Monthly Archives: June 2011

Vancouver, WA: Council decides against breed ban

Posted on June 21, 2011 by | Comments Off

Although city council has called off an outright ban, locals should remain involved in the process to ensure that any ordinance revisions are breed-neutral.

Vancouver calls off talk of ban on pit bulls

By Andrea Damewood, Columbian Staff Reporter
Monday, June 20, 2011

[...] During city council communications Monday night, a majority of the council’s seven members said they’re not interested in hearing about breed-specific legislation to ban pit bulls. Rather, the council said its interest lies in adding more bite to the city’s dangerous dog laws.[...]

Most of the councilors said that updating Vancouver’s vicious and dangerous dog laws first would probably address the problem, and if not, they could readdress the issue. The city council will talk about the code updates during an Aug. 8 workshop.

Full article retrieved 6/21/11 from http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/jun/20/city-calls-off-talk-of-ban-on-pit-bulls/

All alerts for Vancouver, WA:  http://stopbsl.com/?s=%22vancouver%2C+wa%22

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Posted in BSL Defeated, Washington State

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Montgomery, AL reminder: Committee meeting on dog control, June 21

Posted on June 20, 2011 by | Comments Off

Montgomery, AL, plans to revise its vicious dog ordinance after receiving citizen complaints about vicious dogs. The city will hold a committee meeting on June 21 at 2 PM, in Council Chambers, 1 Dexter Plaza, 103 North Perry St., Montgomery, Alabama. The committee meeting will be open to the public. The subsequent council meeting takes place at 5 PM. Should you have any questions concerning meetings, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (334) 241-2096.

The head of the committee has stated that the committee intends to discuss, and possibly pass to council, a proposal that will “increase fines on dogs that bite, do not have shots and are running loose.” I have confirmed with the head of committee that the proposal is NOT breed-specific.

Residents and locals are encouraged to attend the committee meeting and council meeting to ensure that any revisions to the vicious dog law are breed-neutral.

Regarding recent rumors: City council will NOT be voting on a “pit bull” ban tomorrow. BSL is not part of the proposal being discussed now.

All alerts for Montgomery, AL: http://stopbsl.com/?s=%22montgomery%2C+al%22

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Posted in Alabama, Whispers of BSL

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Porterdale, GA: Council still considering BSL

Posted on June 19, 2011 by | Comments Off

Porterdale, GA city council is still considering BSL of some kind after a work session during which councilmembers discussed dog control options. At this time it is not clear exactly which breeds are targeted (initial reports suggested “pit bulls,” most recent article cited “breeds traditionally considered dangerous”) nor what type of law might be proposed. It is also unknown when the council will discuss the issue again.

However, the council has also expressed interest in breed-neutral laws. In correspondence to council members, please emphasize the benefits of breed-neutral laws over those of breed-specific ones, and encourage the council to pursue and enforce nondiscriminatory measures.

Contact info for mayor and council:
porterdalemayor@gmail.com; RFoxworth@cityofporterdale.com; LFinger@cityofporterdale.com; AChapman@cityofporterdale.com; MHarper@cityofporterdale.com; LChambers@cityofporterdale.com

Regular scheduled council meetings are the 1st Monday each month. Work sessions are on the 2nd Tuesday and 4th Thursday each month. All meetings are at City Hall at 6:30 PM, 2400 Main Street Porterdale, GA.

Dog talks continue in Porterdale

Posted: June 17, 2011 4:02 p.m.
By AJ Archer, ajarcher@covnews.com

[...] During its work session Thursday, the council discussed options for controlling dangerous dog breeds.[...]

The council discussed revisions of the ordinance, including a definition of who can legally walk a dog weighing more than 25 pounds and a requirement of owners to spay and neuter their dogs that are of a breed traditionally considered dangerous.[...]

Full article retrieved 6/19/11 from http://www.covnews.com/section/1/article/20785/

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Georgia

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Saginaw, MI reminder: Final vote on BSL, June 20

Posted on June 19, 2011 by | Comments Off

Saginaw city council will hold a final vote on proposed BSL during the council meeting on June 20. The first vote was held on June 6, and passed 7-2.

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,” Bull Mastiff, Presa Canario, Rottweiler, and German Shepherd, and all mixed breed dogs that resemble one of these breeds.

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 [against, does not like BSL]
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 [against, does not like 3-dog limit]

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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Lowell, MA: BSL passed

Posted on June 19, 2011 by | 1 Comment

On June 14, Lowell, MA city council voted 5-4 in favor of BSL.

Councillors voting in favor: Rodney Elliott, Edward “Bud” Caulfield, Kevin Broderick, Bill Martin and Franky Descoteaux

Councillors voting against: Mayor James Milinazzo, Rita Mercier, Patrick Murphy and Joseph Mendonca

City Council votes to muzzle pit bulls

By Lyle Moran, lmoran@lowellsun.com
Updated: 06/15/2011 06:41:20 AM EDT

LOWELL — The City Council voted 5-4 last night to approve an ordinance that requires all pit bulls to be muzzled and leashed when off their owners’ properties.[...]

Last night’s public hearing on the ordinance sparked impassioned debate from the councilors and the handful of public supporters and about a dozen members of the public who spoke in opposition.[..]

The ordinance requires that all pit bulls be spayed or neutered to reduce their aggressiveness, and does not let anyone in the city own more than two pit bulls.[...]

Full article retrieved 6/19/11 from http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_18277011?IADID=Search-www.lowellsun.com-www.lowellsun.com

All alerts for Lowell: http://stopbsl.com/?s=lowell

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Posted in BSL Passed, Massachusetts

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Cumberland, BC, Canada: BSL repealed

Posted on June 18, 2011 by | 1 Comment

Pitbulls can lose their muzzles

Cumberland’s new animal bylaw focuses on behaviour, not breed

BY TAMARA CUNNINGHAM, COMOX VALLEY ECHO JUNE 17, 2011

[...] Civic politicians passed a new animal control bylaw, Monday that rids restrictions on specific dog breeds, including having pit bulls muzzled in public areas.

Cumberland was the only municipality in the Comox Valley to still target pit bulls. Now all dogs will be judged on individual behaviour.[...]

[Animal control officer] Arseneault said the last bylaw required to her know where the pit bulls were located so a lot of her focus was on searching the dogs out “even when they had done nothing wrong,” she said.[...]

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Posted in BSL Repealed, Canada

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Cornell, WI: Dog ordinance may be BSL

Posted on June 17, 2011 by | Comments Off

Thanks to Jodi for this info! I have requested a copy of the proposed ordinance but I do not know if I will receive it. If a local is able to get a copy of the proposed ordinance, please forward it so we can confirm whether it is BSL: stopbsl.com@gmail.com.

The city of Cornell, Wisconsin is currently considering a dangerous dog ordinance that is believed to be breed specific. I spoke with the city clerk this afternoon who was not very forthcoming with information, but did confirm a council committee took up a dangerous dog ordinance this week. The committee is expected to give its report on that ordinance at a future council meeting. The clerk would not confirm any details of the ordinance, including whether it included breed specific language.

Residents are encouraged to attend the next several city council meetings in the event the rumors are true, and the city is looking at BSL.

Regular meetings of the City Council take place on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 8:00 p.m. (May – September) in the City Council Chambers.

Thanks to Heidi for the heads up.

Jodi Preis, Bless the Bullys

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Posted in Whispers of BSL, Wisconsin

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Ellenville, NY: Council may consider BSL

Posted on June 17, 2011 by | Comments Off

New York state law prohibits breed-specific laws, and we would hope the Ellenville village attorney knows this. Residents and locals are encouraged to attend the public hearing and provide effective breed-neutral laws for the council to consider.

Public hearing on dog ordinance, June 27, 7:15 PM, at the Ellenville Government Center, 2 Elting Court, Ellenville, NY 12428.

A few Ellenville trustees and officials quoted in the article below expressed fear of “pit bulls” and Rottweilers. Respectful correspondence and educational materials may help (as well as a reminder that breed-specific ordinances are not legal in NY).

Contact information for Ellenville officials:
Village Manager Mary Sheeley, msheeley@villageofellenville.com
Village Clerk Noreen Dechon, ndechon@villageofellenville.com
Mayor Jeff Kaplan, jkaplan@villageofellenville.com
Trustee Francisco Oliveras, foliveras@villageofellenville.com
Trustee Raymond Younger, ryounger@villageofellenville.com
Trustee Patricia Steinhoff, psteinhoff@villageofellenville.com
Trustee Efrain Lopez, elopez@villageofellenville.com

Email block for cut-and-paste
msheeley@villageofellenville.com; ndechon@villageofellenville.com; jkaplan@villageofellenville.com; foliveras@villageofellenville.com; ryounger@villageofellenville.com; psteinhoff@villageofellenville.com; elopez@villageofellenville.com

Village Attorney Peter Berger
130 South Main Street, PO Box 509, Ellenville NY 12428
(845) 647-4000
(845) 647-6029 (fax)

Dogs Gone Wild

String of Attacks Prompts Village to Act
By Jane Anderson

ELLENVILLE – A public hearing is scheduled for June 27 to gain public input on the ongoing problem of dog attacks in the village, particularly concerning pit bulls. Residents are encouraged to attend.

The hearing is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Village Attorney Peter Berger is drawing up a local law addressing dog control in the village, and it will be discussed during the hearing.[...]

Mayor Jeff Kaplan said there are “dangerous dog” laws, licensing laws, and leash laws in the village. “The question is A: Do we establish requirements and restrictions that go beyond what’s out there now, and B: How do we go about doing it? It’s not an easy issue but it’s one that we need to discuss.”

He said the village could establish laws that ban certain breeds from the downtown area, but said that dog owners might protest such a ban.[...]

Full article retrieved 6/17/11 from http://www.shawangunkjournal.com/2011/06/16/news/1106161.html

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Posted in New York, Whispers of BSL

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Ohio HB 14 passes committee; House vote next

Posted on June 16, 2011 by | Comments Off

Edit 1/31/12: You are viewing an old post; HB 14 has advanced. View all alerts for HB 14: http://stopbsl.com/?s=ohio+hb+14

On June 15, the Ohio House Criminal Justice Committee gave approval to HB 14, a bill that would repeal Ohio’s statewide BSL and comprehensively revise and strengthen the state dog control laws.

The bill now goes to the full Ohio General Assembly (House) for a vote. The vote has not been scheduled yet, but it’s never too early to start contacting Ohio state representatives and ask them to SUPPORT HB 14 when it comes before them.

Ohio residents, please write your state legislators—especially General Assembly Representatives, who will be the next to vote—and urge them to pass HB 14. Existing state law does not protect the public, discriminates against dog bite victims, and compounds the struggles of no-kill groups, animal welfare advocates, and public safety advocates. HB 14 is a badly-needed rework.

Find your state senator and representative using the legislator locator:
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/index.cfm

Link to the original text of HB 14:
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=129_HB_14

Link to HB 14 committee amendments:
Ohio HB 14 revised

Bill authorizing ‘pit bull’ reprieve finds support

BY JIM PROVANCE, BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF

COLUMBUS — A bill granting the “pit bull” a reprieve from an Ohio law that automatically judges it to be a vicious dog won bipartisan support Wednesday on its way to the House floor.

The House Criminal Justice Committee voted 10-2 to send the bill to the full chamber, where it is expected to see a vote before the General Assembly recesses for the summer before the end of the month.[...]

The changes have brought the Ohio Dog Wardens Association, who previously opposed the bill, on board.[...]

Full article retrieved 6/16/11 from http://www.toledoblade.com/State/2011/06/16/Bill-authorizing-pit-bull-reprieve-finds-support.html 

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Posted in Ohio, Proposal to Repeal

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Oakwood, OH: Proposed ordinance is BSL

Posted on June 14, 2011 by | Comments Off

On June 13, Oakwood city council considered a vicious dog ordinance that is breed-specific. Although Oakwood is in Ohio, and therefore, all “pit bulls” are automatically considered “vicious” dogs per state law, the ordinance proposed in Oakwood contains breed-specific language. Therefore, even if Ohio state law is repealed, Oakwood would still consider “pit bulls” to be “vicious” dogs.

In fact, Oakwood goes further than state law by defining “pit bull” as Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and mixes of these breeds. The city places additional restrictions on the ownership of any of these kinds of dogs.

You may read the full text of the proposed ordinance here: Oakwood dog ordinance

Per the mayor, the council will consider the proposed ordinance again during the July 11 city council meeting at the City Building at 30 Park Avenue. A work session before the meeting begins at 6:00 PM. The meeting begins at 7:30 PM. The work session and the council meeting are both open to the public.

Please contact Oakwood city council and ask them to remove the breed-specific language from the proposed ordinance. (Click the links for each council member to find an online contact form) http://www.ci.oakwood.oh.us/index.php?option=com_contact&catid=46&Itemid=3

Thanks to Molly for the heads up on this one!

 

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Ohio

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