Monthly Archives: September 2009

Neguac, NB, Canada: “Pit bulls” banned

Posted on September 30, 2009 by | 1 Comment

This has passed, and there is no grandfather clause–all “pit bulls” must go immediately.

Contact Neguac city council here to express your disappointment:
VILLAGE OF NEGUAC, 1175 rue Principale Suite 1, Neguac, N.B. E9G 1T1
Phone: (506) 776-3950
Tourist line (May to September): (506) 776-3838
Fax: (506) 776-3975
village@nb.aibn.com

Neguac bans all pit bulls

Community says bylaw will improve safety; pit bull advocates say measures ineffective

BY KRIS MCDAVID
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Wednesday September 30th, 2009

NEGUAC – The village of Neguac is hoping to rid itself of a number of dog breeds that fall under the pit bull label and owners are now required to surrender their pets, no questions asked.

The community, located about 30-minutes northeast of Miramichi, passed a bylaw banning the ownership of the breeds that are considered pit bulls.[...]

Full article retrieved 9/30/09 from http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/newstoday/article/808506

Another article on the ban can be found here: http://miramichileader.canadaeast.com/front/article/808050

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Posted in BSL Passed, Canada

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Parris Island, S.C. Marine housing: ASPCA to perform behavior evals on banned breeds

Posted on September 29, 2009 by | 1 Comment

The Marines have banned certain breeds of dogs from base housing (see previous alerts here: http://stopbsl.com/?s=marines). However, some bases are providing waivers for banned dogs already on base.

This base in S.C. will provide waivers to residents whose dogs pass the SAFER behavior test administered by the ASPCA. The residents will be allowed to keep their pets on the base until 2012.

Marines Enlist Help of ASPCA Animal Behavior Experts

Team of Experts to Assess Behavior of Dogs in Danger of Breed Ban

NEW YORK, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Several Animal Behavior Experts from the ASPCA(R)( )(The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(R)) will be in Parris Island, S.C. from October 6-8 to conduct behavior assessments of over 100 dogs living with their pet parents who could potentially be subject to a breed ban in the Tri-Command housing units of the Marines Corp Recruit Depot.

[...] “We’re very excited about the ASPCA coming to Parris Island,” said Army Capt. Jenifer Gustafson, the Officer in Charge of the veterinary clinic on Parris Island. “There was a chance that some pet parents would be forced to give up their dogs or leave housing on the base, so this is a great alternative solution.”

Full article retrieved 9/29/09 from http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/marines-enlist-help-of-aspca-animal-behavior-experts-62343397.html

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Posted in BSL Passed, Community Initiatives, Results of BSL

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Des Moines, IA update: BSL still being considered

Posted on September 29, 2009 by | 2 Comments

Previous alerts for Des Moines: http://stopbsl.com/?s=des+moines

Des Moines was considering a ban on “pit bulls.” (They already have BSL for “pit bulls,” and it is not working.) Apparently the ban idea has been dropped, but stronger BSL is being considered.

Dog breed, behavior are keys in ordinance debate

By JASON PULLIAM
jpulliam@dmreg.com
September 29, 2009

Breed or behavior?

Those issues form the core of a debate brewing in Des Moines over proper regulations for dogs whose bloodlines or tendency to bite earn them the tag “vicious” under a local ordinance.

City officials have called for a mix of tougher license fees, insurance requirements and owner training to strengthen Des Moines’ vicious-dog ordinance and reduce the number of attacks. Calls for the removal of language that defines pit bull-type breeds as vicious, however, have not been included in proposed changes.[...]

Full article retrieved 9/29/09 from http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090929/NEWS/909290352/-1/NEWS04

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Iowa

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Rusk County area, Texas: Petition circulating for statewide BSL

Posted on September 24, 2009 by | 6 Comments

Previous alerts on this issue: http://stopbsl.com/2009/09/02/texas-whispers-of-bsl/

A petition has been created in Jacksonville that would require owners of “pit bulls” to be “trained and certified” to own the “breed.” The petition creators intend to present this petition to their Texas Senator, Robert Nichols, in an effort to get a state law created to this effect.

Contact information for Senator Robert Nichols can be found here: http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/members/dist3/dist3.htm

Mauling Death Of Young Rusk County Boy Prompts Push For Pit Bull Bill

By BETTY WATERS
Staff Writer

Aghast over pit bull dogs mauling to death of a 10-year-old Rusk County boy, hundreds of people in neighboring Cherokee County signed a petition for a state law that would establish requirements for owners of pit bull dogs.

Susan Walczak, manager of City Pawn in Jacksonville, and two coworkers began the petition drive in Jacksonville, and a spin-off petition is circulating in Tyler.

At last count about 640 signatures had been collected in Jacksonville. A tabulation of signatures on the Tyler petition was not available Wednesday.

[...] Many people who have heard about the petition came into the pawn shop just to sign it, although many signers are customers, according to the petition organizers, who hope to get action on the issue in the next state legislative session.

Full article retrieved 9/24/09 from http://www.tylerpaper.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090924/NEWS01/909240322

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Posted in Texas, Whispers of BSL

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Royal Oak, MI: Dog law to get more teeth (not BSL)

Posted on September 24, 2009 by | Comments Off

Previous alerts for Royal Oak: http://stopbsl.com/?s=royal+oak

Dog law to get more teeth

However, city won’t enact ban on specific breeds.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009
By Catherine Kavanaugh, Daily Tribune Staff Writer

ROYAL OAK — [...] At Monday’s commission meeting, Drinkwine settled for beefing up the city’s ordinances. No other elected officials supported a ban on pit bulls or any breeds of dogs.[...]

Full article retrieved 9/24/09 from http://www.dailytribune.com/articles/2009/09/23/news/srv0000006458768.txt

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Posted in Michigan, Non-BSL Proposed

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Whitehall, OH: Councilwoman who tried to ban pit bulls faces recall

Posted on September 24, 2009 by | Comments Off

StopBSL takes no position one way or the other on Thompson’s recall. However, dog owners may note that this is one way to fight back against legal and political discrimination.

Whitehall votes to place Thompson recall on fall ballot

It’s the first recall vote in the city’s history.

By KEVIN CORVO
Published: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 4:07 PM EDT

Whitehall City Council members made official at a special meeting Tuesday, Sept. 22, the first recall election in the city’s history.

Voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to retain Jackie Thompson, the first-term councilwoman who has challenged the city on numerous issues and raised the ire of some residents in her quest for what she has termed accountability and reform.

[...] Perhaps the most contentious matter concerning Thompson revolved around her twice-thwarted effort to ban pit bulls in the city.[...]

Full article retrieved 9/24/09 from http://www.snponline.com/articles/2009/09/23/multiple_papers/news/allwhrecal_20090923_0355pm_4.txt

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Posted in Community Initiatives, Ohio

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Boulder, CO: Boulder takes a bite out of bad dog behavior

Posted on September 24, 2009 by | Comments Off

Boulder takes a bite out of bad dog behavior

By Jared Jacang Maher
Published on September 23, 2009 at 12:11pm
Westword News

[...] After getting a job at an advertising firm, James decided to ditch the Mile High City for Boulder, which has no pit bull ban. He moved into a pet-friendly apartment and discovered that six other people in the building owned pit bulls, too. “And three of them said they’d also moved out of Denver because of the ban,” he says.

Boulder officials say they have no reliable count of how many dogs there are in the city, let alone pit bulls. In 2008, Boulder’s animal-control division recorded 207 dog bites; 9 were reported to have come from pit bulls. The numbers were similar in the three years prior. And Boulder hasn’t had a fatal dog attack in at least thirty years. Because what it does have is a muscular dangerous-dog law and a unique bite-diversion program that teaches owners how to control aggressive behavior in their dogs in order to prevent future bites.

[...] An aggressive-dog ordinance is far more effective than a breed ban, Teague says.[...]

Full article retrieved 9/24/09 from http://www.westword.com/2009-09-24/news/boulder-takes-a-bite-out-of-bad-dog-behavior/

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Posted in Colorado, Community Initiatives, Results of BSL, Studies

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Denver, CO: Excellent article examining pit bull ban

Posted on September 23, 2009 by | Comments Off

There is an excellent article in Denver Westword News about the Denver breed ban. It is too lengthy to reprint here. Please follow the link; it is well worth the read.

For two decades, pit bulls have been public enemy #1 in Denver. But maybe it’s time for a recount.
http://www.westword.com/2009-09-24/news/for-two-decades-pit-bulls-have-been-public-enemy-1-in-denver-but-maybe-it-s-time-for-a-recount/

A photo tour of Denver’s “pit bull death row” accompanies the article.

Inside Denver’s “Pit Bull Row”
http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2009/09/inside_denvers_pit_bull_row.php

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Posted in Colorado, Community Initiatives, Court Cases, Criminal Activity, Results of BSL, Studies

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Fremont, OH: Pit bull ban suggested

Posted on September 23, 2009 by | 1 Comment

Nothing official has been proposed. However, city councilmembers are discussing the possibility of a ban on “pit bulls” in Fremont. Remember: the state of Ohio already considers all “pit bulls” to be legally classified as “vicious dogs.”

There will be a town meeting on the issue at City Hall on October 15 at 6:30 PM.

Fremont Law Director Bob Hart, who is pushing for the ban: 419-334-2908

City Councilmembers’ Contact Info:
Mike Koebel, 419-334-4231 home, 419-332-5300 work
Jim Melle, jmelle@fremontohio.org
Larry Jackson, ljackson@fremontohio.org
O. Duane Simmons, odsimmons@fremontohio.org
Rick Root, rroot@fremontohio.org
Jim Weaver, jweaver@fremontohio.org
Karen Wagner, pwags43@yahoo.com
Don Nalley, nalley1stward@aol.com

A transcript of the city council meeting can be found here: http://mypetrescueblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/town-hall-meeting-on-pit-bull-ban-in.html

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Ohio

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Sarnia, Ontario, Canada: Dogs to be released by city

Posted on September 22, 2009 by | Comments Off

Sarnia is having quite a bit of trouble identifying banned dogs; this is an example of why appearance-based laws don’t make sense. Identification of a “pit bull” is arbitrary and subjective.
This is a followup to previous story: http://stopbsl.com/2009/09/04/sarnia-ontario-canada-pit-bull-law-unevenly-applied/

Dogs to be released by city

SHAWN JEFFORDS
The Observer

Three dogs mistakenly believed to be pit bulls, and sentenced to death by the city, will be set free this week.

Puppies Maddi and Carter and their father, all three boxer mixes, were seized by city animal control officers in early September. According to a provincial law, any dog resembling a Staffordshire bull terrier must be destroyed because the breed is banned.

[...] “I wouldn’t put it as a mistake,” he said. “Animal control staff are vigilant about what they perceive as similar characteristics. For those that aren’t actual breeders it probably isn’t an exact science.”

Full article retrieved 9/22/09 from http://www.theobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1762615

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Posted in Breed Identification, Canada, Results of BSL

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