These ordinances were not passed due to any incident–they were passed “just in case.” This article indicates that Brandon’s leash law wasn’t being enforced, as the “problem” identified with pit bulls in Brandon is that dogs were roaming city streets. Note also that, according to the article, no one came to these cities’ meetings to protest the proposed BSL. But, how well-publicized were these proposals? Media coverage is nonexistant until after the fact.
Contact info for Brandon city officials: http://www.cityofbrandon.net/httpdocs/brandon/Mayor_and_Board.html
Contact info for Flowood city officials: http://www.ci.flowood.ms.us/Directory.asp
Cities require pit bull permits
Brandon, Flowood set deadlines for residents to comply
Justin Fritscher • jfritscher@jackson.gannett.com • July 26, 2010
BRANDON — Pit bull owners in the city of Brandon have two months to obtain permits that require a special pen for the dogs and liability insurance. Meanwhile, Flowood residents who own pit bulls have one month to obtain the permits.
Read the rest of the story here:
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20100726/NEWS/7260316/Cities-require-pit-bull-permits
StopBSL
weigoba
Oh my god I Live in flowood ms. I never know of meeting on pitbulls or anything. What am I to do now they went behind our backs to pass this
I spoke with Justin yesterday and he said there will be another city council meeting on august 16. We all need to meet before and get a plan of action. I’m a mother of 4 and we have a female pittie that we love as i’m sure you all do. This ordinance is arbitrary- you can’t single out a small group and apply laws just to them. Let’s ban together. They slipped this in.
I am outraged. I live in Brandon and was not notified. After speaking with Justin the next meeting in regards to this issue will be monday at 6pm brandon city hall. lets join together and speak on behalf of the breed. I have 2 bullies. One is 14 weeks red nose and the other is a staffordhire bull terrier and she is 2 1/2 years old. Both are sweet and companions to my 3 children ages 6,11,and 15. They sleep with my kids, up to date on shots, and are fixed. This is ridiculous. A responsible pit bull owner is already forced with a great expense financially to properly care for the breed and to add these other debts is ridiculous. People should be ashamed for being so closeminded. if you though you had a problem with loose pits running around. which i have yet to see!!!!! Then you are in for a reality check, because those who cant afford it, i can guarantee would prefer to let their dogs roam free then to place them in a shelter where they will ultimately be put down. Sit back Aldeman and watch your city go from concerned to hell in a matter of two months. Monday at 6 pm brandon city hall …….lets join together and advocate for our bullies
Right on Naomi. I’ll be there!
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I have already had an interview with wlbt and I have a call in to the mayor. I have written several letters to anyone from peta to the pit boss. I refuse to be punished for being a responsible pet owner, and my little angel will not spend one second on a concrete slab. I will be there monday, but we need lots of people at city hall to stand up for our four legged family members. Who is in?
I live 10 miles from Flowood and Brandon – in another county, Madison – and I never heard a thing about this until I got an email from my yahoo group letting me know this happened. I was at the Jackson City Council meeting with several other people when they attempted to ban pit bulls in April and would have been at this meeting had I known about it. Before we moved to Mississippi I checked out the website that states where BSL is in place and I steered clear of the counties that already had BSL in place, but I am not naive in knowing that BSL spreads like wildfire. I am very concerned because I received a call from an acquaintance last night who is taking college classes and his instructor sits on the Madison County board and he told me they are considering bans/BSL in Madison County due to Flowood/Brandon and so many other counties/cities adopting the same BSL. I know Madison County proposed BSL in 2008 also and it is worrying me that these things are happening without our knowledge.
Thank you,
Leslie Vinson
Hi Leslie,
If you are able, please keep me appraised of the situation in Madison County. Any kind of documents like board minutes or newspaper articles that detail recent BSL discussions would be helpful. Small towns and sparsely populated counties often do not have websites, have minimal media coverage of legislative matters, and do not post meeting agendas or minutes online, so it is very hard to keep track of these things from several states away. Locals who can get access to these documents really help us determine an appropriate response and generate public awareness about BSL proposals.
Thanks!
Guys, I talked to the mayor of brandon. He said that they are not discussing the ordinance Monday night. Not sure what to think.
There should be a public comment section of the city council meeting during which any member of the public may speak on any topic. It never hurts to sign up for the public comment section and get a discussion started with city council–regardless of what’s on their agenda.
We live in Brandon MS. and have just submitted our application for the Pitbull animal variance for Rankin County. We had to build a 10′ x 6′ x 6′h pen with a concrete floor and obtain $100,000 for the Pitbull we have adopted.
It is so unfortunate that these dogs get such a bad rap. I will certainly oppose any further restrictions pertaining to this breed.
Dale….I’m doing the same thing. Bought our kennel last night, which by the way, my dog will never be in. It is so unfair. Hurray for you for adopting one of these precious animals.
Hey guys, I am sorry but I didn’t get all of these replies until Dale’s just now. I did sign up to be notified when someone posts a comment on this thread.
I heard that they were not, in fact, going to talk about the pit bull ordinance at the meeting yesterday and now I hear Rankin County has passed BLS as of yesterday!? I do not watch the news. Did anyone go? I am so sorry, I would have come.
I do not understand this concrete slab/chain link fence ordinance – that is exactly what we animal advocates are against, penning and chaining dogs! I have 100K liability insurance on my rescued pit bull dogs because in the county I lived in Atlanta it was required, as well as a 6-foot privacy fence and microchipping (but that is just good sense anyway), and, since they were adopted from a rescue, by law, had to be spayed/neutered (more very good sense), but I can promise the ordinances were near impossible to enforce and the backyard pit bull breeders/fighters/abusers definitely didn’t comply as was evident in the average number of pit bulls euthanized per week in that county alone, 35.
I definitely think we need to come together as a group but how do we do this? When this happened in April I got an email from my BSL Yahoo group informing me that it was taking place, and then I just so happened to be at the veterinarian in Canton and one of the vet techs told me about a meeting that was being held on Sunday before the meeting in Jackson on Monday. I found out about Madison County on complete accident and have heard nothing back from the person who told me but I will find out what I can today.
This is only punishing those of us who are responsible pet owners and is not getting to the heart of the matter.
Thank you,
Leslie
Rankin County passed BSL back in May. I don’t know why the news media is saying that it’s a new ordinance. (Probably because no one actually heard about it until now–now that it’s going into effect.)
Let me repeat: It doesn’t matter whether Brandon (or any other city council) has the pit bull ordinance on their agenda. You don’t need their permission to bring up the issue yourself. Council meetings have a public comment section where you–the public–may talk about whatever you like (in fact, during this time, more than one city council has been asked by a citizen to pass BSL, so why not use it for the opposite purpose?). The more people who use this time to protest, the more likely the council will be to reconsider. They are translating public silence as public agreement.
Facebook, Craigslist, WordPress/Blogger, and other social outlets on the Internet are excellent tools for group assembly. BSL may have passed here, but it seems to have passed quietly and without any public awareness. There’s no reason to accept discrimination; your city and county officials should hear your complaints, & you should request repeal.
Good morning everyone, Well I just wanted to give a follow up. I did go to the meeting Monday at 6 an d I plan to be present again this Monday. the monday after that and that. Others and myself were allowed 3 minutes a peced to speak on behalf of the bsl. and a few people were in aggreance. The mayor didn’t seem to care but one mans opinion says nothing about the breed. We all have to be there and continue to be. The ordinance was lifted in 2006 because of the pressures of the public. so lets pressure them again. See you all Monday at 6.
Just to let you know, the attorney for Flowood called me and told me that I would not be allowed to speak at the city council meeting. They were not going to have that discussion..
So this is why when I found a sweet pitt bull loose last week and when I called the owners they said is wan’t theirs! I called twice! I agree it’s the irresponsible PEOPLE that need to be punished and MS needs more animal cruelty laws to help regulate! AMEN to stricter leash laws as there are several dogs-NOT pitts-that roam my neighborhood and run a muck! It’s going to be a BIGGER problem with people getting scared and letting their dogs loose because they can’t afford the insurance or they are afraid of going to jail. People act like these dogs roam the earth looking for people to maul. I was bit by a cocker spaniel who tore a hole in my jeans. My mother was bit by a poodle as she walked by its house. ALL dogs bite! ALL dogs have the capability to maul and kill. Remember the lady in France who got the world’s first face transplant? IT WAS A BLACK LAB that chewed her face off! I have a black lab! I will be attending the meeting as well!
I was prepared monday 8-16-2010 to speak at Flowood’s city council meeting. I prepared a letter, and had spoken to numerous people ( residents, trainers, groomers, veterinarian just about anyone that would listen). There was a large group that was going to attend. I even prepard a detailed notebook for all council members and the mayor. I called Flowood city hall to get the specifics on the meeting. The lady told me that I did not have to be on the agenda to speak and said I would be around number 10 on the list. She took my name and number. Twenty minutes later the attorney for Flowood called to inform me that I would not be allowed to speak. I repeated several times that “I as a citizen am not allowed to read a letter during the open forum?” Each time he said yes, we are not going to hear anything about this. You cannot speak-then he changed to say there was no open forum tonight. My aunt went to the meeting anyway-which ended 15 minutes after it started- then the council and mayor went behind closed doors for a private meeting. I was floored. I cannot believe the attorney called ..I am calling everyone that was going to attend and get organized. I’m angry!! Can you say Freedom of Speach!!!
Does regular renters insurance with $100,000 liability cover the needed insurance or do you need specific liability insurance on the dog?
It depends on how the law is written. You would need to contact the city council or animal control department to get the details.