Monthly Archives: March 2010

Lakewood, OH: Lawsuit filed against city due to “pit bull” ban

Posted on March 30, 2010 by | 1 Comment

Read a copy of the suit filed in Cuyahoga County, Ohio Common Pleas Court: http://www.lovelakewood.com/pdf/dog/100319_pitbull_court.pdf

An excerpt of the case (visit the link for the full post):

http://www.lovelakewood.com/blog/2010/03/30/citys-enforcement-of-pit-bull-ban-draws-lawsuit/

Former Lakewood resident Leonard Shelton alleges that he suffered “economic damages, psychological damages, and other compensatory damages” when the city harassed him about Rosco, his Boston Terrier mix, and forced them both to move out of the city. Shelton is seeking a minimum of $475,000 in damages.

According to Shelton’s complaint, Stewart and Lakewood police officer Kenneth Kulczycki stopped him on the street in April, 2009, and told him his pet was a pit bull and needed to be removed from the city, or else he would face criminal charges.

[...] Shelton’s complaint against the city says its inability to correctly identify the breed of his dog, the harassment, and refusal to accept DNA proof was motivated by “among other things, malice, ill will, discrimination, and bad faith and constitutes violations of [his] constitutional rights.”

Additional posts and info about Leonard Shelton:

http://btoellner.typepad.com/kcdogblog/2009/05/bsl-again-affecting-good-owners.html

http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/leonard-shelton-fought-in-the-marines-for-20-years-now-he-fights-for-sleep/Content?oid=1505838

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Breed Identification, Court Cases, Ohio, Results of BSL

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Livingston County, MI: Livingston animal shelter extends adoption time, may drop ‘bully breed’ ban

Posted on March 26, 2010 by | 1 Comment

Following this news, PETA sent a letter to the editor titled “Rescued pit bulls not family pets.”  The letter requests that Livingston County Animal Control continue to kill “bully breed” dogs rather than adopt them out.

Livingston animal shelter extends adoption time, may drop ‘bully breed’ ban

Valerie Olander / The Detroit News
Last Updated: March 15. 2010 1:00AM

Howell — A two-year ban on adopting out stray “bully breeds” at Livingston County Animal Control is expected to be lifted and replaced with a policy that affects only those animals deemed aggressive.[...]

Full article retrieved 3/26/10 from http://detnews.com/article/20100315/METRO04/3150316/Livingston-animal-shelter-extends-adoption-time–may-drop–bully-breed–ban#ixzz0jLHfPk32

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Michigan, Proposal to Repeal

Tagged , , , ,

Yucaipa, CA update: Residents request “pit bull” ban

Posted on March 26, 2010 by | 1 Comment

California state law prohibits breed-specific legislation, with the exception of breed-specific spay/neuter. Yucaipa city council is aware of state law. Please send viable breed-neutral model laws and other correspondence to the council for consideration.

Mayor Dick Riddell, driddell@yucaipa.org
Mayor Pro Tem Allan Drusys, DVM, adrusys@yucaipa.org
Councilmember Denise Hoyt, dhoyt@yucaipa.org
Councilmember Tom Masner, tommasner@yucaipa.org
Councilmember Diane Smith, dsmith@yucaipa.org

Council meetings are open public meetings and are held on the second and fourth Monday of each month. Meetings are held in the Council Chambers of City Hall, located at 34272 Yucaipa Boulevard, Yucaipa, CA 92399.

Previous alerts for Yucaipa: http://stopbsl.com/?s=yucaipa

Council hears pleas to ban pit bulls: Some support breed

By NOELLE KIELY
Staff Reporter
Published: Thursday, March 25, 2010 11:12 PM PDT

The first hour of the March 22 council meeting was dedicated to public comments….

Barbra Evans, a member of the Best Friends Animal Society, said she was asked to come to listen to the arguments….

At the end of the council meeting, Councilwoman Diane Smith said, “After hearing all the testimony tonight, I would like to have staff look into what our options are for regulating vicious dogs.”

Full story retrieved March 26, 2010 from http://www.newsmirror.net/articles/2010/03/26/news/doc4baa7ba851ce0786427272.txt

→ 1 Comment

Posted in California, Whispers of BSL

Tagged , , , , , ,

Sioux City, IA: Dogs exempted from pit bull ban face impoundment deadline

Posted on March 25, 2010 by | 2 Comments

More than 100 dogs exempted from Sioux City pit bull ban face impoundment deadline

By Associated Press
7:12 AM CDT, March 25, 2010

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Sioux City’s pit bull ban will be tested again in April, when more than 150 pit bulls allowed to live in the city need to be reregistered or face impoundment.[...]

Article retrieved 3/25/10 from http://www.wqad.com/news/sns-ap-ia–iowapitbullban,0,5145278.story

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Iowa, Results of BSL

Tagged , , , , ,

Marshall, MN editorial calls for “pit bull” ban

Posted on March 25, 2010 by | 6 Comments

The Marshall Independent newspaper in Minnesota has published an editorial calling for a “pit bull” ban.

http://www.marshallindependent.com/page/content.detail/id/515764.html?nav=5017

→ 6 Comments

Posted in Minnesota, Whispers of BSL

Tagged , , ,

St. Mary Parish, LA update: BSL passed

Posted on March 24, 2010 by | 1 Comment

Previous alert for St. Mary Parish: http://stopbsl.com/2010/01/15/st-mary-parish-la-st-mary-tables-ban-on-pit-bulls/

Pit bull ordinance passes in St. Mary

By ROBERT R. JONES III
Special to The Advocate
Published: Mar 24, 2010 – UPDATED: 8:25 p.m.

FRANKLIN — The St. Mary Parish Council unanimously adopted an ordinance Wednesday regulating the ownership of pit bulls in unincorporated areas of the parish.

The strict measures, which go into effect July 1, levy several restrictions on owners of the dogs, including living at the same physical address at which the dogs are housed; being at least 21 years old; providing proof of rabies vaccinations; and ensuring the dog has been micro-chipped.

[...]No residents at the public hearing or official meeting spoke in favor of the ordinance.

Article retrieved 3/24/10 from http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/89076082.html

→ 1 Comment

Posted in BSL Passed, Louisiana

Tagged , , , , ,

Boaz, AL update: Ordinance passes without BSL

Posted on March 24, 2010 by | 1 Comment

Previous alerts for Boaz: http://stopbsl.com/?s=boaz

Boaz council tames vicious animals ordinance

By Lionel Green
The Reporter
Published March 25, 2010

The Boaz City Council removed the breed-specific language from a proposed vicious animals ordinance and unanimously passed the measure during a meeting Monday at the Boaz Senior Center.[...]

Article retrieved 3/24/10 from http://www.sandmountainreporter.com/story.lasso?ewcd=16b94c18ecfb1169

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Alabama, BSL Defeated

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Beatrice, NE: Whispers of BSL (“pit bull” ban)

Posted on March 23, 2010 by | 1 Comment

Thanks to Jodi for this alert:

Beatrice, Nebraska city councilman Jason Moore brought up the issue of banning “any dog that is part pit bull” in the city limits. His suggestion was not well received, however, Moore says he plans to draft an ordinance and present it to the council at some time in the future.

No ordinance has been formally proposed or presented at this time. We may want to send the city officials some factual information to refute the information provided by Councilman Moore, and perhaps some strong generic dangerous dog ordinances for their consideration, as well.

Jodi

Beatrice City Council, 400 Ella Street, Beatrice, Nebraska 68310
(402) 228-5200
FAX (402) 228-2312

City council member suggests pit bull ban

By Scott Koperski/Daily Sun staff writer
Posted: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 9:55 am

At Monday night’s work session for the Beatrice City Council, council member Jason Moore brought up … pit bulls within the city.

Moore suggested … the council impose a citywide ban on any dog that is part pit bull.

Full story retrieved March 23, 2010 from http://www.beatricedailysun.com/news/local/article_82d2bdda-368c-11df-afb3-001cc4c03286.html

→ 1 Comment

Posted in BSL Proposed, Nebraska

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Sioux City, IA update: Proposals to be submitted to city attorney (still BSL)

Posted on March 23, 2010 by | Comments Off

Council mulls possible changes to animal laws

By Lynn Zerschling lzerschling@siouxcityjournal.com
Posted: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 12:00 am

SIOUX CITY — After another discussion on whether to redefine the city’s vicious dog law and lift the ban on pit bulls, Mayor Mike Hobart asked his City Council colleagues Monday to submit the ideas they favor to the city attorney.[...]

From the discussion, it appeared Councilman John Fitch and Hobart favor eliminating the ban on pit bulls and pit bull mixes enacted by the council in 2008. Rochester and Councilman Keith Radig said they would keep the prohibition. Councilman Tom Padgett said generally he didn’t favor breed bans but did not indicate how he would vote on this ban. He said after the meeting he is willing to consider lifting the ban with conditions recommended by Hobart.[...]

Article retrieved 3/23/10 from http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/article_5c10b313-1534-59f2-9718-75475dbd0e62.html

Comments Off

Posted in Iowa, Results of BSL

Tagged , , , , , ,

Sioux City, IA: Proposal to repeal “pit bull” ban (would not eliminate BSL)

Posted on March 21, 2010 by | Comments Off

Under one possible scenario, Sioux City could repeal their “pit bull” ban, but “pit bulls” would instead be automatically considered “high risk” animals, subject to a host of special restrictions.

City council will consider the proposals on Monday, March 22, at 4:00 PM.
Council Chambers, 5th Floor of City Hall, 405 6th Street

You may send letters by e-mail to the full Council-ccouncil@sioux-city.org or mail to City Hall, P.O. Box 447, Sioux City, IA 51102, or call 712-279-6102.

Hobart, Rochester proposals to be considered Monday

Council may change vicious animal laws

Lynn Zerschling – lzerschling@siouxcityjournal.com
Posted: Saturday, March 20, 2010 1:00 am

SIOUX CITY — [...] Hobart’s proposal calls for repealing the pit bull ban and adding pit bulls to the city’s “high risk” animal category. He would increase the penalties for animals declared to be at high risk and hike the fees for high risk animals, City Attorney Andrew Mai said.[...]

Article retrieved 3/21/10 from http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/article_7f454860-40ea-531a-afc6-cfa597c3d597.html

Comments Off

Posted in BSL Proposed, Iowa, Results of BSL

Tagged , , , , , , ,