Monthly Archives: July 2009

Midwest City, OK: MWC, Residents Fight Over Dog Ban

Posted on July 21, 2009 by | 1 Comment

Ridiculous quote of the month: Katherine Bolles, the City Attorney for Midwest City said, “Those dogs [pit bulls] will seek out small children or petite women as their prey. They don’t just bite them and release, they bite to kill.”

Please send your photos of petite women and small children hanging out with “pit bulls” to:
Katherine Bolles, City Attorney
100 N. Midwest Boulevard, Midwest City, OK 73110
405.739.1203
kbolles@midwestcityok.org

Contact page for Midwest City Mayor and City Council:
http://www.midwestcityok.org/mayorandcouncil

The Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, beginning at 7:15 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 100 N. Midwest Boulevard.

Next city council meeting: July 28

http://www.ksbitv.com/news/51253812.html

MWC & Residents Fight Over Dog Ban

KSBI News
Story Created: Jul 20, 2009 at 5:24 PM CDT

Covering the metro, a battle continues in Midwest City over which dogs can be owned by residents. Bull terrier is one of the breeds that are not allowed. But a local family won a ruling to keep their dogs and now, the city is waiting for their appeal to be heard in court.

[...] Katherine Bolles, the City Attorney for Midwest City said, “Those dogs will seek out small children or petite women as their prey. They don’t just bite them and release, they bite to kill.”

Oklahoma Statute indicates that no one can practice specific breed banning. So Midwest City says they should be able to rule over local issues since they’re a Home-Rule Charter City.[...]

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Posted in Court Cases, Oklahoma, Results of BSL

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Glidden, IA: Glidden eyes pit bull regulations

Posted on July 17, 2009 by | Comments Off

City Officials
Roger Hartwigsen, Mayor
John Arrowsmith, Councilmember
Tony Ball, Councilmember
JoAnn Morlan, Councilmember
Bob Linde, Councilmember
Gary Schroer, Councilmember

Loren Lodge, City Admin
g.cityhall@mchsi.com

Suzy Danner, City Clerk
glidden3@mchsi.com

City of Glidden, 108 Idaho Street, P.O. Box 349, Glidden, Iowa 51443-0349
(712) 659-3010

http://www.carrollspaper.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=8380&TM=46294.69

Glidden eyes pit bull regulations

By DOUGLAS BURNS
Staff Writer
7/17/2009 11:42:00 AM

GLIDDEN – The Glidden City Council is considering stiffening a vicious-animal ordinance to include a breed-specific provision regulating pit bulls. [...]

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Iowa

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Midwest City, OK: Dogfight brews in Midwest City as breed law is enforced

Posted on July 14, 2009 by | 1 Comment

http://www.mwcsun.com/local/local_story_194114927.html

Dogfight brews in Midwest City as breed law is enforced

By Aaron Wright, editor
The Sun
Published: July 13, 2009 01:49 pm

[...] Enforcing Midwest City ordinance Article 4, Section 8-171, the city officials confronted Carol and Jerry Stuckey in December of 2007 about their ownership of bull terriers. According to the ordinance, bull terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Pit Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier breeds constitute the definition of a pit bull.

Referencing Oklahoma statute Title 4, section 46 about not being able to practice breed specific banning, the Stuckey’s took the city of Midwest City to court.

The court ruled in favor of the Stuckeys. The city appealed the decision.

“Really, probably the key thing about this case is that it’s not about dogs,” said Katherine Bolles, city attorney for Midwest City. She said the city is most interested in having the courts define the powers of a home-rule charter city, which Midwest City is.[...]

Currently, the city is working on filing briefs. Midwest City has hired an attorney in Edmond that specializes in home-rule charters and municipal law. The $200 an hour fee for the attorney comes out of a fund set aside to address lawsuits.

“It’s very significant for all municipalities in the state,” said Bolles.[...]

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Posted in Court Cases, Oklahoma, Results of BSL

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Reminder: Lowell, MA may discuss proposed BSL, July 14, 6:30

Posted on July 12, 2009 by | Comments Off

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/

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Massachusetts

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Omaha, NE: Results of “dangerous dog crackdown”

Posted on July 8, 2009 by | Comments Off

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.

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.com

A 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.[...]

Full article retrieved 7/8/09 from http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/50152997.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.[...]

Full article retrieved 7/8/09 from http://www.ketv.com/news/19984447/detail.html

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Posted in Nebraska, Results of BSL

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Wilkes-Barre, PA: Dog owners, experts growl at proposed vicious breed ban

Posted on July 6, 2009 by | 2 Comments

Previous alert and contact information for Wilkes-Barre lawmakers: http://stopbsl.com/2009/07/03/wilkes-barre-pa-city-to-ask-legislature-for-ability-to-pass-bsl/

Dog owners, experts growl at proposed vicious breed ban

By Nicholas Sohr (Staff Writer)
Published: July 4, 2009

[...] “Sometimes these things are fear driven,” said Cindy Stark, a member of the governor’s Dog Law Advisory Board and shelter manager for the Luzerne County chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. “I understand legislators and heads of municipalities are concerned for the safety of their citizens. But the bottom line is the owners are responsible for their animals.”

[...] In 2001, when [Mayor] Leighton was a member of city council, he pushed to ban pit bulls, Rottweilers, German shepherds and Doberman Pinschers from city parks after authorities shot a pit bull during a raid at a Woodward Street home.

A state law stymied the measure because it prevents municipalities from enacting laws that single out dogs based solely on breed.

In 2005, Leighton pushed new legislation to ban pit bulls from the entire city.[...] The effort was thwarted by the same state law.[...]

Full article retreved 7/6/09 from http://www.citizensvoice.com/news/dog_owners_experts_growl_at_proposed_vicious_breed_ban

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Pennsylvania

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Wilkes-Barre, PA: City to ask legislature for ability to pass BSL

Posted on July 3, 2009 by | 3 Comments

The state of PA prohibits municipalities from passing BSL. Wilkes-Barre wants to change this so they can pass BSL.

Contact Information for Wilkes-Barre Lawmakers:

Mayor Thomas M. Leighton
Contact: Gwen Blasi, Executive Secretary
Phone: 570-208-4152

City Council Members
Tony Thomas Jr., Chairperson
Kathy Kane, Vice Chairperson
Bill Barrett
Rick Cronauer
Mike Merritt
FOR CITY COUNCIL INQUIRIES PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK AT 570-208-4117

Next city council meeting July 9 at 6:00 PM
City Council Chambers, Fourth Floor, City Hall

City wants to stop the dog attacks

BILL O ’ BOYLE boboyle@timesleader.com

WILKES-BARRE – Mayor Tom Leighton said the city will do whatever it can to prevent dangerous dog attacks.

[...] “We can’t have these dangerous dogs walking in our parks and Farmers’ Market,” Leighton said. “I look forward to the state Legislature enacting a law to address this situation.”

[...] Under current state law, municipalities are limited in how they may regulate dangerous or vicious dogs. Leighton said his administration was unable to proceed with plans to ban pit bulls from the city in 2005 when a safety issue arose.

[...] “Currently, we are contacting our state legislators and urging them to consider legislation which would give municipalities like the City of Wilkes-Barre the power to enact and enforce dangerous dog ordinances. We are also reviewing our current permits and fines related to vicious dogs and intend to increase them.”[...]

Full article retrieved 7/3/09 from http://www.timesleader.com/news/City_wants_to_stop_the_dog_attacks_07-03-2009.html

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Posted in Pennsylvania, Whispers of BSL

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