Monthly Archives: March 2011

Kirksville, MO: BSL takes effect, April 1

Posted on March 31, 2011 by | Comments Off

Kirksville, MO passed BSL in March. The law takes effect April 1. The full ordinance may be viewed here: http://www.kirksvillecity.com/filestorage/68/Dangerous_and_Restricted_Animal_Ordinance.pdf

All alerts for Kirksville: http://stopbsl.com/?s=kirksville

Pit bull restrictions receive mixed reactions

By Rebecca Smith

Published: Thursday, March 31, 2011

Pit bull terriers now are classified as “restricted animals” within the city of Kirksville, but owners have concerns about whether it can be enforced effectively.

Beginning Friday a city ordinance will take effect and all pit bull owners will have to follow a new set of guidelines or obtain an American Kennel Club canine good citizen certification.

[...] Selby said a pit bull would be classified under the new ordinance as a dog that has any percentage of Staffordshire terrier, American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier or has the physical characteristics of one.

Owners can come to the police station and have a DNA test done for $60 to see if their dog has any trace of pit bull blood, Selby said. [...]

Full article retrieved 3/31/11 from http://www.trumanindex.com/pit-bull-restrictions-receive-mixed-reactions-1.2133622

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Posted in BSL Passed, Missouri

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Worcester, MA: BSL goes into effect, April 1

Posted on March 31, 2011 by | Comments Off

Worcester passed BSL last year, and it goes into effect on April 1. It is modeled after Boston’s BSL. You can read the full ordinance here: http://www.worcesterma.gov/uploads/cd/7f/cd7f0f459ce270a9087baca1d66be3b8/pit-bull-ordinance.pdf

All alerts for Worcester: http://stopbsl.com/?s=%22worcester%2C+ma%22

Worcester imposing new laws for pit bull owners

Published : Wednesday, 30 Mar 2011, 7:46 AM EDT

(Fox 25/MyFoxBoston.com) – [...] Starting Friday, owners will need to muzzle their pit bulls in public, have them neutered, pay an additional $50 fee and post signs on their property indicating a pit bull lives there.

Full article retrieved 3/31/11 from http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/local/worcester-imposing-new-laws-for-pit-bull-owners-20110330

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Posted in BSL Passed, Massachusetts

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Ecorse, MI: Opportunity to repeal BSL

Posted on March 28, 2011 by | 2 Comments

Thanks to Jodi for this alert!

The city of Ecorse, Michigan is interested in public feedback regarding its pit bull ban passed in 2006. This is an excellent opportunity for positive change!

Please take a moment to write to the Ecorse city officials to encourage them to repeal their breed specific ordinance and enact a breed-neutral law that combats irresponsible dog ownership practices – not particular breeds of dogs. Individual e-mail contact information is not available for the city council members, but letters and suggestions can be faxed to the city clerk with a polite request to distribute to the mayor and city council members.

Jodi Preis, Bless the Bullys, www.blessthebullys.com

City of Ecorse, 3869 West Jefferson Avenue, Albert J. Buday Civic Center, Ecorse, Michigan 48229-1798
Phone (313) 386-2520
Fax: (313) 386-4316

Mayor Larry Salisbury, mayor@city-ecorse.org
Mayor Pro Tem Theresa A. Peguese, 313-386-2520 x 400
City Clerk Charles Hunter, 313-386-2520

City Council
Julie Cox
Arnold Lackey
Brenda R. Banks
Nathaniel Elem
Jay Strassner

ECORSE: City looks to lighten vicious dog ordinance

Published: Sunday, March 27, 2011
By Lisa Yensen

ECORSE — The city is looking at possible changes to its vicious dog ordinance.

Since 2006, pit bulls have not been allowed in the city.

That includes bull terriers, Staffordshire or American Staffordshire bull terriers, American pit bull terriers and any breeds with those mixes.[...]

The city is looking into whether it is too difficult to enforce the ordinance.

“If it’s problematic, we’d be willing to take it back for reconsideration with City Council and so we can get public feedback, as well,” city Emergency Financial Manager Joyce Parker said. [...]

Full article retrieved 3/28/11 from http://thenewsherald.com/articles/2011/03/27/news/doc4d8cfdb52d7cf466284851.txt?viewmode=fullstory

An earlier article in Detroit news media about Ecorse’s pit bull ban indicates problems with enforcement (probably related to breed ID issues).

Ecorse Has Pit Bull Ban, But Struggles To Enforce

POSTED: Wednesday, March 16, 2011

ECORSE, Mich. — A recent pit bull attack on a couple has Ecorse reviewing its rules on owning the breed of dogs.

Ecorse has a ban on pit bulls and other dog breeds with aggressive reputations. However, neighbors said many Ecorse residents still own the pets and keep them out in the open.[...]

Full article retrieved 3/28/11 from http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/27220002/detail.html

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Posted in Michigan, Proposal to Repeal

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Fulton, MO: Whispers of BSL

Posted on March 24, 2011 by | Comments Off

During a city council meeting, council discussed possible revisions to Fulton’s animal control ordinance. A resident (who, ironically, owns a dog described by the news as a “pit bull mix”) suggested a ban on pit bulls, but the councilmembers don’t seem too interested in BSL. They may assemble a committee to evaluate their current ordinances and suggest changes.

Please offer polite, constructive correspondence and sample breed-neutral ordinances to guide the council toward reasonable, breed-neutral revisions.

Contact info for city officials:
Mayor Charles M. Latham, Mayor@fultonmo.org
Wayne Chailland, wchailla@swbell.net
Mike West, ward1b@fultonmo.org
Mary Rehklau, ward2a@fultonmo.org
Lowe Cannell, lnccannell@charter.net
John Pautz, ward3a@fultonmo.org
Richard Vaughn, fvaughn@socket.net
James M. McCall, jmccall@socket.net
Steve Moore, stevelmoore@live.com

Email block for cut and paste:
Mayor@fultonmo.org; wchailla@swbell.net; ward1b@fultonmo.org; ward2a@fultonmo.org; lnccannell@charter.net; ward3a@fultonmo.org; fvaughn@socket.net; jmccall@socket.net; stevelmoore@live.com

Fulton City Council is creating committee for dog problem

by Lucas Bond
Posted: 03.22.2011 at 3:56 PM

FULTON, MO — Recent dog attacks in Fulton had the City Council Tuesday evening taking a look at the animal control ordinance.[...]

The Fulton City Council feels that something needs to be done.

“Actually, I suggest we put together a committee with the idea of looking at our current animal control ordinance and suggest we make improvements,” Fulton City Council Mike West said.[...]

Council members don’t think banning Pit Bulls will solve the dog problem. Past biting incidents involved other breeds of dogs beside Pit Bulls. [...]

Full article retrieved 3/24/11 from http://www.connectmidmissouri.com/news/story.aspx?id=595946

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Posted in Missouri, Whispers of BSL

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Elkader, IA: Whispers of BSL

Posted on March 24, 2011 by | Comments Off

Thanks to Jodi for the heads up!

Elkader, Iowa will take a look at their animal ordinances during the next council meeting. Breed-specific language has been suggested (“pit bulls,” Rottweilers, and Akitas were named), but the council seems to have mixed feelings about it.

Please send polite, informative correspondence explaining the problems with BSL and encouraging breed-neutral changes, if any.

City Hall, 207 N. Main St., P.O. Box 427, Elkader, IA 52043
(563)245-2098
Fax: (563)245-1033
elkader@alpinecom.net

Jennifer K. Cowsert, City Administrator/Clerk, elkaderadmin@alpinecom.net

Council to look at dog ordinance

By Duane Winn, Register Editor
Posted on March 23, 2011

The Elkader City Council will be taking another look at the city ordinance governing dog ownership at its next meeting.

Councilman Darryl Koehn said Monday that a concerned citizen approached him about the matter[...]

Councilman Rob Frieden asked Koehn point blank whether he was advocating a ban on these breeds. Koehn said that the ordinance may need to be “tweaked” in order to provide greater safety for residents, either by implementing stricter leashing or kenneling requirements. Another possible strategy, Koehn said, is to require the owners of these breeds to register them with city hall.[...]

Full article retrieved 3/24/11 from http://www.claytoncountyregister.com/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1300910832&archive=&start_from=&ucat=8

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Posted in Iowa, Whispers of BSL

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Seward County, KS: Opportunity to repeal BSL

Posted on March 24, 2011 by | 1 Comment

Seward County, KS has had a breed ban since 1991, and recently passed a resolution that eliminated the grandfather clause. Now, a resident has requested a new grandfather clause or elimination of the ban. The county commissioners have mixed opinions about it, with some supporting repeal, and others opposing.

This may provide an opportunity to encourage the county to repeal the breed-specific portion of their dog law. Residents and others are encouraged to send polite, respectful correspondence in support of an effective breed-neutral approach to animal control.

County Administrator Mary Bloomer, mbloomer@sewardcountyks.org
C.J. Wettstein, cjwpheasant@hotmail.com
Ada J. Linenbroker, alinenbroker@sewardcountyks.org
Randy Malin, Vice Chair, basscatcher12@yahoo.com
Doug LaFreniere, biscuit11970@hotmail.com
Jim Rice, Chairman, jrice@swko.net

Email block for cut and paste:
mbloomer@sewardcountyks.org; cjwpheasant@hotmail.com; alinenbroker@sewardcountyks.org; basscatcher12@yahoo.com; biscuit11970@hotmail.com; jrice@swko.net

515 N Washington, Suite 206, Liberal, KS 67901
Ph: (620) 626-3212
Fx: (620) 626-3397

Pits bulls or No pit bulls

By ROBERT PIERCE, Leader & Times
Wednesday, 23 March 2011 13:07

[...] “The one option you can do is just repeal the resolution, and pit bulls are legal in Seward County,” [county counsel Dan Diepenbrock] said. “Another option would be to add another grandfather clause to the resolution you adopted resolution that would grandfather the dogs and not the owner. Any dogs that would be alive at the time the grandfather clause is adopted could stay in Seward County, but you wouldn’t be permitted to continue to breed.”[...]

The board voted 4-1, with Linenbroker voting against, to revisit the resolution. Wettstein suggested the commission make a decision one way or the other as soon as the next meeting on April 4.

Full article retrieved 3/24/11 from http://www.swdtimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4245:pits-bulls-or-no-pit-bulls&catid=12:local-news&Itemid=40

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Posted in Kansas, Proposal to Repeal

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Norway: Government may be receptive to breed ban repeal

Posted on March 24, 2011 by | Comments Off

The NKK (Norway’s major kennel club) has recently discussed with some members of Parliament the possibility of repealing section 19 of their Dog Act.  The Dog Act, section 19, allows the King to choose the breeds that will be considered “dangerous,” and to create restrictions to be placed on those breeds. Norway currently bans the ownership of the “pit bull terrier,” American Staffordshire Terrier, Fila Brasileiro, Tosa Inu, and Dogo Argentino.

The NKK has stated the many difficulties with the law, including significant breed identification issues, no effect on public safety, and the arbitrary selection of breeds to ban.

You may read more from the NKK here (Norwegian), article date March 21, 2011: http://www.nkk.no/nkk/public/openIndex?ARTICLE_ID=11782

Google Translate offers a rough translation in English here: http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=no&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nkk.no%2Fnkk%2Fpublic%2FopenIndex%3FARTICLE_ID%3D11782

Because I’m not well-versed in Norwegian politics or parliamentary processes, and because it’s difficult to find English-language materials on this topic, if you are interested in assisting the Norwegian effort to repeal the breed-specific portion of the Dog Law, please contact the NKK (www.nkk.no) to find out how you can help.

Thanks to Charlotte for passing the link along.

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Posted in Outside of U.S., Proposal to Repeal

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Waxhaw, NC: Animal ordinance revisions will not be breed-specific

Posted on March 23, 2011 by | 1 Comment

At this time, it appears that Waxhaw has decided against BSL in the revisions of their animal control ordinance.

All alerts for Waxhaw: http://stopbsl.com/?s=waxhaw

Waxhaw discusses changes to animal control ordinance

by Lacey Hampton, Enquirer Journal

Waxhaw Police Chief Michael Eiss presented Waxhaw commissioners with proposed text amendments to the town’s animal control ordinance Tuesday night.

[...] Animal ordinances from other towns and the town’s current ordinance were looked at during the creation of the proposed amendments, he said.

“We chose not to be breed specific just because of the fact that municipalities that have done that are being tied up with litigation,” he said.[...]

Full article retrieved 3/23/11 from http://enquirerjournal.com/view/full_story/12455908/article-Waxhaw-discusses-changes-to-animal-control-ordinance?instance=homeleftmain5

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Posted in Non-BSL Proposed, North Carolina

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Aberdeen, SD: Breed-neutral animal ordinance passes

Posted on March 22, 2011 by | 2 Comments

Aberdeen, SD passed a breed-neutral animal ordinance during its second reading last night. Six amendments were offered, including two amendments that would have made the ordinance breed-specific. Both of the breed-specific amendments failed to pass. Councilmembers David Bunsness and Laure Swanson proposed the two breed-specific amendments.

Aberdeen passes changes to animal regulations

Pit bull motions fail to gain majority support

 BY JEFF BAHR, jbahr@aberdeennews.com
12:00 a.m. CDT, March 22, 2011

[...] The City Council approved the second reading of the city’s animal control laws — the main action of the night — by a 5-4 margin. Voting in favor of passage were Clint Rux, Jennifer Slaight-Hansen, Todd Campbell, Jeff Mitchell and Jim Kraft. Opposing the revised laws were Laure Swanson, David Bunsness, Tom Agnitsch and Mayor Mike Levsen.[...]

• For the second meeting in a row, Bunsness introduced a motion to ban pit bulls in Aberdeen. [...]

 Later, Bunsness made a motion that pit bulls be automatically declared dangerous and vicious, without any incident necessary. [...]

• [...] An amendment, offered by Swanson, would have included pit bulls in the dangerous and vicious category without labeling them as such. Both the Bunsness and Swanson amendments failed.[...]

Full article retrieved 3/22/11 from http://www.aberdeennews.com/news/aan-aberdeen-passes-changes-to-animal-regulations-20110321,0,5588744.story

All alerts for Aberdeen, SD: http://stopbsl.com/?s=aberdeen+sd

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Posted in BSL Defeated, South Dakota

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Beatrice, NE: First reading draws public comment against BSL

Posted on March 22, 2011 by | Comments Off

Last night, Beatrice, NE council discussed a new animal ordinance that would declare all “pit bulls” (any dog appearing to be more than 50% “pit bull,” DNA tests done at owner’s expense) to be “potentially dangerous” dogs, thereby placing discriminatory restrictions on pit bull ownership.

The city council seems to understand that breed-neutral language would be a better option (as it would protect the entire community from all dogs, and would protect all dogs from abusive owners regardless of breed), but whether they will remove the breed-specific language remains to be seen.

The proposed ordinance may be read here. The second reading of the ordinance should take place at an upcoming council meeting, perhaps April 4.

Public weighs in on new animal ordinance

Measure will require breed-specific laws for pit bull owners

By Scott Koperski/Daily Sun staff writer Beatrice Daily Sun Online | Posted: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 6:00 am

[...]The bulk of the discussion focused on a proposal to declaring all pit bull breed of dogs to be potentially dangerous animals.[...]

One person who spoke in opposition to the pit bull section of the ordinance was Gina Grone, Humane Society executive director.

“I would like you to take a look at (the ordinance) without the pit bull wording,” Grone told the Council. “Anything that you want to prohibit in regard to any dogs that fit into that pit bull definition is covered by the dangerous dog ordinance. I think that you can have the results and control that you want without putting undue stresses or pressure on people who own these dogs in the city and are responsible.”[...]

After hearing from members of the community opposed to the pit bull portion of the ordinance, Council member Calvin Carey indicated it might be an aspect the ordinance could do without.

“The main thing is you want the pit bull taken out of the language, and I think we can go ahead and adjust that.” Carey said.

The issue of how to determine a dog to be a pit bull was also raised.

[City attorney] Tempelmeyer said guideline set by national kennel clubs would be used to determine if a dog was more than 50 percent pit bull.

Should DNA tests be necessary, he added it would most likely not be the cities responsibility to fund the tests.[...]

Full article retrieved 3/22/11 from http://www.beatricedailysun.com/news/local/article_4dd393b4-542e-11e0-905d-001cc4c002e0.html

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

City Attorney feedback form: http://www.beatrice.ne.gov/feedback.php?d=atty
City Clerk feedback form: http://www.beatrice.ne.gov/feedback.php?d=clrk
City Administrator Neal Niedfeldt, nniedfeldt@beatrice.ne.gov

All alerts for Beatrice, NE: http://stopbsl.com/?s=beatrice

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Nebraska