Fremont council hears opinions on pit bulls

Police chief, dog advocates weigh in

BY LESLIE BIXLER • Staff writer • October 16, 2009

FREMONT — City hall was packed Thursday night to hear Fremont police Chief Tim Wiersma, Ohio Coalition of Dog Advocates’ Jean Keating and Sandusky County’s deputy dog warden Gina Halbisen debate pit bulls.

Read the rest of the article at:

http://www.thenews-messenger.com/article/20091016/NEWS01/910160307

“There’s a history here of the Dog Warden’s office misclassifying dogs as Pit Bulls when they’re not Pit Bulls.  Oftentimes owners don’t have the wherewithal, or they’re scared to fight for their dogs.  They’re often threatened with the threat of criminal prosecution…” — Mr. Smith’s attorney

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=news/local&id=7066998

Another ‘vicious dog’ case in the courtroom

Thursday, October 15, 2009

The eventual focus of this case – just what is a Pit Bull?

Toledo’s Pit Bull or Vicious Dog Law has been the focus of numerous court cases, and another one is now moving through the system. The eventual focus of this case is just what is a Pit Bull?

Three dogs are being held at the warden’s office. The owner claims they’re Cane Corsos, not Pit Bulls. The dog warden disagrees. Today’s hearing was to decide if the dogs have to stay here while the case moves through the court system.

Visit the link for the full story:

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=news/local&id=7066998

Dog owner pleads case to save pet’s life

October 14, 2009

By Terry Pender, Record staff

KITCHENER — [...] Carroll told the committee the lab traits in Charlie are stronger than the Pit Bull traits. Carroll also said Charlie appeared to be friendly.

But mainly because of the size of the dog’s head Carroll designated Charlie a Pit Bull-like animal that was banned and would have to be destroyed.

[...] “Based on the evidence the committee is rescinding the designation which means you are free to license your dog, no restrictions. Thanks you every one,” Lawrence said.[...]

The whole process has left Simpson shaking his head.

“Because they didn’t like the size of his head they wanted to kill him,” Simpson said.[...]

Full article retrieved 10/15/09 from http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/613149

Senath already has (unenforced) BSL defining Pit Bulls as “dangerous dogs,” with requirements about escape-proof kenneling, and perhaps muzzling in public.  The defeated amendment to Senath’s “Dangerous Dog” law apparently would have added an outright ban.

Defending the family pet …

Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Joshua Payne

Owners voice concern over proposed pit bull ban in city limits

Several residents of Senath attended the Senath City Council meeting in support of keeping their family pets, which would be taken from the homes as stated in a recently proposed ordinance banning pit bulls from the City of Senath.

[...] The council decided to postpone the passing of a new ordinance and attempt to fix the problem by more strictly enforcing the current dangerous dog ordinance.[...]

Full article retrieved 10/14/09 from http://www.dddnews.com/story/1578272.html

The second article seems to indicate that a breed-specific ban may yet be passed.

Pit Bull ban fails at Dandridge council meeting

Posted: Oct 13, 2009 8:45 PM

DANDRIDGE (WATE) — The Dandridge City Council rejected a proposed ban on pit bulls and will start from square one on the issue.[...]

Full article retrieved 10/14/09 from http://www.wate.com/global/story.asp?s=11309831

(A a one-minute video story at the following link includes several seconds footage from the meeting.)

Pit bull owners celebrate temporary victory against ban

Some pet owners are celebrating a victory, but it may be short-lived since a townwide pit bull ban is still a possibility.

Jim Matheny Updated: 10/14/2009 1:08:18 AM Posted: 10/13/2009 9:01:16 PM

After listening to more than an hour of passionate pleas from pit bull owners Tuesday night, the Dandridge Board of Aldermen voted to ditch its proposed regulation on pit bulls and start over from scratch.

Tuesday night was the third and final reading of the proposed regulation that would have banned any new pit bulls within town limits. The regulations would have also required owners of existing pit bull to obtain at least $50,000 of liability insurance.

Read previous WBIR story from September 15 for full details.[...]

Full article retrieved 10/14/09 from http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=101793&provider=rss

Dog owner challenges Denver’s pit bull evaluation and wins

By Julie Hayden KDVR Denver

October 9, 2009

[...] The city uses three experts to evaluate the dogs and determine whether they are predominantly pit bull.[...]

The hearing officer ruled the dog owner’s experts were right, and the City’s experts were wrong.[...]

Full article retrieved 10/10/09 from http://www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-pitbull-100909,0,5301116.story

Contact info for city officials:
City of Clairton, 551 Ravensburg Blvd., Clairton, PA 15025

Remember: BSL is already in place in Clairton. Correspondence should seek to educate about the flaws with their current system, suggestions for a better ordinance, and to dissuade from a breed ban.

Clairton City Council Meets Over Pit Bull Problem

Oct 9, 2009 1:50 pm US/Eastern

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― [...] Meanwhile, the city of Clairton is beginning to crack down on pit bull and other dog owners.

“We have not really been pushing this ordinance, but it’s time that we start getting strict with the ordnance,” said Clairton Mayor Domenic Virgona. “Everyone having a dangerous dog such as a pit bull and Rottweiler and so on must register their dog with the city of Clairton. They must also be on a leash and if they’re going to walk the dog on the street, it must be muzzled.”

Also, the mayor says that anyone who disobeys that ordnance will face a $500 fine. The mayor also says that a ban on pit bulls in the future is not out of the question.[...]

Full article retrieved 10/10/09 from http://kdka.com/pets/pit.bull.problems.2.1237955.html

City Council members: Joe Ratcliff, Steve Diamond, Dennis Adkins, Jim Billups, Robert Leslie, Otis Adkins (Mayor), Stanley Fink (Recorder)

Next city council meeting: November 2, 7:30 PM
Town Council Meetings are 1st Monday of the Month, 7:30 pm

There is a video with slightly more at the original link:

Pit Bull Ban Debated in Ceredo

Posted: 10:59 PM Oct 5, 2009
Reporter: Dave Benton
Email Address: dave.benton@wsaz.com

CEREDO, W.Va. (WSAZ) — A current ban of pit bull terriers in Ceredo is up for debate, and even City Council discussed the issue Monday evening.

Some pit bull owners want the law changed in one town where their pooches are now banned. [...]

There’s a petition with more than 70 signatures, hoping Council will change the law. [...]

Full article retrieved 10/6/09 from http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/63574217.html

Next city council meeting: October 12, 6:00 PM, City Council Chambers @ City Hall

Contact information for Fort Dodge:
Municipal Building, 819 1st Avenue South, Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501
515-573-7144
Fax 515-573-5751
citymanager@fortdodgeiowa.org

City Council Members’ Contact Information:

David Flattery, At Large
515-576-6314
dflattery@csbfd.com

Richard Inman, At Large
515-576-4967
swassing42@aol.com
rinman@fortdodgeiowa.org

Matt Bemrich, At Large
227-5149
mbemrich@mchsi.com
mbemrich@fortdodgeiowa.org

Curt Olson, Ward 1
H: 573-3551
C: 571-8230

Don Wilson, Ward 2
573-3030
donwilson3030@hotmail.com

Cindy Litwiller, Ward 3
Mayor Pro Tem
573-1046
clitwill@hotmail.com
clitwiller@fortdodgeiowa.org
Litwiller is candidate for mayor and would support breed-specific regulations on “pit bulls,” including special containment, liability insurance, and muzzling.

Dan Payne, Ward 4
Dean of the Council
H: 955-6356
W: 573-4282
dlpkay@frontiernet.net

Several candidates for the above positions state in this article that they would be in favor of breed-specific regulations for “pit bulls.” Others have said that they would not be in favor of a ban, but did not specify whether they would favor or be against breed-specific laws in general.

Candidates oppose pit bull ban

Mayoral, council hopefuls don’t see need

By BILL SHEA, Messenger staff writer
POSTED: October 4, 2009

[...] But there appears to be no support for a pit bull ban among the candidates for mayor and City Council in this year’s election.

Here, in the second of a series of articles on city issues, those candidates discuss their thoughts on the possibility of a pit bull ban.[...]

Full article retrieved 10/4/09 from http://www.messengernews.net/page/content.detail/id/519035.html

City Contact Info:
THE CITY OF ABERDEEN, 125 W. Commerce St., Aberdeen, Mississippi 39730
1-662-369-8588
jbenson@ci.aberdeen.ms.us

Aberdeen City Officials Contact Info:

Mayor Jim Ballard
662-369-4165
amayor@ci.aberdeen.ms.us

Ward 1: Alonzo Sykes
1113 Elk Circle, Aberdeen, MS 39730
1-662-369-7524

Ward 2: Cloyd Garth
310 S. James St., Aberdeen, MS 39730
1-662-369-5734

Ward 3: David Ewing
P. O. Box 1095, Aberdeen, MS 39730
1-662-369-9150

Ward 4: Randy Nichols
P. O. Box 1161, Aberdeen, MS 39730
1-662-369-3352

Ward 5: John Allen
1006 W. Commerce St., Aberdeen, MS 39730
1-662-369-4683

Law Office of Robert Faulks, City Attorney
408 Highway 145 North, Aberdeen, MS 39730
(662)369-8099

Monroe County Officials Contact Info:

Monroe County Board of Supervisors, P. O. Box 578, Aberdeen, MS 39730

District One: RANDLE GRAY
60182 Hatley Detroit Road, Amory, MS 38821
662-256-3107

District Two: BILLY KIRKPATRICK
52259 Highway 25 S., Amory, MS 38821
662-256-7744

District Three: BRUCE WEST

District Four: FULTON WARE

District Five: SYKES LAGRONE
30015 Central Grove Road, Nettleton, MS 38858
662-257-6035

County Attorney John Creekmore
P.O. Box 716, Amory, MS 38821
(662) 256-8208 Phone
(662) 257-0306 Fax

Concerned Aberdeen residents hope to see a ban on pit bulls

October 2, 2009

by Jeff Clark/Monroe Journal

ABERDEEN – Concerned residents in the Meadowlane neighborhood have taken their issue to both city and Monroe County officials – the issue of banning pit bulldogs (American Pit Bull Terriers) in the City of Aberdeen.

[...] Young and his group first approached the Aberdeen Board of Aldermen on the issue during the September 2 meeting. It was tabled until the following meeting. At the September 16 meeting, Young and other once again brought the notion of banning pit bulls in Aberdeen before the board. The board tabled the measure at the request of city attorney Robert Faulks until October.

[...] Monroe County Board of Supervisors President Randle Gray said the county would also have board attorney John Creekmore address the issue.[...]

Full article retrieved 10/3/10 from http://nems360.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Concerned+Aberdeen+residents+hope+to+see+a+ban+on+pit+bulls+%20&id=3785799&instance=secondary_stories_left_column