Category Archives: Massachusetts

On June 14, Lowell, MA city council will hold a public hearing on a proposed breed-specific ordinance. They may vote on the ordinance at the same time. The council members are not unified in their support; the vote on the ordinance is expected to be very close. Locals are encouraged to communicate politely and respectfully with the council, to ask them to vote against the breed-specific law that has failed in Boston and nearby communities.

The public hearing takes place on June 14 at 6:30 PM at City Hall, 2nd Floor, Council Chambers, 375 Merrimack St., Lowell, MA.

Councilmembers’ stances on the proposed ordinance
Mayor James L. Milinazzo – supports with the training exemption
Vice Mayor Kevin P. Broderick – unknown
Councilor Edward C. Caulfield – does not support; wants stronger restrictions
Councilor Franky D. Descoteaux – supports with the training exemption
Councilor Rodney M. Elliott – proposed the BSL; supports
Councilor William F. Martin Jr. – unknown
Councilor Joseph M. Mendonça – supports with the training exemption
Councilor Rita M. Mercier – does not support; calls it discriminatory
Councilor Patrick O. Murphy – unknown

Online contact form for the Lowell, MA city council:
http://www.lowellma.gov/contact/council/
Richard Johnson, City Clerk, 375 Merrimack Street, 1st Floor, Room 31, Lowell, MA 01852
(978) 970-4161, voice
(978) 970-4162, fax
Council meeting minutes and agendas: http://www.lowellma.gov/govt

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

Lowell City Council to bring pit-bull muzzle law to public hearing

By Lyle Moran, lmoran@lowellsun.com
Updated: 05/25/2011 11:04:15 AM EDT

LOWELL — After months of debate, the City Council voted last night to forward to a public hearing a pit-bull muzzle law that provides exemptions for dogs that go through training programs.[...]

The ordinance requires that all pit bulls that don’t go through certified training programs must be on a leash and wearing a muzzle when not on their owner’s property. Pit bulls also do not have to wear a muzzle when off their owner’s property if they are in a secure enclosure, such as a dog crate.

A pit bull is defined as any dog that is an American pit-bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier or any dog of mixed breed displaying the majority of physical traits of any of the above breeds.[...]

The ordinance also 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.

Animal-control officers would be required to provide monthly reports about the implementation of the ordinance, and the council would review the effectiveness of the law every six months.[...]

Full article retrieved 5/26/11 from http://www.lowellsun.com/rss/ci_18135599?source=rss#ixzz1NOktWgOB

On May 24, Lowell, MA city council will hear a report from the Public Safety Committee regarding a proposed breed-specific ordinance. The city has been considering BSL for quite a while, and is expected to move forward with the proposed BSL. Locals are encouraged to communicate politely and respectfully with the council, to ask them to move away from the breed-specific laws that have failed in Boston and nearby communities.

The council meeting takes place on May 24 at 6:30 PM at City Hall, 2nd Floor, Council Chambers, 375 Merrimack St., Lowell, MA.

Online contact form for the Lowell, MA city council:
http://www.lowellma.gov/contact/council/
Richard Johnson, City Clerk, 375 Merrimack Street, 1st Floor, Room 31, Lowell, MA 01852
(978) 970-4161, voice
(978) 970-4162, fax
Council meeting minutes and agendas: http://www.lowellma.gov/govt

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

Lowell, MA city council has delayed a vote on proposed BSL in order to allow their legal department to revise some of the language. I do not think the revisions will remove the breed-specific language. The proposed BSL may come back up for discussion in a couple of weeks.

Please continue to send polite, respectful correspondence to city council to discourage them from passing laws that discriminate against people based on the physical appearance of their dog.

Online contact form for the Lowell, MA city council:
http://www.lowellma.gov/contact/council/
Richard Johnson, City Clerk, 375 Merrimack Street, 1st Floor, Room 31, Lowell, MA 01852
(978) 970-4161, voice
(978) 970-4162, fax
Council meeting minutes and agendas: http://www.lowellma.gov/govt

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

City Council holds off on muzzle ordinance

By Lyle Moran, lmoran@lowellsun.com
Updated: 05/11/2011 08:15:14 AM EDT

LOWELL — [...] The council delayed for two weeks voting on whether or not to forward the muzzle law to a public hearing because they wanted to give the Law Department time to include proposed revisions to the drafted ordinance.

City Councilor Franky Descoteaux, with the support of Caulfield and Elliott, wants the ordinance to require a review of the law’s effectiveness after six months to see if there are any changes that should be made to it, or if it should be scrapped.

The drafted ordinance requires all pit bulls to be muzzled when they are off their owners’ properties, but provides exemptions for dogs that have gone through a canine-training program from a facility or instructor possessing a nationally accredited certification.

Full article retrieved 5/12/11 from http://www.lowellsun.com/rss/ci_18040008

Lowell, MA city council will discuss proposed BSL during the meeting on May 10, 6:30 PM, City Council Chambers, City Hall, 2nd Floor, 375 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA 01852. The council will also hear a report (in favor of BSL) from the public safety committee. The public is encouraged to attend and speak against the proposed BSL. (Click for May 10 meeting agenda.)

Please continue to send polite, respectful correspondence to city council to discourage them from passing laws that discriminate against people based on the physical appearance of their dog.

Online contact form for the Lowell, MA city council:
http://www.lowellma.gov/contact/council/
Richard Johnson, City Clerk, 375 Merrimack Street, 1st Floor, Room 31, Lowell, MA 01852
(978) 970-4161, voice
(978) 970-4162, fax
Council meeting minutes and agendas: http://www.lowellma.gov/govt

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

Lowell, MA city council has directed the city solicitor to draft a breed-specific law similar to those in Boston and Worcester. The law will then be discussed at the public safety committee. The public safety committee consists of three city council members, two of whom are strongly supportive of BSL, so it is very likely that the public safety committee will recommend passage of BSL.

Please continue to send polite, respectful correspondence to city council to discourage them from passing laws that discriminate against people based on the physical appearance of their dog.

Next city council meeting: May 10, 6:30 PM, City Council Chambers, City Hall, 2nd Floor, 375 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA 01852.

Online contact form for the Lowell, MA city council:
http://www.lowellma.gov/contact/council/
Richard Johnson, City Clerk, 375 Merrimack Street, 1st Floor, Room 31, Lowell, MA 01852
(978) 970-4161, voice
(978) 970-4162, fax
Council meeting minutes and agendas: http://www.lowellma.gov/govt
Public Safety Sub-Committee
Councilor Edward “Bud” Caulfield, Chair (supports BSL)
Councilor Rodney Elliott, Member (supports BSL)
Councilor Franky Descoteaux, Member

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

Divided Lowell council moves forward on muzzle law

By Lyle Moran, lmoran@lowellsun.com
Updated: 05/04/2011 03:03:03 AM EDT

LOWELL — The City Council Tuesday night moved one step closer to requiring that pit bulls be muzzled, directing the city solicitor to draft a muzzle ordinance similar to ones implemented in Boston and Worcester.

The council voted 5-3 to discuss the drafted ordinance next Tuesday at a meeting of the council’s public-safety subcommittee. The councilors on the three-member panel are expected to suggest additions or subtractions to the draft and vote on whether to forward the ordinance to a public hearing.[...]

Full article retrieved 5/4/11 from http://www.lowellsun.com/breakingnews/ci_17988543

Lowell city council members have suggested enacting a breed-specific law. During the May 3 council meeting, members will hear about dangerous dogs from the public safety committee. This is likely to include discussion of a breed-specific law similar to the one in Boston. The public safety committee consists of three councilmembers, two of which are known to be strong and vocal supporters of BSL.

Residents and locals are encouraged to attend the council meeting and speak against breed-specific measures. BSL was rejected by council several years ago after considerable public outcry, but more recently, several councilmembers have voiced support for BSL.

Next city council meeting: May 3, 6:30 PM, City Council Chambers, City Hall, 2nd Floor, 375 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA 01852.

Online contact form for the Lowell, MA city council:
http://www.lowellma.gov/contact/council/
Richard Johnson, City Clerk, 375 Merrimack Street, 1st Floor, Room 31, Lowell, MA 01852
(978) 970-4161, voice
(978) 970-4162, fax
Council meeting minutes and agendas: http://www.lowellma.gov/govt
Public Safety Sub-Committee
Councilor Edward “Bud” Caulfield, Chair (supports BSL)
Councilor Rodney Elliott, Member (supports BSL)
Councilor Franky Descoteaux, Member

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