Monthly Archives: April 2011

Beatrice, NE: Final reading of BSL, April 18

Posted on April 17, 2011 by | 3 Comments

Beatrice, NE will hold a final reading of proposed BSL during the city council meeting on April 18. The ordinance will 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.

This is one of the last opportunities for the public to protest and request changes to the ordinance before it goes up for a vote and possible passage.

Council meeting, April 18, 7:00 PM at Beatrice Administration Building, 320 N. 5th Street, Beatrice, NE 68310

Contact information
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: http://stopbsl.com/?s=beatrice

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Nebraska

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Saginaw, MI reminder: Council to discuss BSL, April 18

Posted on April 17, 2011 by | 4 Comments

Update 4/19/11: Saginaw council has delayed the vote on the ordinance in order to revise some language regarding leashes. The issue will be taken up again next month.

Saginaw city council will introduce proposed BSL at the April 18 council meeting. The proposed BSL would restrict ownership of five breeds. According to the badly written ordinance, the five breeds to be restricted are to be determined annually by an unknown entity using a vague and poorly defined data set. This year’s “top five breed list” consists of “pit bull” (not a breed), Bull Mastiff / Presa Canario (two different breeds counted as one), Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Alaskan Malamute, and all mixed breed dogs that resemble one of these breeds.

Residents may comment during the city council meeting, and are encouraged to do so. The council meeting takes place on April 18, 6:30 PM, in City Council Chambers, City Hall. If you wish to speak at the council meeting, please fill out and email this form by 1 PM on April 18.

City of Saginaw City Hall, 1315 S. Washington Ave., Saginaw, MI 48601
Phone: (989) 759-1400
Fax: (989) 759-1607

Mayor Greg Branch, anngreg@chartermi.net
Amos O’Neal, amossam@charter.net
Dennis Browning, dbrowning125@charter.net
Dan Fitzpatrick, dlfitz@ameritech.net or danfitzpatrickonline@gmail.com
Larry Coulouris, lcoulouris@yahoo.com
Amanda Kitterman-Miller, akitterman@spsd.net
Dr. William “Bill” Scharffe, drbills@charter.net
Paul Virciglio, Ptvirciglio90@charter.net
Andrew Wendt, wendtmsu93@yahoo.com

Email quicklist
anngreg@chartermi.net; amossam@charter.net; dbrowning125@charter.net; dlfitz@ameritech.net; lcoulouris@yahoo.com; akitterman@spsd.net; drbills@charter.net; Ptvirciglio90@charter.net; wendtmsu93@yahoo.com

All alerts for Saginaw: http://stopbsl.com/?s=saginaw

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Michigan

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Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada: Public meeting on proposed BSL, May 9

Posted on April 16, 2011 by | 3 Comments

Thanks to LeeAnn for the heads up!

The town of Yarmouth is seeking public input on their proposed bylaw. The bylaw defines the following breeds as “fierce and dangerous dog”: Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, and any mixed breed that contains one of these breeds.

Owners of “fierce and dangerous” dogs must specially register their dogs, purchase liability insurance, spay/neuter the dog, and follow special restrictions for containment, signage, and much more. Dogs that belong to owners that do not comply with these restrictions will be euthanized; it is forbidden to adopt out or rehome these dogs. Town staff has also been given permission to “destroy on sight” any such dog, without warning or notification to the owner (no conditions are attached to this provision, so presumably staff could kill your “fierce and dangerous” dog at any time, even as you are walking it down the street).

You may read the draft bylaw here: http://townofyarmouth.ca/agenda/files2/00400/400/draft_dog_bylaw_april_12_2011.pdf

Please send respectful, helpful correspondence to Yarmouth officials to guide them toward an effective breed-neutral bylaw and discourage them from passing discriminatory legislation. Locals, please attend the public meeting on May 9, 6:30 PM, at Town Hall Council Chambers, 400 Main Street.

Contact info for Yarmouth town officials:
Mayor Phil Mooney, Mayor.Mooney@townofyarmouth.ca
Deputy Mayor Byron Boudreau, DeputyMayor.Boudreau@townofyarmouth.ca
Councillor Esther Dares, Councillor.Dares@townofyarmouth.ca
Councillor Ken Langille, Councillor.Langille@townofyarmouth.ca
Councillor Daniel MacIsaac, Councillor.MacIsaac@townofyarmouth.ca
Councillor Neil MacKenzie, Councillor.MacKenzie@townofyarmouth.ca
Councillor Martin Pink, Councillor.Pink@townofyarmouth.ca

Email block for cut-and-paste:
Mayor.Mooney@townofyarmouth.ca; DeputyMayor.Boudreau@townofyarmouth.ca; Councillor.Dares@townofyarmouth.ca; Councillor.Langille@townofyarmouth.ca; Councillor.MacIsaac@townofyarmouth.ca; Councillor.MacKenzie@townofyarmouth.ca; Councillor.Pink@townofyarmouth.ca

May 9 public meeting on draft dog bylaw

Published on April 15, 2011
By Tina Comeau, THE VANGUARD

A public meeting will be held on May 9 to get the public’s input on a draft dog bylaw that the town of Yarmouth is considering.

Things contained in the bylaw – which is still a working document – are expected to generate a variety of reaction.[...]

The May 9 public meeting at the town hall will get underway at 6:30 p.m.[...]

The draft bylaw immediately sets out to define a “fierce and dangerous” dog, saying it is any dog that “is a Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier; Pit Bull, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Rottweiler or any dog of mixed breeding which includes any of the aforementioned breeds.” [...]

The draft bylaw does not ban any breed of dog, but it does say that owners of dogs that have been defined as being dangerous must, among other things [...]

Full article retrieved 4/16/11 from http://www.thevanguard.ca/News/2011-04-15/article-2429508/May-9-public-meeting-on-draft-dog-bylaw/1

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Canada

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Nevada AB324 would prohibit BSL

Posted on April 14, 2011 by | 2 Comments

Update 4/26/11: This bill passed committee in time, but did not pass the originating house (Assembly) by the deadline, and is now dead.

Nevada AB 324 would, among other things, prohibit municipalities from declaring dogs dangerous based on breed.

The relevant portion of the bill is reproduced below.

13. A dog must not be deemed dangerous or vicious based solely on the breed of the dog.

14. A local authority shall not adopt or enforce an ordinance or regulation that deems a dog dangerous or vicious based solely on the breed of the dog.

AB324 was introduced on March 21 and sent to the Committee on Judiciary. It had a hearing on April 7, but no action was taken on that day.

AB324 may be tracked here: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/76th2011/Reports/history.cfm?ID=683

Bill sponsor: John Hambrick, jhambrick@asm.state.nv.us
Contact information for Committee on Judiciary: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/76th2011/committees/a_committees/JUD.cfm

The legislature website provides a page where Nevada residents can leave their opinion about any particular bill. Visit this page to submit your opinion on AB324: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Opinions/A/?CFID=4467985&CFTOKEN=430d8587b02be239-4B5A486F-C88B-F613-B5BE84B27DE4D35E

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Posted in Nevada, Non-BSL Proposed

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Xenia, OH: Council to discuss breed ban, April 14

Posted on April 14, 2011 by | Comments Off

Xenia, OH will discuss a proposed pit bull ban during a special session tonight, April 14, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 101 N. Detroit Street, Xenia. Residents may speak at the council meeting. Keep in mind, Ohio already labels all “pit bulls” to be “vicious” dogs, and places restrictions on their ownership.

Contact information for city officials:
Jeanne Mills, Council President, jmills@ci.xenia.oh.us
William (Bill) R. Miller, Vice President, bmiller@ci.xenia.oh.us
Marsha J. Bayless, Mayor, mbayless@ci.xenia.oh.us
John G. Caupp, jcaupp@ci.xenia.oh.us
Michael D. Engle, mengle@ci.xenia.oh.us
Dale Louderback, dlouderback@ci.xenia.oh.us
Wesley Smith, wsmith@ci.xenia.oh.us
City Clerk, (937) 376-7235, mjohnson@ci.xenia.oh.us

Email block for cut and paste:
jmills@ci.xenia.oh.us; bmiller@ci.xenia.oh.us; mbayless@ci.xenia.oh.us; jcaupp@ci.xenia.oh.us; mengle@ci.xenia.oh.us; dlouderback@ci.xenia.oh.us; wsmith@ci.xenia.oh.us; mjohnson@ci.xenia.oh.us

Xenia Considering Banning Pit Bulls

Posted: 10:29 pm EDT April 13, 2011

XENIA, Ohio — An proposed ordinance would outlaw keeping pit bulls as pets inside Xenia city limits.

Xenia City Council will discuss the issue in a special session Thursday night. [...]

The proposed ban in Xenia does not mention protecting people who already own pit bulls.

Full article retrieved 4/14/11 from http://www.whiotv.com/news/27539231/detail.html

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Ohio

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Subang Jaya, Malaysia: Seven breeds banned

Posted on April 14, 2011 by | 2 Comments

Perplexingly, though the article cites several attacks by Rottweilers and public concern and comments are focused primarily on Rottweilers, that breed has not been targeted by the new breed ban.

The ban goes into effect immediately and does not contain a grandfather clause.

Pit bull among seven breeds banned in Subang Jaya

By EDWARD R. HENRY, edward@thestar.com.my

SEVEN dog breeds — Akita, Neapolitan Mastiff, American Bulldog, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanesa Tosa and American Pit bull — are set to vanish from households in Subang Jaya soon.[...]

MPSJ director Dr Roslan Mohamed Hussin said the ban was with immediate effect.

He said the council had begun operations to check residential areas in the township for such dog breeds.[...]

Full article retrieved 4/14/11 from http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/4/14/central/8475437&sec=central

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Posted in BSL Passed, Outside of U.S.

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Hopkinton, IA: Rottweilers not added to breed ban list

Posted on April 12, 2011 by | Comments Off

Hopkinton, IA already bans “pit bulls,” and was considering adding Rottweilers to the ban after a fatality involving two Rottweilers.

Emotions have cooled, citizens and councils appear to have come to the conclusion that a ban on Rottweilers would be “unfair.” Interesting double standard. (Headline is similarly misleading.)

Hopkinton will not ban specific dog breeds

Monday, April 11, 2011
BY ERIC MANDEL

HOPKINTON, Iowa — There will be no additional dog breed ban in the city of Hopkinton, after the City Council agreed Monday night not to change its dangerous animal ordinance in the wake of 3-year-old Vanessa Husmann’s death.[...]

Full article retrieved 4/12/11 from http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=317740

All alerts for Hopkinton: http://stopbsl.com/?s=hopkinton

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Posted in Additional Breeds, Iowa, Results of BSL

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Aurora, CO: Council considers partial breed ban repeal

Posted on April 12, 2011 by | 1 Comment

Aurora, CO city council has agreed to consider a repeal the breed ban on seven breeds (American Bulldogs, Cane Corsos, Dogo Argentinos, Fila Brasileiros, Presa Mallorquins, Presa Canarios, Tosa Inus, and any mixed breed dog resembling one of these), but the ban on “pit bulls” (APBT, AST, SBT, and mixes resembling one of these) will remain in place. There will be an exemption process for service dogs.

The council only had ears and eyes for “pit bull” bite numbers, and ignored the data that demonstrated that non-restricted breeds’ bites, including severe bites, have not decreased since the ban went into place. Evidently, Aurora city council doesn’t care about its residents unless they are bitten by a “pit bull”-looking dog.

All alerts for Aurora: http://stopbsl.com/?s=aurora%2C+co

City Council compromise: Breed ban would stay, list would shrink

Posted: Monday, April 11, 2011 8:34 pm | Updated: 10:52 pm, Mon Apr 11, 2011.
SARA CASTELLANOS, The Aurora Sentinel

AURORA | A proposal would allow pit bulls in Aurora only as service dogs while whittling the list of restricted breeds from 10 to three.

That was the compromise that Aurora City Council members came to at their Monday study session meeting. The issue will come before them for a formal vote on April 25.[...]

Full article retrieved 4/12/11 from http://www.aurorasentinel.com/email_push/news/article_80940f74-64ad-11e0-ba39-001cc4c002e0.html

 

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Posted in Colorado, Proposal to Repeal, Results of BSL

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Aurora, CO: Committee to consider repeal of BSL, April 11

Posted on April 10, 2011 by | 5 Comments

Aurora city council will contemplate a variety of actions regarding their current BSL, including a possible repeal of the law. Notably, staff is referencing Dogsbite and quotes from a very old news article to support their BSL, while their own bite statistics clearly demonstrate that the BSL has not improved public safety whatsoever.

What: City Council Study Session, 1st Floor Aurora Room, Monday, April 11, 2011, 5:30 p.m

Thanks to Jodi for this additional info:

The meeting in which they are discussing changing the law is the study session meeting, prior to the city council meeting… While you can not speak at the study session meeting, it gives a huge message to council members when there are several people in the room. They will not be discussing this matter at the regular city council meeting at 7:30, but you can speak with a time limit of 3 minutes at that meeting if you wish.

Email acpromotingresponsibleownership@yahoo.com for questions.

View the council discussion packet here: https://www.auroragov.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/article-publication/450144.pdf

Contact:
Aurora Mayor and City Council, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway, Fifth Floor, Aurora, CO 80012
303-739-7015
citycouncil@auroragov.org

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Posted in Colorado, Proposal to Repeal

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Patterson, LA: BSL passed

Posted on April 8, 2011 by | 1 Comment

Thanks to Jodi for this article. Patterson is very small town and was not on anyone’s radar.

Another city approves pit bull restrictions

Posted: Apr 7, 2011 10:33 PM by Shawn Kline

For pit bull owners, the collar is getting tighter almost everywhere you go.

Patterson city council passing an ordinance Tuesday restricting the ownership of pit bulls, but is the city just picking a bone? [...]

Full article retrieved 4/8/11 from http://www.katc.com/news/another-city-approves-pit-bull-restrictions

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Posted in BSL Passed, Louisiana

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