Monthly Archives: May 2010

Clarksdale, MS: Rottweilers added to proposed BSL

Posted on May 15, 2010 by | 2 Comments

The proposed ordinance will be up for another reading and may pass at the next board meeting. I do not know the specifics of Clarksdale’s proposed ordinance, but it is based on Bolivar County’s ordinance, which sets limits on the numbers of “pit bulls” a resident may have, and requires “pit bull” owners to purchase liability insurance.

As you can see from the conversations held by the board (in the article below), the breeds/types of dogs included in this ordinance seem to be arbitrarily decided, based on stereotypes and perception rather than any real issues the city is facing.

City of Clarksdale
Post Office Box 940
121 Sunflower Avenue, Clarksdale, MS 38614
(662) 621-8164
mayor@clarksdale.com (email may not be valid)
City Clerk Cathy Clark
(662) 621-8136

Previous alert for Clarksdale: http://stopbsl.com/2010/05/03/clarksdale-ms-whispers-of-bsl/

Board amends dog ordinance

By Christopher Moser
The Press Register
Friday, May 14, 2010 8:37 AM CDT

[...]The matter of a pit bull ordinance was carried over from the previous meeting. City Attorney Curtis Boschert drafted an ordinance to reflect the board’s wishes on the regulations on owning a pit bull and the penalties if an incident occurs.[...]

Seemingly to appease Moton, Mayor Henry Espy called for a motion to add the breeds rottweiler and German shepherd and Moton made the motion.[...]

After the third time, Clarksdale Police Chief Greg Hoskins said he didn’t see German shepherds as attack dogs.

[...] All commissioners voted in favor of changing the ordinance to include pit bulls and rottweilers except Moton.

Article retrieved 5/15/10  from http://www.pressregister.com/articles/2010/05/14/news/doc4bed4d8663d1c352221323.txt

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Additional Breeds, BSL Proposed, Mississippi

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Tennessee: A bill to control vicious dogs, aimed at criminals

Posted on May 15, 2010 by | 3 Comments

This non-breed-specific bill is HB 0238/SB 0555.

Trying to Take a Bite Out of Crime via Felons’ Dogs

By ERIK ECKHOLM
Published: May 14, 2010

[...]

A bill awaiting Gov. Phil Bredesen’s signature would bar felons convicted of violent or drug-related crimes from keeping “potentially vicious” dogs for 10 years after being released from prison or probation. [...] The Tennessee proposal, modeled on a 2006 law in Illinois that was the first of its kind, focuses just on felons and also avoids naming breeds.

Article retrieved on 5/15/10 from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/15/us/15dogs.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

→ 3 Comments

Posted in Criminal Activity, Non-BSL Proposed, Tennessee

Tagged , , , ,

Warwick, RI reminder: City council to discuss breed-specific MSN, May 17

Posted on May 14, 2010 by | Comments Off

The City Council may discuss mandatory spay/neuter for “pit bulls” at the Warwick City Hall (3275 Post Road Warwick, R.I. 02886) on Monday, May 17, 2010, 7:00 PM.

Breed-specific mandatory spay/neuter still has all the flaws of any other type of breed-specific law (including identification of breeds/types of dogs to be neutered), has not been shown to be effective at reducing dog populations, and is not supported by no-kill advocates or other animal welfare experts.

Previous alert for Warwick, with contact info: http://stopbsl.com/2010/04/27/warwick-ri-warwick-weighing-mandatory-neutering-of-pit-bulls/

Comments Off

Posted in BSL Proposed, Rhode Island

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Toledo, OH: Draft bill doesn’t single out ‘pit bulls’ as vicious breed

Posted on May 13, 2010 by | Comments Off

Even though the changes proposed would remove breed-specific language from Toledo’s dog ordinance, Ohio state law automatically labels all “pit bulls” as “vicious.” That means any restrictions that Toledo places on “vicious” dogs, such as a limit of one vicious dog per household and mandatory spay/neuter, would also apply to “pit bulls.”

Ohio HB 79, if passed, would remove the “vicious” designation from “pit bulls,” thereby making Toledo’s proposed changes truly breed-neutral.

Toledo dog law may target behavior

Draft bill doesn’t single out ‘pit bulls’ as vicious breed

By CARL RYAN
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Article published May 13, 2010

[...]In the end, the Lucas County Dog Warden Advisory Committee reaffirmed its earlier intention of not singling out the “pit bull” as a vicious breed in the draft ordinance, which remains a work in progress.

[...]A vicious dog, for the purposes of the draft legislation, is one defined as such by state law or that has hurt or killed another dog. Because state law defines “pit bulls” as automatically vicious, the draft ordinance would require all of them in the city to be spayed or neutered.

Article retrieved 5/13/10 from http://toledoblade.com/article/20100513/NEWS16/5130392/-1/NEWS10

Comments Off

Posted in Ohio, Proposal to Repeal

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Lodi, NJ: BSL proposed

Posted on May 13, 2010 by | 3 Comments

Update 5/17: Lodi, NJ has decided to drop the breed-specific proposal.

BSL is prohibited by NJ state law. Lodi’s proposal is modeled after the ordinance in Garfield, which was shot down after massive public protest earlier this week. It is not clear whether Lodi will take the hint and remove the breed-specific language.

Contact info for Lodi city officials:

City of Lodi, New Jersey
Debra A. Cannizzo, Borough Clerk
dcannizzo@lodi-nj.org
One Memorial Drive, 2nd Floor, Room 202, Lodi, NJ 07644
(973) 365-4005

Mayor Bruce Masopust, masopust@lodi-nj.org
Deputy Mayor Paula Fiduccia, fiduccia@lodi-nj.org
Councilman Thomas DeSomma, desomma@lodi-nj.org
Councilman Marc N. Schrieks, schrieks@lodi-nj.org
Councilwoman Karen Viscana, viscana@lodi-nj.org

Online contact form: http://www.lodi-nj.org/Contact/

Pit bull ordinance is modeled after Garfield’s measure

Last updated: Thursday May 13, 2010, 1:32 AM
BY SUSAN JOY CLARK
Community News (Lodi Edition)
STAFF WRITER

The borough council in Lodi is discussing the possibility of an ordinance regulating pit bulls.

The ordinance, still in draft form, would require specific licensing and control requirements for pit bulls if passed.

Article retrived 5/13/10 from http://www.northjersey.com/news/93653599_Pit_bull_ordinance_is_modeled_after_Garfield_s_measure.html

→ 3 Comments

Posted in BSL Proposed, New Jersey

Tagged , , , , ,

Carthage, MS: “Pit bull” ban passed, no grandfather clause

Posted on May 12, 2010 by | 6 Comments

Thanks to Jodi for bringing this into the spotlight.

Carthage has no leash law. This quote from the city attorney, Alan Rhea, boggles the mind: “By putting in the ban on the specific breeds,” the attorney said, “you eliminate having to prove the dogs are dangerous.”

Contact city officials and attorney:

City Hall, 212 Main Street, Carthage, MS 39051
Phone: 601-267-8322
Fax: 601-267-5955

Mayor Jimmy Wallace
Aldermen
Larwin Atkison, Ward 1
David Cockroft, Ward 2
Terry Jones, Ward 3
David Herrington, Ward 4

City Attorney: Nettles and Rhea Attorneys at Law, (601) 267-8404

Ban on pit bulls kicks in, enforcement urged

“Today’s the day,” [Mayor Wallace] told aldermen. “If there’s anybody with this breed of dog on their property, we’re now able to go in there and get it.”

The ordinance applies to pit bulls and pit bull mixes.

Article retrieved 5/12/2010 from http://media.iadsnetwork.com/contentitempdf/pdfs/140000/140738.pdf

Animal ordinance

Aldermen also adopted an ordinance to ban certain breeds of dogs in the city.

[...]The initial list included American pit bull terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, Rottweilers and any half breed canines from the list.

The ordinance would take effect 30 days after publication and would include no “grandfather” provisions, Rhea said.

Alderman David Herrington moved that Rottweilers be removed from the list, pending further study, but otherwise there was no opposition to the amendment to the ordinance.

Article retrieved on April 8, 2010 from: http://media.iadsnetwork.com/contentitempdf/pdfs/130000/130178.pdf

Read the whole ordinance here: http://media.iadsnetwork.com/contentitempdf/pdfs/130000/130181.pdf

→ 6 Comments

Posted in BSL Passed, Mississippi

Tagged , , , , , ,

Garfield, NJ: Garfield City Council tables pit bull ordinance after public outcry

Posted on May 12, 2010 by | 3 Comments

Previous alerts for Garfield: http://stopbsl.com/?s=garfield

Garfield City Council tables pit bull ordinance after public outcry

Wednesday, May 12, 2010
BY ERIN PATRICIA GRIFFITHS
Community News (Garfield Edition)

In response to countless e-mails, letters and phone calls from concerned residents and animal lovers throughout northern New Jersey, the Garfield City Council unanimously voted against adopting an ordinance that would have increased licensing fees for pit bulls in the city, along with several other requirements for owners including liability insurance coverage and muzzling of the pit bull in public.

The announcement that the ordinance would be tabled was met with thunderous applause from all those in attendance.

In addition to overwhelming documentation and correspondence received by the city council from concerned citizens about the ordinance, the governing body also learned that the ordinance violated state law which prohibits breed specific legislation.

Article retrieved 5/12/10 from http://www.northjersey.com/news/93611059_Garfield_City_Council_tables_pit_bull_ordinance_after_public_outcry.html

→ 3 Comments

Posted in BSL Defeated, New Jersey

Tagged , , , , ,