If you are in the New York City area on July 23 at 6 PM and wish to attend an organized protest against breed-specific legislation, please send me an email at stopbsl.com@gmail.com for more details.
Filed under: Community Initiatives, New York | Tagged: dog, pit bull, breed specific legislation, ordinance, protest | Leave a Comment »
http://www.adn.com/opinion/view/story/860900.html
City board proposes tightening controls for dangerous dogs
Last Modified: July 10th, 2009 10:21 PM
A year ago August, a young girl in East Anchorage died after being bitten by the family pet — a pit bull.
After that, at least one Anchorage Assembly member thought Anchorage should ban the breed to avoid future such tragedies.
Instead, the Animal Control Advisory Board, after months of research and discussions, has proposed tightening up laws regarding aggressive dogs, and increasing efforts to educate small children and their parents about what to do around dogs.
The board’s research nationally found that where cities or counties passed legislation banning a specific breed, enforcement costs rose significantly and just as many people were bitten by dogs as before, said Neil Koeniger, chairman of the advisory board.
The Animal Control Board’s approach is thoughtful and should help. The general theory, as stated in the board’s recommendation, is to “deal with the deed, not breed.”
Current city law classifies misbehaving dogs in five levels. Level 1 is the least serious offense, and Level 5 means the dog is put to death.
Here are some ways the board recommends changing the law:
• The owner of a misbehaving dog can get the dog’s classification level reduced or waived by successfully completing obedience training. (This section doesn’t apply to Level 5 dogs). The dog also has to have a clean record for one or two years, depending on its original offense.
• The proposal sets tougher penalties for repeat offenders in cases where a leashed dog injures a person. Under existing law, the owner faces the same consequence again and again.
• Dogs that have a record of injuring people could no longer be left in a house that’s unlocked. Locking the house reduces the chances an unsuspecting party will get attacked.
• Owners would face increasing fines if they violated the rules imposed on them and their dog, such as keeping the dog confined. Currently, each violation costs the owner $250. Under the new law, it would cost $500 for a second violation and $1,000 for third and subsequent ones.
Owners of animals classified at levels 2 through 4 would also have to pay an annual fee of $100. Right now, only owners of Level 3 and Level 4 dogs pay that annual fee.
Even with the increases, Animal Control enforcement costs are not totally covered by fees and fines, said DeeAnn Fetko, contract manager with the city Health and Human Services Department. But if the Assembly approves the proposed revisions, offenders who don’t follow through with the requirements will be paying a bigger share.
Other proposed changes close technical loopholes that owners have used to fight restrictions on their dogs.
About 500 dog bites are reported in Anchorage each year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says those bites are largely preventable. Owners need to be trained to socialize and control their animals; little children or toddlers should not be left alone with them.
The changes to the law — now up to the Assembly — are only part of the answer.
The Animal Control Board has recommended for years that Anchorage increase enforcement staff, and it says we need to increase public education about how to behave around dogs — especially for children and their parents.
But tightening up laws on aggressive animals is a good place to start.
BOTTOM LINE: We need to get rid of loopholes that let owners of aggressive dogs escape consequences.
Filed under: Alaska, Non-BSL Proposed | Tagged: animal control, bite, board, city council, dangerous, dog, education, ordinance, training | Leave a Comment »
Warren, MI city council may discuss proposed BSL during their city council meeting on July 14 at 8 PM. The first reading of this ordinance occurred on June 23.
The agenda for July 14 indicates an ordinance titled ”Habitual Dogs at Large” is up for discussion.
Regular meetings of the Council are held at the Warren Community Center auditorium, located at 5460 Arden (which is south of 14 Mile Road and west off of Mound), on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 8 p.m.. The meetings are open to the public. The City Council office phone number is (586) 258-2060.
More info and contact information for city council:
http://stopbsl.com/2009/06/25/warren-mi-update-proposed-bsl-taken-off-agenda-may-be-discussed-in-future/
http://stopbsl.com/2009/05/23/warren-mi-warren-weighs-pit-bull-ban/
Filed under: BSL Proposed, Michigan | Tagged: ban, breed specific legislation, city council, dog, meeting, ordinance, pit bull | Leave a Comment »
Online form to contact the entire city council: http://www.egovlink.com/lowell/action.asp?actionid=5593
The City Council meets at 6:30 PM on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month in the City Council Chambers. Next city council meeting: July 14, 6:30 PM. The proposed BSL may be back up for discussion during this meeting.
Previous alert: http://stopbsl.com/2009/06/11/lowell-ma-proposed-bsl-discussion-tabled/
Filed under: BSL Proposed, Massachusetts | Tagged: breed specific legislation, city council, dangerous, dog, meeting, ordinance, pit bull | Leave a Comment »
Per the city clerk, the vote on the pit bull ordinance has been delayed due to the abundance of information and correspondence that has been sent to the city council. It is not clear when the issue will be back on the agenda. Concerned residents should continue to write, call, watch future council agendas, and appear at city council meetings.
Next city council meetings: July 14, August 4, August 11 (6 PM)
Ogden council agendas can be received via email by sending an email here: citycouncil@ci.ogden.ut.us?subject=Please add me to the City Council’s informational email list&body=Please add me to the City Council’s informational email list
Previous alerts and council contact information:
http://stopbsl.com/2009/06/19/ogden-ut-pit-bull-owners-say-ordinance-discriminates/
http://stopbsl.com/2009/04/15/ogden-ut-pit-bull-ban-to-be-discussed-by-city-council-june-18-530-pm/
http://stopbsl.com/2009/04/02/ogden-ut-ogden-delays-pit-bull-debate/
http://stopbsl.com/2009/03/29/ogden-ut-bsl-proposed/
Filed under: BSL Proposed, Utah | Tagged: breed specific legislation, city council, dangerous, dog, meeting, ordinance, pit bull | Leave a Comment »
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12812170
Program trains pit bulls and their owners
The program aims at socializing the pets
By Pamela Manson
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 07/10/2009 05:41:10 PM MDTSalt Lake County is launching a new program to train pit bulls and reduce the high number of the breed that are being euthanized in shelters.
Among dogs involved in the effort is Halle, one of former NFL quarterback Michael Vick’s rescued pit bulls. The canine appeared at a Friday news conference at the Salt Lake County Animal Shelter, where the Bully Breed program was announced.
The program’s Canine Good Citizen classes show owners how to train and socialize their pets. The course is based on the premise that dog issues are really owner issues.
Shawni Larrabee, director of Salt Lake County Animal Services, says it’s important to select breeds and individual dogs that match their owners’ lifestyle.
In addition to the classes, pit bulls and pit bull mixes living in Salt Lake City, Herriman and unincorporated county areas are eligible for free spay and neuter services through the shelter.
Best Friends Animal Shelter, a no-kill shelter that is rehabilitating 22 pit bulls once owned by Vick, applauds the effort. The Kanab group has its own national campaign called Pit Bulls: Saving America’s Dog.
“Pit Bulls are the most misunderstood dogs in the country,” Ed Fritz, campaign specialist for Best Friends, said in a news release. “We think that the program will not only help restore this dog’s image, but also help create safer, more humane communities for both dogs and people.”
Vick, who played with the Atlanta Falcons, was sentenced in December 2007 to serve 23 months in federal prison for his role in raising and training pit bulls for fighting. Losing dogs sometimes were hanged, drowned or electrocuted.
With time off for good behavior, Vick is slated for release on July 20.
pmanson@sltrib.com
The Bully Breed program is offering Shelter Dog AKC Canine Good Citizen classes for all dogs adopted at the Salt Lake County Animal Shelter. The classes also are open to owners of pit bulls and pit bull mixes in the community. Call 801-559-1136 to arrange to attend.
Filed under: Community Initiatives, Utah | Tagged: breed, Canine Good Citizen, community, county, neuter, pit bull, spay, training | Leave a Comment »
Next city-county council meeting: July 20, 7 PM
Contact information for city councilmembers:
http://www.indy.gov/eGov/Council/Documents/2008publiccouncillist.pdf
Write your councillor:
The Honorable or Councillor (Name)
241 City-County Building, 200 E.Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204
327-4242
CONSTITUENT CONCERNS: 327-4241
Find out who your council reps are: http://imaps.indygov.org/GovntProfile/
http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=10664855
Pit bull attack prompts renewed push for ordinance
Updated: July 8, 2009 04:18 PM CDT
Cat Andersen/Eyewitness NewsIndianapolis – A stiff two-year jail sentence for a man whose pit bulls mauled a neighbor is giving new life to a proposed law aimed at controlling the breed. The debate will likely move from the City-County Council to the legislature next year.
“I’ll never be the same because I don’t have my leg that the good Lord gave me,” said Brenda Hill, 68.
Part of her leg had to be amputated after she was attacked by two pit bulls. The owner of the two dogs, 32-year-old Lee Carroll, received the maximum sentence of two years in jail this week.
“It’ll never take the place of my leg,” said Hill.
City-County Councilman Mike Speedy says he understands. He says a pit bull charged him a few years ago.
“It was in a frenzy and in a rage and I thought, ‘Boy, am I glad that dog is tied up.’ And just as I thought that, its big thick collar just snapped off,” he said.
Speedy says the owner stopped the dog in time, but Hill’s incident has re-energized his push for a city-county ordinance requiring all pit bulls to be registered and sterilized.
“That will help separate the responsible owners from the irresponsible owners,” said Speedy.
The Humane Society says Speedy is taking the wrong approach by singling out one breed. It says the dogs are docile if cared for but like any animal, if they’re tortured they will become vicious.
“When a Rottweiler or a German Shepard or a Cocker Spaniel or a rooster is somehow trained to fight, that’s immoral and inhumane and that needs to be addressed by our legal system, not dog by dog,” said John Aleshire, Humane Society of Indianapolis.
There could also be enforcement problems.
“Whenever you target one specific breed, you run into enforcement issues, breed identification issues,” said Aleshire.
Still, Speedy argues, “These small groups were bred for fighting and they continue to be fought here in the city and that generates a specific problem. Yes, all dogs can be trained to be vicious but not all dogs bite the same as a result of their breeding.”
The Marion County prosecutor says he’s not looking for breed specific legislation. He wants laws with stiffer penalties.
“What we’re going to do next legislative session is approach the legislature and ask them to bump the penalties for crimes like this across the board,” said Carl Brizzi, Marion County prosecutor.
The prosecutor says right now, if an animal is recklessly let loose, the most someone can be charged with is a D felony. They want to raise the charge to a C felony which can carry a maximum of eight years in jail.
Previous alerts: http://stopbsl.com/2009/05/13/indianapolis-in-pit-bull-sterilization-rule-tabled/
http://stopbsl.com/2009/04/07/indianapolis-in-bsl-proposed/
Filed under: BSL Proposed, Indiana | Tagged: animal control, breed specific legislation, dangerous, dog, ordinance, pit bull, vicious | Leave a Comment »
Nothing official has been proposed. According to city officials quoted in the news article below, they intend to look at all their options.
Send snail mail correspondence to all council members at:
c/o City of Vestavia Hills, 513 Montgomery Highway, Vestavia Hills AL 35216
Fax: (205) 978-0122
Mayor Alberto (Butch) Zaragoza, Mayor@ci.vestaviahills.al.us
Phone: 205-978-0130
David Carrington, Council President, Place 5, dcarrington@racingusa.com
Phone (205) 978-0131
Mary Lee Rice, Council President Pro-Tempore, Place 1, ricemarylee@gmail.com
Phone: (205) 822-5456 (Home)
Jim Sharp, Place 2, sharpcleaners4686@charterinternet.com
Phone: (205) 822-0402 (Home)
Phone: (205) 978-0123 (Office)
Steve Ammons, Place 3, steve@steveammons.com
Phone: (205)789-7492
George B. Pierce, Place 4, gpierce@abc-alabama.org
Home: 205-823-6023
Fax: 205-879-5090
Cell: 205-370-6730
City Council Agendas and Minutes: http://www.vestaviahills.net/CityGovernance/CityCouncil/CityCouncilAgendasandMinutes/tabid/121/Default.aspx
Next city council meeting: July 13, 5:00 PM
The Council meets the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month beginning at 5:00 PM in the Council Chambers.
I want to address the City Council. Can I get on the City Council agenda?
The City Council welcomes citizen comments at the end of every regular public meeting. Any citizen recognized at that time may address the City Council.
In order to appear on the City Council Agenda, application must be sent to the City Council President in care of the City Clerk, Rebecca Leavings, either by e-mail or regular mail. The postal address is: Office of the City Clerk, 513 Montgomery Highway, Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35216. Application to appear on the City Council agenda must be submitted by 12:00 PM the Wednesday prior to the regularly scheduled City Council meeting. Please clearly state reasons for addressing the City Council and provide any background information as needed.
http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/south.ssf?/base/community/1247040944304850.xml&coll=2
Pit bull incident in Vestavia Hills sends residents to court
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
WILLIAM C. SINGLETON III, News staff writerSome Vestavia Hills residents on Cedarwood Road want pit bulls banned from the city after two pit bulls got out of a fence and allegedly attacked a German shepherd being walked by its owners.
“Pit bulls are unpredictable based on their nature,” said resident Floyd Hosmer. “You never know what’s going to trigger their defensive nature.”
Municipal Judge Tommy Spina on June 23 ordered that two dogs belonging to 18-year-old Benjamin Hilley remain at the Vestavia Hills Animal Clinic until further notice of the court.
The judge continued Hilley’s case until July 14.
Since the order, the Hilley family decided to put the dogs to sleep on June 26, said Steve Poer, Hilley’s attorney.
“It was a very traumatic situation for that 18-year-old kid,” he said by phone June 29. “We did what we thought we had to do.”
Hilley was charged with violating the city’s leash law, a misdemeanor which carries up to a $500 fine and 180 days in jail.
“I don’t expect Ben to be looking to adopt another pit bull,” Poer said. “The situation immediately at hand has been taken care of, we hope.”
Poer said he didn’t know if Hilley’s decision would lead to a dismissal of charges.
The case involves an alleged attack by Hilley’s dogs on a German shepherd belonging to Todd and Lela Coffey.
Shane Sears, an attorney for the Coffeys, said Todd and his 7-year-old son, Jaden, were walking their German shepherd when two pit bulls attacked their dog.
Todd Coffey and a neighbor intervened to protect Jaden and the German shepherd, which was on a leash.
Todd and the German shepherd were injured, Sears said.
Hilley’s dogs were impounded, but some neighbors were concerned that Hilley might be allowed to bring them home.
Neighbors circulated e-mails about the incident and asked residents to appear at the June 23 court case.
City prosecutor Michael Trucks addressed residents in a conference room outside council chambers, which serves as the municipal courtroom.
He told residents he advised Hilley and his mother of neighbors’ concerns and encouraged him to look into another breed of dog.
“We certainly don’t want to suggest that we’re anti-dog,” Trucks told about 25 residents. “What we really are is pro-safety. And quite frankly, the two of those things can work well with the right breeds and the right circumstances.”
Residents asked Mayor Alberto “Butch” Zaragoza, who attended the meeting, about a citywide ban on pit bulls.
Zaragoza said the city is reviewing all its ordinances and wants to put more teeth in codes that address the number of pets a resident can have as well as strengthen ordinances that address vicious animals.
“There is still a question whether we can outlaw pit bulls,” Zaragoza said. “When we talk about vicious dogs, there are other vicious animals besides dogs. There are other vicious dogs besides pit bulls. … We’ll be looking at all that.”
E-mail: wsingleton@bhamnews.com
Filed under: Alabama, Whispers of BSL | Tagged: animal control, ban, bite, breed specific legislation, city council, dangerous, dog, meeting, ordinance, pit bull | Leave a Comment »
Remember, per OH state law, all ”pit bulls” are automatically considered “vicious” dogs.
Also, the previous article on this topic was incorrect–the proposed BSL had its first (not second) reading during this council meeting.
Next city council meeting: July 21, 6:30 PM.
Whitehall City Council Members
Brent Howard, President of Council
Bhoward@cityofwhitehall.com
Christopher Rodruguez, At Large; President Pro-Tempore
Crodriguez@cityofwhitehall.com
Jim Graham, At Large
Jgraham@cityofwhitehall.com
Jacquelyn K. Thompson, At Large
Jthompson@cityofwhitehall.com
Robert Bailey, Ward I
Rbailey@cityofwhitehall.com
Wesley P. Kantor, Ward II
Wkantor@cityofwhitehall.com
Leo Knoblauch II, Ward III
Lknoblauch@cityofwhitehall.com
Carol Churchman, Clerk of Council
citycounciloffice@cityofwhitehall.com
Mayor John A. Wolfe
Phone: 614-338-3106
Fax: 614-338-3119
Julie Ogg, Secretary to the Mayor
jogg@cityofwhitehall.com
Council looks at proposed ban on pit bulls, ‘vicious’ dogs
But related measures put in place last year are working, Councilman Bob Bailey says.
By KEVIN CORVO
Published: Wednesday, July 8, 2009 5:36 PM EDTAn ordinance banning all pit bulls and other dogs deemed vicious in Whitehall received a first reading at the Tuesday, July 7 meeting of Whitehall City Council.
Another ordinance creating an animal control and code enforcement officer also received a first reading.
Councilwoman Jackie Thompson is the sponsor of the former; Mayor John Wolfe and Councilman Bob Bailey are the sponsors of the latter.
Thompson’s initial effort to ban pit bulls was defeated last year 5-2, after which council members voted 6-1 to adopt an ordinance Bailey crafted that placed stricter regulations on the harboring of vicious dogs.
Both new ordinances are scheduled for a second reading at the July 21 council meeting.
Although there was no formal discussion and both ordinances were read only by title, several residents and council members weighed in about canines during respective polling periods.
Patty Manning said residents should be permitted to have more than three dogs if they can demonstrate the ability to properly care for the additional dogs.
Residents are currently limited to three dogs, and city officials have began enforcing the regulation, requiring some residents, like Manning, to get rid of one or more dogs.
Penny Russell told council members her son, while delivering newspapers June 18, was bitten by a dog. Russell said, after great difficulty, the family learned the dog, a German shepherd and collie mix, was licensed and current on shots.
Russell said the experience demonstrated a need to limit the number of dogs a person can own, as some people cannot properly manage even one dog.
Manning concurred that some people cannot take care of any number of dogs, but those who can should not be automatically prevented from doing so.
During council polling, Thompson campaigned for her renewed effort to ban pit bulls.
“We have invited the pit bulls to our city,” Thompson. “We have invited them and now we are suffering the consequences.”
Current legislation is not working for pit bulls, and the miniscule number of pit bulls properly licensed and perhaps not a public threat do not match up against the safety of the city’s 17,000 residents, Thompson said.
“You can’t control these dogs,” she said.
Russell questioned a provision in Thompson’s ordinance that defines a “vicious” animal as, “Any animal, whether wild or domestic, which by virtue of its species, physical attributes, temperament and other characteristics presents a substantial risk of serious physical harm to persons.”
Russell called the provision “too broad a power for government.”
“You could use the size or anything to say a dog is vicious,” Russell said.
Thompson also questioned the selection process of members of the city’s vicious dog appeals board and criticized the inclusion of HELP FIDO, a nonprofit organization supporting canine care, in a Whitehall service directory.
HELP FIDO opposed Thompson’s pit bull ban last year, and, according to Thompson, continues to lobby against her effort, considered breed-specific legislation, on its Web site.
Bailey used his council polling to posit that the ordinance he proposed and council adopted last year is working.
“What we have is a mechanism that needs to get on the ground and running,” said Bailey, adding the addition of the animal control and code enforcement officer will “further enhance” the city’s ability to control vicious animal situations.
Bailey said the vicious dog appeals board should determine whether a dog is vicious.
“We can’t penalize (the owners) who are responsible,” Bailey said.
Previous alerts: http://stopbsl.com/2009/06/25/whitehall-oh-update/
http://stopbsl.com/2009/06/17/whitehall-oh-proposed-pit-bull-ban-to-be-introduced-june-23-630-pm/
http://stopbsl.com/2009/06/11/whitehall-oh-councilwoman-wants-pit-bull-ban-again/
http://stopbsl.com/2009/01/02/whitehall-oh-whitehall-takes-vicious-turn-in-08-bsl-rejected/
http://stopbsl.com/2008/11/10/whitehall-oh-article-whitehall-mayor-cant-fill-board-to-hear-pit-bull-appeals/
Filed under: BSL Proposed, Ohio | Tagged: animal control, ban, breed specific legislation, city council, dog, meeting, ordinance, pit bull | Leave a Comment »
Several news media channels covered the following information, which is being touted as “proof” of the ”success” of Omaha’s new dangerous dog laws, which include restrictions on “pit bulls.”
This “success” is apparently being measured not by any change in the number of dog bites occurring, but by the number of citations being written for things like lack of liability insurance or muzzle.
http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/50152997.html
NHS Releases Numbers On Dangerous Dog Crackdown
Dozens of pit bull owners cited
Posted: 3:01 PM Jul 7, 2009
Reporter: WOWT
Email Address: sixonline@wowt.comA report from the Nebraska Humane Society released Tuesday summarizes progress made on the dangerous dog crackdown in Omaha over the past six months.
From January to the end of June, 90 citations were issued to pit bull owners for not having proof of insurance. Ninety citations were also handed out to owners whose pit bulls were not muzzled, on a harness or were wearing a leash that was too long.
Seventy potentially dangerous dog declarations were issued. In four of those cases, appeals were heard and granted. Thirty-three citations were given due to dogs being tethered outside for longer than 15 minutes.
Of the 62 dogs that have taken the canine good citizen test, including all dogs that have taken the class and not just those enrolled this year, 46 have passed.
http://www.ketv.com/news/19984447/detail.html
Dog Owners Say They Feel Safer Amid Enforcement
Humane Society Cites Hundreds In 6 Months
UPDATED: 6:27 pm CDT July 7, 2009
OMAHA, Neb. — The Nebraska Humane Society said Omaha’s dog ordinance is working better than expected after hundreds of dog owners have been ticketed for various violations in six months.
Within the stats released Tuesday, 90 people were ticketed for not having their pit bulls restrained with a muzzle or harness and nine people have been declared reckless owners.
Animal control officers have been aggressively pursuing potentially dangerous animals. Dog owners said they have seen a difference.
“I don’t feel scared at all,” said Leora Azriel.
The dog owner said she feels safer bringing her dog to a dog park. She said signs make clear what the dogs need to have before entering the park.
Debra Flores said she was happy about the stats including all the owners who were ticketed.
“It’s pretty traumatic for a dog to be bit by a dog. It stays with them the rest of their lives,” Flores said.
She had little sympathy for those who left their dogs outside longer than 15 minutes and were ticketed.
“I mean, you can’t just leave a dog out in a yard and not check on it. It’s like putting your child out in the yard and saying, ‘Go play,’” Flores said.
The ordinance is still in its first year. Humane Society spokesman Mark Langan said he expects the stats to decrease with each year as owners learn to comply with the rules.
Filed under: Nebraska, Results of BSL | Tagged: animal control, breed specific legislation, Canine Good Citizen, city council, dangerous, dog, Insurance, muzzle, ordinance, pit bull | Leave a Comment »
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