on such a list in the future.

We must convey a clear message of unity to all dog owners, the public, the media and legislators alike not to react in a knee jerk manner when a dog-bite tragedy occurs nor be fooled when animal rights activists use these tragedies for their own purposes contrary to the welfare of dogs, rights of owners or consequences for the public. We will never completely eliminate dog bites, nor irresponsible owners and breeders, any more than we will ever be able to completely eliminate crime, drugs, and other evils of society. We must be ever vigilant; we must educate those we can reach.

Our goal, above all, is that this site will be resource for everyone who needs to know or educate others about the evils of BSL and why the ill-advised SB 861 will not prevent or reduce dog bites but rather discriminates against responsible dog owners and most especially their well-behaved dogs. We want people, especially legislators, to understand that it's not the breed; it's the deed that must be addressed.

Judith A. Brecka, J.D. Attorney at law
With over thirty years of litigation experience in state and federal courts in California and Nebraska, Judith has represented many dog owners in vicious dog hearings and appeals. She was an expert witness in the Beebe case and counsel of record in Zuniga vs. Peninsula Humane Society and San Mateo County Department of Public Health. As a political activist in San Francisco, she was President of several political clubs and a member of the team of experts that drafted the model vicious dog law with the breed specific preemption clause which remained intact for 15 years.  She was a founding member of RDOGS and TAC. She is a member or former board member in a number of breed and obedience clubs; training multiple terriers to their Obedience and Conformation titles.

Ronald Cole, Retired San Francisco dentist
-Member of San Francisco Dog Training Club for over 30 years.
-Vice President of SFDTC and editor, monthly newsletter, Rally Trial Sect.
-Member, The Board of Directors of THE ANIMAL COUNCIL (TAC).
-Past president (for 3 years) of the ASSOCIATED OBEDIENCE CLUBS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA (AOCNC).
-Former Vice President and the Chair of the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee of the AMERICAN DOG OWNERS ASSOCIATION (ADOA).

Sharon A. Coleman, J.D. Attorney at law
President of THE ANIMAL COUNCIL, a California non-profit corporation representing the rights and interests of dog, cat and other animal owners since 1991.   Since 1997, she has been the Legislative Legal Analyst of the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) Legislative Group.   A California attorney for over 30 years and a dog fancier, her work for CFA covers legal, political and policy analysis of legislation and regulation affecting cats. Her other legal work currently focuses on organizational and tax issues of dog clubs and other animal organizations.    She is a member of the American Chesapeake Club and serves as its Legislative Liaison.

Kristine Crawford
Founder/President of For Pits' Sake, Inc.
--Bio Coming Soon--

Karyn Dawes
--Bio Coming Soon--

Cynthia Long, Property and Casualty Insurance Specialist, Ret .
-RDOGS  (Responsible Dog Owners of the Golden State) A founding member, Executive Board of Directors and participated in the drafting of the original California   “vicious dog law” with the breed specific preemption clause.
-American Staffordshire Terrier Club of N. CA - Founding member, Executive Board of Directors, 13 years, Legislative liaison, ASTC of N CA.
-Active in Conformation and Obedience training, also Therapy dog work and Agility sports.
-Active in opposing Breed Specific Legislation since 1985.