Category Archives: Georgia

Terrell County, GA: Commissioners pass BSL

Posted on February 2, 2012 by | 6 Comments

Terrell County commissioners voted to approve BSL; “pit bulls” are now considered “potentially dangerous” dogs. Owners of potentially dangerous dogs must comply with a number of restrictions. This is basically the same ordinance that passed in the city of Dawson.

The ordinances for both city of Dawson and Terrell County may be read here (PDF):
Dawson and Terrell County Ordinances

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
County Clerk: Beth001@windstream.net

[Note: Obviously, the title of the below news article is sensational rather than realistic.]

Pit Bulls may be a breed of the past in Terrell County

by Ashley Knight
Posted: 02.01.2012 at 10:36 AM

TERRELL COUNTY, GA — Terrell County unanimously passed an ordinance that includes pit bulls in their “Dangerous Dogs” ordinance.

The ordinance calls for keeping the dogs in a 10X10 enclosure, keeping the dog on a leash when it’s outside the enclosure as well as muzzled. [...]

Full article retrieved 2/2/12 from http://www.mysouthwestga.com/news/story.aspx?id=714374#.TyqzPlz2ZpV

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Posted in BSL Passed, Georgia

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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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Fitzgerald, GA: Citizens petition against recently passed BSL

Posted on January 16, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Support the efforts of these residents to oppose Fitzgerald’s discriminatory ordinance by writing to city officials and respectfully encouraging them to repeal the “pit bull” ordinance. If you are a resident of Fitzgerald, you can also sign the petition: Walmart parking lot, Jan 28.

City Hall, 302 E Central Ave, Fitzgerald, GA 31750
Telephone: (229) 426-5060
Email addresses for city officials:
fitzcity@mchsi.com, fitzgeraldmayor@mediacombb.net, cityclerk@fitzgeraldga.org

Pit bull lovers sign petition

Posted: Jan 14, 2012 4:32 PM CST
By Gianna Caserta

FITZGERALD, GA – [...] Now, pit bull owners are coming together to get signatures on a petition, calling it unfair to single out a certain breed. [...]

The ordinance requires a pit bull be muzzled when they are on a leash and being walked.

All pit bulls must be registered and have liability insurance of up to $50,000. [...]

The law also requires that the dog must be kept in a pen, at least 6 feet long by 6 feet wide and 6 feet tall, with a secured roof and floor. [...]

The group will be back at the Walmart parking lot on January 28th to try to get more signatures. [...]

Full article retrieved 1/16/12 from http://www.walb.com/story/16521718/pit-bull-lovers-sign-petition

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Posted in BSL Passed, Community Initiatives, Georgia

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Dawson, GA: BSL passed

Posted on January 13, 2012 by | 8 Comments

Pit Bull ordinance passed in Dawson

Posted: Jan 13, 2012 12:29 AM CST
By Sharinda Williams

Dawson,GA – [...] The Dawson City Council amended the city’s animal control ordinance to add the breed specifically as a potentially dangerous dog.

Owners must now keep the dogs in pens concrete or wire bottoms to keep them from digging out. The dogs must also be muzzled when let out of the cage. [...]

Pit bull owners in Dawson have 90 days to insure, Microchip, register their dogs and build those cages.

Full article retrieved 1/13/12 from http://www.walb.com/story/16511885/pit-bull-ordinance-passed-in-dawson

Contact info for city officials:
101 S. Main Street, Dawson, Georgia 39842
Phone:(229) 995-4444
Fax: (229) 995-3713

All alerts for Dawson: http://stopbsl.com/?s=dawson

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Posted in BSL Passed, Georgia

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Dawson, GA: City may consider BSL, Jan 12

Posted on January 9, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Thanks to Jodi for finding this!

A (somewhat unclear) news article has reported that not only did Terrell County, GA, commissioners agree to examine a possible breed ban in February, but this week (Jan 12) the city of Dawson will also consider what sounds like BSL.

[Dawson] city manager, Barney Parnacott says the city commission will meet January 12 and discuss harsher guidelines, such as keeping the dogs inside an enclosure, keeping them leashed anytime they are out of the enclosure as well as keeping them muzzled while on a leash.

The words “the dogs” seems to refer to “pit bulls.” The article author also closes the article with the sentence “Similar laws have been passed in Atlanta. DeKalb County (laws apply in Atlanta) has a ban on “pit bulls” that is bizarrely achieved through a zoning ordinance. Although the article does not say so directly, we assume Dawson will be singling out “pit bulls” in their discussions.

I do not know if Dawson or Terrell County already have BSL. The county and the city are both extremely rural and do not have official government websites, nor do they post agendas or email addresses, making it very difficult for me to track this issue. I would appreciate assistance from a local.

Residents and locals are encouraged to attend the City of Dawson’s Commmissioners’ Meeting on January 12 to guide commissioners away from any potential breed-specific ordinance.

101 S. Main Street, Dawson, Georgia 39842
Phone:(229) 995-4444
Fax: (229) 995-3713

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Posted in Georgia, Whispers of BSL

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Terrell County, GA: Commissioners will consider breed ban

Posted on January 4, 2012 by | 1 Comment

Residents and locals are encouraged to attend the next County Commissioner meeting on February 1 to voice their opposition to a possible breed ban.

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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Fairburn, GA reminder: Councilman to propose breed ban or BSL, Nov 14

Posted on November 13, 2011 by | Comments Off

Fairburn councilman Scott Vaughn will propose a ban on “pit bulls” and other unidentified “restricted breeds” at the city council meeting on Nov 14 at 7:00 PM. This discussion IS on the agenda. Residents and locals are encouraged to attend the council meeting and protest the discriminatory proposal. Want to make a comment at the next council meeting? Follow the guidelines here: http://www.fairburn.com/news.php?id=125

The Newnan-Coweta Humane Society is also organizing a group to speak against the proposal. You can contact them at nchs_rescue@numail.org or go to their Facebook page.

Contact info for city council
Fairburn City Hall, 56 Malone Street, Fairburn, Georgia 30213
Phone 770-964-2244 Fax 770-969-3484
Web form for city council: http://www.fairburn.com/contact.php?contact=6

All alerts  for Fairburn, including previous news article about Vaughn’s proposal: http://stopbsl.com/?s=fairburn

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Georgia

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Hinesville, GA: Resident requests breed ban

Posted on November 9, 2011 by | Comments Off

Thanks to Jodi for this alert!

According to a very brief news snip out of the Coastal Courier paper today, at last week’s city council meeting, a resident requested the council enact an ordinance to ban pit bulls.

I just spoke with the city manager’s office, and the resident is apparently experiencing “problems with pit bulls” in his neighborhood. The council advised the resident that they would look into the matter with the city attorney.

Please note that as of right now, this is not an issue currently before the city council. However, Hinesville residents need to reach out to their city leaders NOW and express their concerns regarding breed specific legislation, and offer their assistance and suggestions in crafting an ordinance that deals with the real problem of irresponsible dog ownership, rather than focusing on any particluar breed of dog. Work with your city officials in creating a better community for humans and animals, alike.

Nov. 8, 2011 article out of the Coastal Courier: http://beta.coastalcourier.com/section/139/article/37574/preview/

Contact the city council through this online form: http://ga-hinesville.civicplus.com/forms.aspx?fid=41

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Posted in Georgia, Whispers of BSL

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Fairburn, GA: Councilman will propose breed ban or BSL, Nov 14

Posted on November 3, 2011 by | Comments Off

Fairburn councilman Scott Vaughn will propose a ban on “pit bulls” and other unidentified “restricted breeds” at the city council meeting on Nov 14 at 7:00 PM. Residents and locals are encouraged to attend the council meeting and protest the discriminatory proposal. Want to make a comment at the next council meeting? Follow the guidelines here: http://www.fairburn.com/news.php?id=125

Contact info for city council
Fairburn City Hall, 56 Malone Street, Fairburn, Georgia 30213
Phone 770-964-2244 Fax 770-969-3484
Web form for city council: http://www.fairburn.com/contact.php?contact=6

Vaughn to introduce proposed city ordinance regarding dogs

By Bill Baldowski
bbaldowski@neighbornewspapers.com

Fairburn Councilman Scott Vaughn is set to introduce a proposed city ordinance at the Nov. 14 council meeting that he said would protect the public and promote what he termed a family-friendly community.

His proposal concerns the city adopting a breed specific ban on the type of dog breed Fairburn residents would be allowed to own, plus other dog-related issues.[...]

His resolution is modeled after a Colorado law which makes it unlawful for any person to “have, own, possess, keep, exercise control over, maintain, harbor, transport or sell within the city any pit bull or restricted breed of dog.”[...]

“Certain breeds are not only overwhelmingly responsible for dog-related fatalities but their mere presence is menacing and creates an environment of fear and intimidation,” he said.

Vaughn added that any dog can bite someone “but only a few are just so powerful and vicious that their presence is a threat to the community.”

Full article retrieved 11/3/11 from http://neighbornewspapers.com/stories/Vaughn-to-introduce-proposed-city-ordinance-regarding-dogs,177633

Note that the full article discusses other components of Vaughn’s proposal, which would include muzzling all dogs when being walked, and a ban on tethering. However, I’m unclear as to why Vaughn is proposing any of this. Fairburn city code already prohibits tethering except temporarily, while the dog is attended by an owner (this ordinance passed in 2009). Fairburn also has a relatively comprehensive breed-neutral dangerous dog ordinance. It doesn’t seem like Vaughn’s proposal brings anything new to the table, except for the breed ban.

Residents and locals are strongly encouraged to contact Councilman Vaughn and the rest of the city council and express their thoughts on this issue.

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Georgia

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Savannah, GA: Resident’s petition advocates BSL

Posted on July 29, 2011 by | 1 Comment

A Savannah, GA, resident has turned in 1,000 signatures in support of new vicious-dog ordinances that would include breed-specific legislation. Nothing official has been proposed at this time, but council is considering the resident’s request. The council will act after hearing the city manager’s recommendation.

Locals and residents of Savannah: please contact city council and attend the next council meeting to express your opposition to a breed-specific ordinance.

Next council meeting:Aug. 11 at 2:00 PM in Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 2 East Bay Street, Savannah, GA.
If you wish to appear before Council, write to: City Manager, City of Savannah, PO Box 1027, Savannah, GA 31402
To petition council, contact: Clerk of Council, 1st Floor, City Hall, (912) 651-6441, clerkofcouncil@savannahga.gov

“Talk Back Savannah”—online form for residents to provide feedback to the city: http://www.savannahga.gov/cityweb/talkbacksav.nsf/talkbacksav?openform

City Manager’s Office, (912) 651-6415

Contact info for city council
Mayor Otis Johnson, Ph.D, otis_johnson@savannahga.gov
Edna B. Jackson, EdnaJackson3@comcast.net
Jeff Felser, jfelser@sabrelink.com
Van R. Johnson, II, aldermanjohnson1@aol.com
Mary Osborne, alderwoman.osborne@gmail.com
Larry Stuber, larrystuber@bellsouth.net
Mary Ellen Sprague, memesprague@juno.com
Clifton Jones, Jr., cliftonjjr@aol.com
Tony Thomas, aldermanthomas@aol.com

Email block for cut and paste
otis_johnson@savannahga.gov; EdnaJackson3@comcast.net; jfelser@sabrelink.com; aldermanjohnson1@aol.com; alderwoman.osborne@gmail.com; larrystuber@bellsouth.net; memesprague@juno.com; cliftonjjr@aol.com; aldermanthomas@aol.com

Savannah City Hall explores violent dog petition and ordinance

Posted: Jul 28, 2011 2:54 PM PDT
By Don Logana

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) – [...] The woman, Cheryl Labon, ran into city manager Rochelle Small-Toney in the lobby of city hall last week and hand delivered a petition with a thousand signatures supporting a tougher ordinance. One of the requests is for all dogs in certain downtown areas be muzzled. Another issue is for certain breeds to be registered with neighborhoods.[...]

Mayor Otis Johnson says city council will wait for a recommendation from the city manager and then they will discuss the possible ordinance as a council. [...]

Full article retrieved 7/29/11 from http://www.wtoc.com/story/15169432/savannah-city-hall-examining-pit-bull-petition-and-possible-ordinance

All alerts for Savannah, GA: http://stopbsl.com/?s=savannah

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Posted in Georgia, Whispers of BSL

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