Monthly Archives: November 2010

Texas: Statewide ban unlikely, but local BSLs a possibility

Posted on November 17, 2010 by | 3 Comments

Texas state law currently forbids municipalities from passing breed-specific laws.

Texas Senator Eltife and Representative Hopson were presented last week with a proposal to ban “pit bulls” statewide.

Eltife’s public comments indicate that he is aware that a statewide “pit bull” ban is unlikely to pass. However, he states he is interested in allowing municipalities to decide for themselves whether to pass breed-specific laws.

In other words, Eltife supports and may introduce a proposal that would eliminate the protection currently provided by state law.

If such a proposal were to pass, it would allow cities and counties across Texas to propose breed-specific laws and breed bans. This would create a patchwork of differing laws and proposals across the state, which means more places to watch for BSL, and more worry for Texas dog owners, as they no longer have the assurance that their dog is welcome in a town regardless of its appearance.

Several legislators who responded to StopBSL’s survey on BSL indicated that while they would not support statewide BSL, they had no issue with local breed-specific laws (apparently failing to understand that BSL is discrimination no matter where it goes into effect). Prefiling has started in Texas; we are watching the filings for further developments.

Senator Eltife weighs in on banning Pit Bulls

Posted: Nov 17, 2010 9:22 AM CST
Updated: Nov 17, 2010 10:59 AM CST

TYLER, TX (KLTV) – [...] Senator Eltife tells KLTV 7, the ban would be difficult to enforce on a state level, and he would rather focus on controlling the dogs on a local level.

“I’m one of these guys, I’m pretty realistic on will pass and what won’t pass. I don’t see a state-wide ban passing. She sent us additional legislation that would give control to cities and counties and I want to work with her on that.”, said Eltife.[...]

Full article retrieved 11/17/10 from http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13518630

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Posted in Texas, Whispers of BSL

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Malden, MA: BSL to be proposed

Posted on November 17, 2010 by | 2 Comments

Malden is considering a breed-specific ordinance similar to the one in Lynn, MA. The councillor who proposed it has said that “pit bulls” should be muzzled any time they are outside—including in the owner’s backyard. Nothing official has been prepared at this time. Please use this opportunity to suggest reasonable non-breed-specific ordinances to the council.

The discriminatory and stereotypical comments made by Councillor Kinnen in the articles below leave me speechless.

Contact info for Malden, MA city officials
200 Pleasant Street, Room 609, Malden, MA 02148
Email: citycouncil@cityofmalden.org
Telephone: (781) 397-7130
Fax: (781) 397-7004

Council emails: pdipietro@cityofmalden.org, glucey@cityofmalden.org, dfallon@cityofmalden.org, cspadafora@cityofmalden.org, gchristenson@cityofmalden.org, pcondon@cityofmalden.org, pdipietro@cityofmalden.org, jnestor@cityofmalden.org, bmurphy@cityofmalden.org, nkinnon@cityofmalden.org, nanderson@cityofmalden.org, jbucci@cityofmalden.org

City Council meetings are held every Tuesday in the Herbert L. Jackson Council Chamber at Malden Government Center.

Ordinance to muzzle pit bulls in Malden passes key hurdle

November 17, 2010 10:03 AM
By Matt Byrne, Town Correspondent

A proposal to require all pit bulls to wear a muzzle in public passed a key hurdle last night, after the measure was unanimously recommended to the full City Council during an Ordinance Committee meeting.[...]

“When you see the people who are walking these dogs around, it’s just another weapon for them,” Kinnon said.[...]

Full article retrieved 11/17/10 from http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/malden/2010/11/ordinance_to_muzzle_pit_bulls.html

City considers muzzle law for Pit Bulls

By Erica Foster
October 20, 2010

Pit Bulls in Malden will soon wear muzzles when outside, even in their owners’ backyards, if a new ordinance is passed. The muzzle requirement was discussed at an Ordinance Committee meeting Tuesday night.[...]

“Pit-Bull owners don’t care to be responsible owners,” said Kinnon.[...]

Kinnon told Anderson that when other dogs bite, there is restitution, but Pit Bull owners “are other kinds of people.”[...]

Kinnon hopes to have all Pit Bulls muzzled at all time when outside, including in their own backyard, even if the owner has the dog leased or fenced in.

The matter was tabled for discussion at a later date.

Muzzling the dogs while in the owner’s backyard would make feeding the animals impossible. Kinnon said owners could simply bringing the dogs back inside for food and water.

“The owners can take responsibility and bring them inside. Truthfully, I don’t want them around, I don’t view these dogs as being pets, and if I lose five votes, I’m good with that,” said Kinnon.

Full article retrieved 11/17/10 from http://malden.patch.com/articles/malden-pit-bulls-may-soon-be-muzzled

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Massachusetts

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Dearborn, MI: Pit bull ban proposed

Posted on November 16, 2010 by | 2 Comments

Edit 12/3/10: Attendees at the study session report that the proposal is breed-neutral.

**Not to be confused with Dearborn Heights, which is also considering a pit bull ban**

Contact information for Dearborn city officials: http://www.cityofdearborn.org/government/city-council

City working on pit bull ordinance

Published: Tuesday, November 16, 2010
By J. Patrick Pepper
Press & Guide Newspapers

DEARBORN– A first reading of an ordinance that would ban pit bull terriers drew dozens of dog lovers to the City Council meeting Monday.

The council tabled the ordinance in order to conduct a study session on the matter, which is scheduled for next month.

Most of the people who attended the meeting seemed to be against a pit bull terrier ban.[...]

Full article retrieved 11/16/10 at http://www.pressandguide.com/articles/2010/11/16/news/doc4ce2d64db011b229249162.txt

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Michigan

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Belfast, Ireland, UK: Dog on death row because of its leg and muzzle measurements

Posted on November 15, 2010 by | 2 Comments

Breed identification, which must be performed in places with breed-specific legislation, is a subjective process. In this case, the owners of Lennox not only have a DNA breed-ID test that proves Lennox’s genetic makeup, the city had licensed Lennox (meaning, they did not consider him a banned breed) for over five years. Dog owners living in places with BSL can never be sure that their dog won’t be targeted.

To learn more about how to save Lennox, visit http://www.savelennox.co.uk

Owner of death row dog Lennox tells of her family’s agony

Monday, 15 November 2010

Family fight to save their pet seized by wardens

The heartbroken owner of a pet dog which has been living on ‘death row’ for six months is still waiting to learn its fate after it was seized because it was deemed to be a dangerous breed.

Caroline Barnes said that six-year-old Lennox is a cross between an American bulldog and a Labrador crossed with a Staffordshire bull terrier.

However, staff from Belfast City Council called at her home in May, using what she alleges was a warrant for a different address, and impounded him after he was deemed to be a banned American pit bull terrier-type because of his leg and muzzle measurements.[...]

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/owner-of-death-row-dog-lennox-tells-of-her-familyrsquos-agony-15004210.html

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Posted in Breed Identification, Outside of U.S., Results of BSL

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Ellis, KS: Breed-neutral dog law under consideration

Posted on November 15, 2010 by | Comments Off

Ellis, KS was considering BSL against owners of “pit bulls” and Rottweilers a couple months ago. It appears that due to community feedback, they have decided to go with breed-neutral measures instead.

All alerts for Ellis, KS: http://stopbsl.com/?s=%22ellis%2C+ks%22

Ellis to consider dangerous dog ordinance

Published on -11/14/2010, 8:40 PM
By KALEY CONNER, kconner@dailynews.net

ELLIS — The Ellis City Council will consider enacting a stringent “dangerous dog” ordinance when it meets at 7:30 p.m. Monday at city hall.

Discussion began this summer, but one major change has been made along the way — the proposed regulations do not include breed-specific legislation.

Mayor David McDaniel said the council opted to remove those provisions after many community members spoke in opposition to singling out specific dog breeds, such as pit bulls.[...]

Full article retrieved 11/15/10 from http://www.hdnews.net/Story/dogs111410

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Posted in BSL Defeated, Kansas

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Singapore: Changes to breed-specific dangerous dog laws

Posted on November 14, 2010 by | Comments Off

In Singapore, Presa Canarios have been moved from the Second Schedule Part II list to Part I list, and new restrictions on Part I and Part II dogs have been added.

Second Schedule Part I dog breeds include the following: ”pit bull” (American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Bulldog), Akita, Neapolitan Mastiff, Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Presa Canario, Boerboel, and any mixes of these breeds.

Part I dog restrictions include the following (includes new changes to dog law):

  • Muzzled and leashed in public
  • Microchipped
  • Spayed/neutered
  • Liability insurance of $100,000 minimum
  • Only one Part I dog may be kept on a premises (new restriction)
  • Obedience training (new restriction)
  • A $5,000 deposit that is forfeited (and must be renewed) if the owner fails to comply with any of these restrictions
  • May not be imported

Second Schedule Part II dog breeds include the following: Mastiffs (Cane Corso, Bull Mastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux), Bull Terrier, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd and related breeds (Belgian Shepherd Dog, East European Shepherd Dog), Rottweiler, and mixes of these breeds.

Part II dog restrictions include the following (includes new changes to dog law):

  • Muzzled and leashed in public
  • Microchipped (new restriction)
  • Liability insurance of $100,000 minimum (new restriction)
  • Obedience training (new restriction)
  • Only one Part II dog may be kept on a premises (new restriction)
  • A $2,000 deposit that is forfeited (and must be renewed) if the dog owner fails to comply with any of these restrictions (new restriction)

Restrictions similar to those in Part II will also apply to any dog that has engaged in an unprovoked attack that causes injury to a person or animal. (New restriction)

The changes to Singapore’s dog law can be viewed here: http://www.ava.gov.sg/NR/rdonlyres/9253E7B2-E57D-4992-982C-1304E73748D6/18191/CHANGESTOTHEANIMALSANDBIRDSDOGLICENSINGANDCONTROLR.pdf

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Posted in Additional Breeds, BSL Passed, Outside of U.S., Results of BSL

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Texas: Pit bull ban to be presented to legislators

Posted on November 11, 2010 by | 72 Comments

Contact info for the Texas senator and representative who will (according to the article) be receiving the ban proposal on Friday–ask them not to file or support breed-specific legislation.
Senator Kevin Eltife: http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist1/dist1.htm#form
Representative Chuck Hopson: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/email/?district=11&session=81

East Texans push for ban on Pit Bulls

Posted: Nov 11, 2010 5:50 PM CST
By Sara Story

TYLER, TX (KLTV) – [...]A group of East Texans are pushing for a state-wide ban on Pit Bulls, and a first draft of the legislation will be presented to state senators on Friday.[...]

Kent also said if a ban is not enacted, a provision would allow people to own Pit Bulls only if they’re kept secure.

“We are talking about 8 foot fences, covered on the top that go one foot into the ground. Secure locks, so children can’t get into them,” Kent said.[...]

Kent said she will present the first draft of the legislation to State Senator Eltife and State Representative Hopson on Friday.

Full article retrieved 11/11/10 from http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13488499

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Texas

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