Monthly Archives: June 2010

Reminder: San Bernardino County, CA to consider breed-specific MSN, June 22

Posted on June 21, 2010 by | 1 Comment

Update 6/22 (thanks, Jodi):

The San Bernardino County Board of Commissioners meets this morning at 9:00 a.m.  The reading of the ordinance regarding mandatory spay/neuter of “pit bulls” appears to have been continued to July 13, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. It is number 149 on the Commission agenda: http://cob-sire.sbcounty.gov/sirepub/pubmtgframe.aspx?meetid=391&doctype=AGENDA

Nevertheless, anyone who is able to attend the meeting is encouraged to do so in order to present factual information in the event the matter is discussed.

The Report/Recommendation of the Board can be found at this link:
http://cob-sire.sbcounty.gov/sirepub/cache/2/4udyz445ewz4yujqobkgjdq1/33785706222010030110992.PDF

First reading of proposed ordinance on June 22, 10:00 AM, at County Government Center, 385 North Arrowhead Avenue, San Bernardino.

Previous alerts for San Bernardino: http://stopbsl.com/?s=%22san+bernardino%22

Breed-specific mandatory spay/neuter still has all the flaws of any other type of breed-specific law (including identification of breeds/types of dogs to be neutered), has not been shown to be effective at reducing dog populations while increasing the number of dogs killed in shelters, has not been shown to reduce dog bites or increase public safety, and is not supported by no-kill advocates or other animal welfare experts.

Contact info for San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors:

Brad Mitzelfelt, First District
(909) 387.4830
SupervisorMitzelfelt@sbcounty.gov

Paul Biane, Second District
(909) 387.4833
SupervisorBiane@sbcounty.gov

Neil Derry, Third District
(909) 387.4855
Email form: http://www.sbcounty.gov/bosd3/contact/Email.aspx

Gary Ovitt, Chairman, Fourth District
(909) 387.4866
SupervisorOvitt@sbcounty.gov

Josie Gonzales, Vice Chair, Fifth District
(909) 387.4565
SupervisorGonzales@sbcounty.gov

Supervisors propose pit bull spay/neuter law

10:12 PM PDT on Sunday, June 20, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

The ordinance, which the Board of Supervisors will consider Tuesday, would require pit bulls and related breeds over the age of 4 months to be spayed or neutered within 30 days after the ordinance is approved.

Read the rest of the article here:

http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_npitbull21.2104ef4.html

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Posted in BSL Proposed, California

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Denver, CO: Tide may be turning for Denver’s pit-bull ban

Posted on June 20, 2010 by | 4 Comments

The Denver Post has a long article about the Denver “pit bull” ban on their website today. There’s not much new information in the article, so I’m going to skip posting the full text. You can read the article here:  http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_15328946

Of note is the mention of groups fighting the ban, as well as the interest (or lack thereof) of city council members in altering the ban. There is a bit more discussion about council member Carla Madison’s proposal to change the ban into regulations that would allow pit bull owners to own a pit bull if they jump through a number of hoops.

There is also a discussion board attached to this article where you can leave your thoughts about Denver’s pit bull ban.

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Posted in Colorado, Results of BSL

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Sterling Heights, MI: BSL under discussion

Posted on June 17, 2010 by | 4 Comments

Notice the stereotyping by the resident asking for a “pit bull” ban. He says: “We have inner city people who bought homes here… They don’t need to bring their pit bulls here.”

City council meetings are held the first and third Tuesday of each month beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers (40555 Utica Road), Sterling Heights, Michigan.

Mayor and City Council
Mayor Richard Notte, rnotte@sterling-heights.net
Joseph Ramano, cityhall@sterling-heights.net
Yvonne Kniaz, ykniaz@sterling-heights.net
Deanna Koski, dkoski@sterling-heights.net
Maria Schmidt, mgschmidt@sterling-heights.net
Michael Taylor, mctaylor@sterling-heights.net
Barbara Ziarko, bziarko@sterling-heights.net

Sterling Heights officials to examine vicious dog laws

Published: Thursday, June 17, 2010
By LANA MINI

The question about ordinances is whether Sterling Heights should ban an entire dog breed, enforce tougher leash and animal-at-large laws, enact mandatory muzzling, ban pit bull breeding in the city or require that owners of very protective dog breeds be required to take special courses to better handle and understand the breed.

Read the rest of the story here:

http://www.sourcenewspapers.com/articles/2010/06/17/news/doc4c1a21c421048364455745.txt

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Posted in Michigan, Whispers of BSL

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New Bedford, MA: BSL proposed

Posted on June 17, 2010 by | 5 Comments

Thanks to Jodi for this alert.

City Councilwoman Debora Coehlo has proposed an ordinance that would regulate the ownership of “pit bulls” in New Bedford, MA. The ordinance has been referred to the ordinance committee for consideration.

Please send your POLITE, RESPECTFUL and INFORMATIVE letters to the New Bedford city officials listed below. Please also send viable alternatives and suggestions for their consideration.

The next city council meeting is June 24, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. Meetings are held at City Council Chambers, 133 William Street, Room 214.

City Clerk Rita Aruda, Rita.Arruda@newbedford-ma.gov
New Bedford City Hall, 133 William Street, New Bedford, MA 02740
Tel:508.979.1400
Fax:508.991.6148

Mayor Scott Lang, Scott.Lang@newbedford-ma.gov
City Council:
Jane.Gonsalves@newbedford-ma.gov, nbward1councilor@aol.com, Linda.Morad@newbedford-ma.gov, DCNB2005@aol.com, Steve.Martins@newbedford-ma.gov, joseph.lopes@newbedford-ma.gov, Councilor@DaveAlves.com

Jack Spillane: Dog gets a painful lesson in the danger of pit bulls

[StopBSL note: The attacking dog is identified as a "pit bull," a "believes was a pit bull mix," a "pit bull-boxer," a "terrier dog that 'looks like a pit bull,'" and a "Heinz 57 Mix"--all in the same article. The "news" article then devolves into stereotypes and opinion about "pit bulls" (however that is defined) and their owners, in support of BSL.]

[Dog attack details elided per site policy.]

City Councilor Debora Coelho, however, thinks the New Bedford ordinance — which Maciel says appropriately punishes behavior rather than breeds or owners — doesn’t go far enough.

She wants New Bedford to adopt an ordinance similar to Boston’s. That law requires all pit bulls, and pit bull mixes, to be muzzled when on city streets and sidewalks; their owners to be present in yards when the dogs are outside; and the owners to be educated on the appropriate ways to handle pit bulls.

Read the rest of the article here: 

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100617/NEWS/6170329/-1/NEWS01

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Posted in BSL Repealed, Massachusetts

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Rockville Centre Village, NY: Pit bulls, Rottweilers banned

Posted on June 16, 2010 by | 1 Comment

NY state law prohibits municipalities from passing BSL. I do not follow the logic of this ban; the whole reason for the ban was due to specific houses with specific problematic dogs, yet those dogs can be exempted from the ban by grandfathering… so how has the problem been solved? What did the ban address that an effective non-breed-specific dangerous dog law could not have addressed?

Contact the Board of Trustees: http://www.rvcny.us/boardoftrustees.html

Rockville Centre Village Board bans two breeds

Village approves law regarding Rottweilers, pit bulls

By Alex Costello, LI Herald.com

The Rockville Centre Board of Trustees recently passed a law banning residents from owning rottweilers and pit bulls, giving local dog lovers two fewer breeds to adore.

Read the rest of the story here:

http://bit.ly/a8fXYk

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Posted in BSL Passed, New York

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Crawford County, AR: JP to ask for “pit bull” ban

Posted on June 16, 2010 by | 6 Comments

Correspondence for the Quorum Court can be sent to:
County Clerk Teresa Armer, tarmer@crawford-county.org
300 Main Street, Room 7, Van Buren, Arkansas 72956
479-474-1312
479-471-3236 (fax)

Crawford County Quorum Court Justices of the Peace:
Butch Barnes
Mary Jan Blount
Stanley Clark
Elaina Damante
DeWite DeShazo
Tom Fite
Bill Grill
Christi Haught
Tim Hodges
Kevin Holmes
Penny Lane
Sharon Partain (requesting the ban)
Alan Swaim

Contact info for Quorum court attorney Charles Baker (who is drafting the law):
cbaker@crawfordcountylaw.com
31 West Cherry Street, P.O. Box 700, Alma, AR 72921
(479) 632-8777
Fax (479) 632-6545

JPs address animal issues

by LAREIGN WARD, Press Argus-Courier Staff
Wednesday, June 16, 2010 10:21 AM CDT

Before Garner spoke, Partain told the quorum court she plans to bring up an ordinance next month asking for a county ban on pit bulls. She said some constituents in the Uniontown area asked her to seek a ban.

Read the rest of the story here:

http://www.pressargus.com/articles/2010/06/16/news/news06_061610.txt

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Posted in Arkansas, BSL Proposed

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Delcambre and Abbeville, LA: Dog problems causing dangerous dog law discussions

Posted on June 16, 2010 by | 1 Comment

Delcambre already has BSL against “pit bull” owners, yet the dangerous dog law seems to be unenforceable and problematic. Delcambre Board of Alderman may take up a discussion about their dangerous dog laws during their July meeting. Locals are encouraged to participate.
Contact info for Delcambre City Hall:
107 N Railroad St, Delcambre, LA 70528
337-685-2969

Nearby Abbeville is also referenced in this article as a location where BSL has been discussed as a possibility. I believe this is because some members of the Vermilion Parish Police Jury had called for BSL back in early 2009. I have no additional or more recent information.

Dog ordinance lacks any bite

BY HOLLY LELEUX-THUBRON / THE DAILY IBERIAN
Published/Last Modified on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 2:07 PM CDT

DELCAMBRE — Delcambre Police Department Patrolman Joel Terre-bonne said he feels caught between protecting dog bite victims and the rights of dog owners in the small community, in part be-cause a committee formed in 2004 to deal with dangerous animals has proven ineffective.

Read the rest of the story here:

http://www.iberianet.com/articles/2010/06/15/news/doc4c17aa28128ed203238796.txt

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Posted in Louisiana, Results of BSL

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Delta, BC, Canada: Proposal to repeal BSL

Posted on June 16, 2010 by | 2 Comments

Delta currently automatically designates all “pit bulls” to be “dangerous dogs,” subject to the restrictions for dangerous dogs. Voice your support for removal of the breed-specific language: mayor-council@corp.delta.bc.ca

Dog owners, not the animals, are the problem

By Jon Ferry, The Province June 16, 2010

After considerable community discussion, the feisty municipality is revamping its animal-control bylaw, which automatically designates pit bulls as “dangerous,” to replace it with one that refuses to discriminate against them.

Read the rest of the story here:

http://www.theprovince.com/life/owners+animals+problem/3160131/story.html#ixzz0r101fveO

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Canada, Proposal to Repeal

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Butte-Silver Bow, MT: BSL proposed

Posted on June 15, 2010 by | 2 Comments

Commissioners meet at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday on the third floor of the courthouse, Rm. 312, 155 W. Granite. For more information or leave a phone message for a your Commissioner, call (406) 497-6219. To email all commissioners, go to: http://www.bsb.mt.gov/employees/EmpDetail.asp?emp_id=372

I do not have the specific language of the proposal, so I’m not sure whether the proposal would require tethering/chaining a “pit bull” when it is in a yard, or whether the dog must be on a leash with a person holding the other end. I believe Butte-Silver Bow has a leash law, which states that all dogs must be on leashes when in public, that applies to most of the county–so I am not sure why it’s necessary to require “pit bulls” to be leashed within 100 yards of a place where people gather. That should already be covered by the leash law and should apply to all dogs. Any clarification from locals is welcomed.

Stricter pit bull law proposed

By Justin Post of The Montana Standard
Posted: Tuesday, June 15, 2010 2:00 am

A commissioner wants to clamp down on pit bull owners in Butte-Silver Bow, making it illegal to have the dogs unleashed in residential areas — regardless of whether they are on private property.

Read the rest of the story here:

http://www.mtstandard.com/news/local/article_80444d3e-7847-11df-81c5-001cc4c03286.html?mode=story

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Montana

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Auburn, CA: Proposed BSL dropped

Posted on June 15, 2010 by | Comments Off

Voted to remove BSL from ordinance: Councilmen Kevin Hanley, Mike Holmes, Dr. Bill Kirby
Voted to retain breed-specific language: Councilman Keith Nesbitt, Mayor Bridget Powers

http://tinyurl.com/25ryjka

Pitbull regulations nixed

Breed-specific legislation deleted from updated animal ordinance

By Bridget Jones, Journal staff writer

In a three-to-two vote Monday night, Auburn City Council members decided to delete regulations about the mandatory spay and neuter of pitbulls from the city’s updated animal ordinance and directed city staff to work to support Safety First, the new educational and assistance program for dog owners and community members in Auburn.

The new animal ordinance was heard in a first reading May 24. The proposal recommended the spay and neuter of all dogs classified as pitbulls with some exceptions. At that time City Council also heard a proposal to require no more than two dogs be permitted in a residential household.

The limitation on the number of dogs in a household will be included in a proposed zoning update brought before the City Council in a future meeting.

The City Council was presented with two alternatives to enacting breed-specific legislation: to delete requirements written specifically for pitbulls from the updated ordinance or to enact an update that would require the spay and neuter of all dogs in the city.

Councilman Mike Holmes said although he was looking out for his constituents, he didn’t think pitbull regulations were the way to do that.

“I am persuaded that what we’re really concerned about overall is public safety,” Holmes said. “I think the original ordinance we were presented with maybe went a little too far. I’m not in favor of breed-specific legislation.”

Councilmen Kevin Hanley, Mike Holmes and Dr. Bill Kirby voted for the alternative deleting pitbull regulations from the ordinance. Councilman Keith Nesbitt and Mayor Bridget Powers voted against it.

Nesbitt said he supported mandatory spay and neuter of all dogs or breed-specific legislation, noting that the Placer County SPCA offers lower-cost spay and neuter services for pitbulls and pitbull mixes.

“They themselves are breed-specific,” Nesbitt said. “I don’t think this ordinance really infringes that much on responsible dog owners.”

Powers said she was for the mandatory spay and neuter of all dogs, but was also interested in working with Safety First to educate residents about their pets.

Powers said she spent a lot of time knocking on her neighbors’ doors to get an idea about what the community wanted in this ordinance.

“I had a 50/50 (response),” Powers said. “Some were for breed-specific (legislation) and some were not. Some were for mandatory spay and neuter.”

Members of the local dog advocate community also made their voices heard at the meeting Monday.

Dawn Capp of Chako Pit Bull Rescue in Sacramento said owners should not be punished if they raise their dogs properly, and the city should make an attempt to punish the owners of any dogs proven to be aggressive.

“I don’t believe it is fair or just to infringe on the rights of responsible owners,” Capp said. “Dog bites, dog attacks are not limited to one breed.”

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Posted in BSL Defeated, California

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