Category Archives: BSL Proposed

Terrell County, GA reminder: Board will consider breed ban, Feb 1

Posted on January 28, 2012 by | 1 Comment

Residents and locals are encouraged to attend the next Terrell County Board of Commissioners meeting on February 1 at 8:30 AM to voice their opposition to a possible breed ban.

The city of Dawson, GA—the county seat where Terrell County commissioners meet—passed “pit bull” restrictions earlier this month, with very little public opposition or discussion. We feel that the ease with which Dawson passed BSL will encourage Terrell County commissioners to do the same.

Contact info for Terrell County officials
Terrell County Courthouse, 235 E Lee Street, Dawson, GA 39842
P.O. Box 525, Dawson, GA 39842-0525
Phone: (229) 995-4476
Fax:(229) 995-4320
Thanks to Kat for digging up this e-mail address. She was told it is the email for the Commissioners: Beth001@windstream.net

Terrell Commissioners consider ban on Pit Bulls

Posted: Jan 04, 2012 10:35 AM CST
By Ryan Houston

Terrell County, GA – The Terrell County Commissioners is considering a countywide ban on Pit Bulls.[...]

The board will vote on a final ordinance at the next County Commission meeting. The next meeting will take place Wednesday February, 1 at 8:30am.

Full article retrieved 1/4/12 from http://www.walb.com/story/16444612/terrell-county-commissoners-consider-ban-on-pit-bulls

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Georgia

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Ventura County, CA: Breed-specific MSN proposal approved by commission

Posted on January 28, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The Ventura County Animal Regulation Commission has unanimously voted in support of mandatory spay/neuter for all ”pit bulls.”

[...] The commission, made up of elected officials from the Ventura County Board of Supervisors and city councils, unanimously voted to support a mandatory spay-neuter policy for pit bulls, which means each city and the county will consider such an ordinance.

If the ordinances are adopted as proposed, owners of any of the three terrier breeds commonly referred to as pit bulls would get what amounts to a “fix-it ticket” if they are discovered with an unaltered adult dog. [...]

Full article retrieved 1/28/12 from http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jan/26/activists-push-for-no-kill-animal-shelter/

Remember, breed-specific mandatory spay/neuter (BS-MSN) is based on appearance alone, and is as flawed, unequal, and subjective as any other law that is based on what a dog “looks like.” It is entirely up to an animal control official, based on his or her subjective visual assessment of your dog’s physical appearance, to determine whether you and your dog fall under this ordinance.

The ordinance presumably now goes to the county board, and all of the city councils within the county, for consideration. Because there are now so many areas to watch with respect to this issue, and because we do not know whether or when the cities will consider the ordinance, we would definitely appreciate assistance from locals who are able to monitor the agendas in these areas and alert us if the issue comes up for discussion.
Ventura County Board of Supervisors
Cities: Ojai, Fillmore, Santa Paula, Moorpark, Ventura, Camarillo, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Oxnard, Port Hueneme

All alerts for Ventura County: http://stopbsl.com/?s=ventura+county

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Posted in BSL Proposed, California

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Fond du Lac, WI update: Breed ban proposal dropped

Posted on January 26, 2012 by | 2 Comments

The public stood up and said “no” to BSL tonight in Fond du Lac. City councilman Rob Vande Zande dropped his proposed breed ban after overwhelming public opposition to the idea.

Most city council members were also opposed to BSL. Please take a moment to thank the city council for standing up against discrimination.
Contact info for city officials (cut and paste):
rgudex@ci.fond-du-lac.wi.us; jruedinger@ci.fond-du-lac.wi.us; mburroughs@ci.fond-du-lac.wi.us; gmiller@ci.fond-du-lac.wi.us; rlunde@ci.fond-du-lac.wi.us; jsabel@ci.fond-du-lac.wi.us; rvandezande@ci.fond-du-lac.wi.us; lagnew@fdl.wi.gov

If you were one of the many who attending the meeting, wrote the councilmembers, collected petition signatures, and spread the word–then, here’s to you! Congratulations, and thank you, for a job well done.

Great coverage and photos of the meeting from FDL Reporter: http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20120126/FON0101/201260446/Fond-du-Lac-residents-attack-pit-bull-proposal

Additional coverage from FOX: http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/news/local/fox_cities/pit-bull-ban-proposal-in-fond-du-lac

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Posted in BSL Defeated, BSL Proposed, Wisconsin

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Wagmatcook, NS, Canada: Pit bull ban on agenda

Posted on January 25, 2012 by | Leave a comment

According to the news article, the call for a “pit bull” ban was prompted by a bite from a loose dog that had previously bitten another person.

Wagmatcook First Nation is a reserve. This is all the contact information I have.

Council of Wagmatcook Band, P.O. Box 30001, Wagmatcook, NS B0E 3N0
Chief Norman Bernard, Wagmatcook First Nation
Tribal Council: Union of Nova Scotia Indians, P.O. Box 237 Baddeck, NS B0E 1B0
Phone: (902) 295-2598
Fax: (902) 295-3398

Call for pit bull ban after Wagmatcook attack

Girl, 7, bitten by dog while playing

CBC News Posted: Jan 24, 2012 9:20 PM AT

[...] Wagmatcook has a dog bylaw and a control officer visits about three times a week.

The Wagmatcook band council said banning pit bulls is on their agenda.

Full article retrieved 1/25/12 from http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2012/01/24/ns-pitbull-attack.html

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Canada

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Ventura County, CA: Breed-specific MSN proposal to be discussed, Jan 26

Posted on January 23, 2012 by | 2 Comments

Back in August 2011, Ventura County Animal Services director Monica Nolan said she would introduce an ordinance to mandate spay/neuter for all “pit bulls” in the county. A draft proposal will be brought forward for discussion and direction at the next meeting of the Animal Regulation Commission.

The Animal Regulation Commission will meet on January 26 at 9:00 AM at the Camarillo Animal Shelter, 600 Aviation Drive, Camarillo, CA. Click here for the current agenda: http://portal.countyofventura.org/portal/page/portal/animalreg/AnimalRegulationCommission/
The mandatory “pit bull” spay/neuter proposal is item 4.
Item 5, a discussion about how to reduce shelter killing, increase adoptions, and achieve no-kill status, is another important topic that may affect the commission’s decisions about the BS-MSN proposal.

If you are local to Ventura County, please attend this meeting and show your opposition to breed-specific laws. Remember, breed-specific mandatory spay/neuter (BS-MSN) is breed-specific, and is as flawed, unequal, costly, and subjective as any other law that is based on what a dog “looks like.”

These were the members of the Animal Regulation Commission as of May 2011. Many of the members are councilmembers of the cities within Ventura County. We do not know where they stand on BS-MSN, so please be respectful when you correspond with them.
Kevin Kildee, council@ci.camarillo.ca.us
Brian Sipes, loansbyBrian@msn.com
Janice Parvin, JParvin@ci.moorpark.ca.us
Carlon Strobel, Strobel@ci.ojai.ca.us
Dr. Irene G. Pinkard, Irene.pinkard@ci.oxnard.ca.us
Jonathan Sharkey, Jon@sharkey.com
Rick Cook, calwestrickcook@verizon.net
Barbra Williamson, Simivalleygal@gmail.com
James Monahan, jmonahan@ci.ventura.ca.us

Email block for cut-and-paste
council@ci.camarillo.ca.us; loansbyBrian@msn.com; JParvin@ci.moorpark.ca.us; Strobel@ci.ojai.ca.us; Irene.pinkard@ci.oxnard.ca.us; Jon@sharkey.com; calwestrickcook@verizon.net; Simivalleygal@gmail.com; jmonahan@ci.ventura.ca.us

The BS-MSN proposal has not been publicized in the news media for six months, the animal commission hasn’t met for seven months, and the online meeting agenda is difficult to find if you don’t know where to look (or have no reason to look). Due to the lack of official action on this issue since last summer, StopBSL had removed Ventura County from the BSL watchlist.

We sincerely appreciate the contribution of an anonymous site visitor who alerted us to this new meeting information! Ventura County is another case where we are extremely grateful for locals who are able to get us necessary details that we would not get elsewhere.

All alerts for Ventura County: http://stopbsl.com/?s=ventura+county

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Posted in BSL Proposed, California

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Fond du Lac, WI: Councilman to propose breed ban, Jan 25

Posted on January 22, 2012 by | 1 Comment

City councilman Rob Vande Zande will propose a breed ban at the next city council meeting: Jan 25, 7:00 PM, Legislative Chambers, 160 South Macy Street, City-County Government Center, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

You may also contact city council and express your opposition to breed-discriminatory laws. Please do so RESPECTFULLY. Many councilmembers have responded that they will oppose this proposal. Please keep them on our side.

Contact info for city officials (cut and paste):
rgudex@ci.fond-du-lac.wi.us; jruedinger@ci.fond-du-lac.wi.us; mburroughs@ci.fond-du-lac.wi.us; gmiller@ci.fond-du-lac.wi.us; rlunde@ci.fond-du-lac.wi.us; jsabel@ci.fond-du-lac.wi.us; rvandezande@ci.fond-du-lac.wi.us; lagnew@fdl.wi.gov

This long news article gives more details of Vande Zande’s proposal. Recommended reading.

Fond du Lac considers ban on pit bulls

‘Dangerous pet’ ordinance in FdL will be topic of discussion at Wednesday’s meeting

10:36 PM, Jan. 21, 2012

City Councilman Rob Vande Zande will discuss his plan Wednesday night for ordinances that would add rules for pit bull owners and prohibit new pit bulls from being licensed. [...]

Full article retrieved 1/22/12 from http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20120122/FON0101/201220372/Fond-du-Lac-considers-ban-pit-bulls?odyssey=tab

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Wisconsin

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Slater, MO update: City to hold another public hearing (possible BSL)

Posted on January 19, 2012 by | Leave a comment

No date has been set for the next public hearing on the city’s proposed animal ordinance revisions. This week’s public hearing featured an excellent presentation against BSL from a veterinarian, but the city’s proposal still contains BSL. Please continue to encourage Slater officials to choose a breed-neutral, non-discriminatory solution.

Contact info for Slater officials:
Slater City Hall, 232 N. Main St., Slater, MO 65349
Ph: 660.529.2271
Fax: 660.529.2593
info@cityofslater.com

All alerts for Slater: http://stopbsl.com/?s=%22slater%2C+mo%22

Slater anticipates fourth animal ordinance hearing

Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Marshall Democrat-News

Two-dozen pictures of pit bull look-a-likes hung on a board at Slater City Hall.

Each dog carried the coloring or stereotypical markings of the animal, but only one tested DNA positive for pit bull blood. Veterinarian Jane Waller failed to identify it by its picture, which represented a portion of the difficulty enforcing breed specific laws. At the Slater animal ordinance hearing on Jan. 18, she cautioned against breed specific legislature. [...]

Councilman Terry Jordan closed the meeting by asking that another hearing be arranged. [...]

Full article retrieved 1/19/12 from http://www.marshallnews.com/story/1806106.html

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Okolona, MS reminder: Council may discuss or vote on BSL, Jan 17

Posted on January 15, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Okolona, MS, is proposing breed-specific restrictions on “pit bulls.” The ordinance may be discussed or voted on during the council recess meeting on Tuesday, Jan 17, at 6 p.m. at the Okolona Auditorium (confirmed by city clerk). This meeting IS open to the public. Locals and residents are encouraged to attend and to voice your opposition to BSL.

Contact info for city officials:
CITY OF OKOLONA, 215 West Main, P.O. Box 111, Okolona, MS 38860
662-447-5461 voice
662-447-3956 fax
Okolona@midsouth.com (this email may not work–city clerk did not realize it existed)

All alerts for Okolona: http://stopbsl.com/?s=okolona

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Mississippi

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Slater, MO reminder: Public meeting on animal ordinance, Jan 16 (possible BSL)

Posted on January 15, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Slater is considering major revisions to its animal ordinance. One of the suggested revisions could declare certain breeds to be automatically “vicious” and put restrictions on ownership of those breeds. “Pit bulls” appear to be particularly targeted. Slater will hold another public hearing on proposed revisions on Jan 16 at 7:00 PM at City Hall.

Contact info for Slater officials:
Slater City Hall, 232 N. Main St., Slater, MO 65349
Ph: 660.529.2271
Fax: 660.529.2593
info@cityofslater.com

All alerts for Slater: http://stopbsl.com/?s=%22slater%2C+mo%22

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Missouri

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Lake Saint Louis, MO: Council to discuss dog ordinance revisions, Jan 17

Posted on January 15, 2012 by | 1 Comment

Update 1/17/12: The city clerk has sent me the proposal. It no longer contains the problematic language that was causing us concern. Thanks to everyone who wrote the city council and asked them to change the language!

Lake Saint Louis, MO, city council will take up revisions to its vicious animal ordinance during the Jan 17 council meeting at 7:00 PM. We have requested, but not yet received, a copy of the proposed revisions, to see if the proposal has changed at all since the first draft.

One of the proposed revisions was to change the wording slightly, so that officials will be able to consider breed when determining whether or not a dog is “dangerous.” The city council had proposed this change: ”In reference to dogs, a dog’s breed shall not be considered the only consideration in determining whether or not it is ‘dangerous.’” The change would effectively allow officials to make subjective guesses about a dog’s possible breed as one piece of “evidence” that a dog is dangerous.

I am not sure if this wording was retained in the final version of the proposal, but until I can find out, I’d rather play it safe. The vicious animal ordinance revisions are on the council meeting agenda for Jan 17 at 7:00 PM. Residents and locals are encouraged to attend the meeting and express their opposition to consideration of breed when establishing whether a dog is dangerous.

1. Bill No. 3213 – An ordinance amending the Municipal Code of the City of Lake Saint Louis, Title II: Public Health Safety and Welfare, Chapter 210: Animal Regulations, Article I. Domestic and Dangerous Animals, deleting Article I in its entirety and enacting a new Article I on the same subject.

Express your concerns to Lake Saint Louis officials.
City of Lake Saint Louis, 200 Civic Center Drive, Lake Saint Louis, MO 63367
Phone: (636) 625 1200
mpotter@lakesaintlouis.com; rsidebottom@lakesaintlouis.com;  ldegroodt@lakesaintlouis.com; kschweikert@lakesaintlouis.com; kvennard@lakesaintlouis.com; jpellerito@lakesaintlouis.com; grich@lakesaintlouis.com; pmarkworth@lakesaintlouis.com; ddaniel@lakesaintlouis.com; mforce@lakesaintlouis.com

All alerts for Lake Saint Louis, MO: http://stopbsl.com/?s=lake+saint+louis

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Posted in Missouri, BSL Proposed

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