Monthly Archives: April 2011

Lowell, MA: BSL back on the table

Posted on April 21, 2011 by | 1 Comment

In December 2008, Lowell council considered an ordinance that would have placed discriminatory restrictions on “pit bull” owners. The ordinance was pushed by then-mayor (now councilor) Edward Caulfield, but council support waned after considerable public outcry and extensive testimony against it. By June 2009, the proposed BSL was tabled. The ordinance that passed in 2009 was breed-neutral. Read Lowell’s previous BSL alerts: http://stopbsl.com/?s=lowell

Two years later, the council is considering BSL again. At least two councilors and the mayor have publicly voiced their support for BSL. Please contact the Lowell council and respectfully explain why BSL does not work and is not a good option.

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

City Council may put bite into dog law

By Lyle Moran, lmoran@lowellsun.com
Updated: 04/20/2011 06:41:29 AM EDT

LOWELL — [...] Councilors are expected to discuss enacting an ordinance that would require pit bulls in the city to be muzzled at all times, a requirement already in place in Lynn, Worcester and Boston.[...]

City Councilor Rodney Elliott has called for pit bulls to be muzzled at all times because he believes it would improve public safety in the city by preventing more incidents like the half-dozen or more pit-bull attacks that have taken place in Lowell within the last year.[...]

City Councilor Edward “Bud” Caulfield said he has long been a supporter of tough restrictions on pit bulls and was a strong advocate for the dangerous-dog ordinance adopted in December 2009. He plans to schedule a meeting of the council’s public-safety subcommittee in the coming weeks to discuss revisions to the ordinance because he does not want to see any more incidents involving the dogs.[...]

[Mayor James] Milinazzo, a member of the city’s Animal Advisory Committee, said the public-safety committee should look closely at Worcester’s new “Responsible Pit Bull Ownership Ordinance.”[...]

Read more: http://www.lowellsun.com/todaysheadlines/ci_17889976#ixzz1KAHKxl2e

Thanks to Jodi for the heads up!

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Massachusetts

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Manton, MI: BSL or ban possible

Posted on April 19, 2011 by | 2 Comments

Thanks to Jodi for this alert!

City of Manton, 306 W. Main St., Manton, MI 49663
(231) 824-3572
FAX (231) 824-6342

Manton considers Pitbull ban

by Brody O’Connell
Posted: 04.13.2011 at 6:56 PM

MANTON, MI — Manton leaders are considering drafting an ordinance that would prohibit city residents from owning or purchasing a Pitbull.[...]

The mayor said a public meeting will be held before any final decisions are made.

Video at the link. Full article retrieved 4/19/11 from http://www.upnorthlive.com/news/story.aspx?list=~%5Chome%5Clists%5Csearch&id=605124

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Posted in Michigan, Whispers of BSL

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Beatrice, NE: Breed-specific wording removed

Posted on April 19, 2011 by | Comments Off

Beatrice, NE council voted to remove the breed-specific language in the proposed animal ordinance revisions. It was a very close vote.

When election day comes around, please remember the folks who supported breed-discriminatory language.

Voting to remove the breed-specific language: Mayor Dennis Schuster, Calvin Carey, Alan Fetty, Allen Langdale, Erich Tiemann.
Voting to keep the breed-specific language:  Jason Schmale, Jason Moore, David “Pede” Catlin, Dwight Parde.

Please also take a moment to thank the city council for removing the breed-specific language: City Clerk feedback form: http://www.beatrice.ne.gov/feedback.php?d=clrk

All alerts for Beatrice: http://stopbsl.com/?s=beatrice

Council adopts new animal ordinance

By Scott Koperski/Daily Sun staff writer | Posted: Monday, April 18, 2011 9:51 pm

The Beatrice City Council voted to approve a new animal ordinance at its Monday meeting.

While the new ordinance passed, controversial wording that automatically classified pit bull breeds of dogs as potentially dangerous animals was removed.

Council member Calvin Carey, who has expressed opposition to breed-specific wording over the course of the ordinance’s three readings, proposed the amendment to the ordinance that would remove the wording [...]

Full article retrieved 4/19/11 from http://www.beatricedailysun.com/news/local/article_457be32a-6a30-11e0-b8f9-001cc4c03286.html

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Posted in BSL Defeated, Nebraska

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Beatrice, NE: Final reading of BSL, April 18

Posted on April 17, 2011 by | 3 Comments

Beatrice, NE will hold a final reading of proposed BSL during the city council meeting on April 18. The ordinance will declare all “pit bulls” (any dog appearing to be more than 50% “pit bull,” DNA tests done at owner’s expense) to be “potentially dangerous” dogs, thereby placing discriminatory restrictions on pit bull ownership.

This is one of the last opportunities for the public to protest and request changes to the ordinance before it goes up for a vote and possible passage.

Council meeting, April 18, 7:00 PM at Beatrice Administration Building, 320 N. 5th Street, Beatrice, NE 68310

Contact information
Beatrice City Council, 400 Ella Street, Beatrice, Nebraska 68310
(402) 228-5200
FAX (402) 228-2312
City Attorney feedback form: http://www.beatrice.ne.gov/feedback.php?d=atty
City Clerk feedback form: http://www.beatrice.ne.gov/feedback.php?d=clrk
City Administrator Neal Niedfeldt, nniedfeldt@beatrice.ne.gov

All alerts for Beatrice: http://stopbsl.com/?s=beatrice

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Nebraska

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Saginaw, MI reminder: Council to discuss BSL, April 18

Posted on April 17, 2011 by | 4 Comments

Update 4/19/11: Saginaw council has delayed the vote on the ordinance in order to revise some language regarding leashes. The issue will be taken up again next month.

Saginaw city council will introduce proposed BSL at the April 18 council meeting. The proposed BSL would restrict ownership of five breeds. According to the badly written ordinance, the five breeds to be restricted are to be determined annually by an unknown entity using a vague and poorly defined data set. This year’s “top five breed list” consists of “pit bull” (not a breed), Bull Mastiff / Presa Canario (two different breeds counted as one), Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Alaskan Malamute, and all mixed breed dogs that resemble one of these breeds.

Residents may comment during the city council meeting, and are encouraged to do so. The council meeting takes place on April 18, 6:30 PM, in City Council Chambers, City Hall. If you wish to speak at the council meeting, please fill out and email this form by 1 PM on April 18.

City of Saginaw City Hall, 1315 S. Washington Ave., Saginaw, MI 48601
Phone: (989) 759-1400
Fax: (989) 759-1607

Mayor Greg Branch, anngreg@chartermi.net
Amos O’Neal, amossam@charter.net
Dennis Browning, dbrowning125@charter.net
Dan Fitzpatrick, dlfitz@ameritech.net or danfitzpatrickonline@gmail.com
Larry Coulouris, lcoulouris@yahoo.com
Amanda Kitterman-Miller, akitterman@spsd.net
Dr. William “Bill” Scharffe, drbills@charter.net
Paul Virciglio, Ptvirciglio90@charter.net
Andrew Wendt, wendtmsu93@yahoo.com

Email quicklist
anngreg@chartermi.net; amossam@charter.net; dbrowning125@charter.net; dlfitz@ameritech.net; lcoulouris@yahoo.com; akitterman@spsd.net; drbills@charter.net; Ptvirciglio90@charter.net; wendtmsu93@yahoo.com

All alerts for Saginaw: http://stopbsl.com/?s=saginaw

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Michigan

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Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada: Public meeting on proposed BSL, May 9

Posted on April 16, 2011 by | 3 Comments

Thanks to LeeAnn for the heads up!

The town of Yarmouth is seeking public input on their proposed bylaw. The bylaw defines the following breeds as “fierce and dangerous dog”: Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, and any mixed breed that contains one of these breeds.

Owners of “fierce and dangerous” dogs must specially register their dogs, purchase liability insurance, spay/neuter the dog, and follow special restrictions for containment, signage, and much more. Dogs that belong to owners that do not comply with these restrictions will be euthanized; it is forbidden to adopt out or rehome these dogs. Town staff has also been given permission to “destroy on sight” any such dog, without warning or notification to the owner (no conditions are attached to this provision, so presumably staff could kill your “fierce and dangerous” dog at any time, even as you are walking it down the street).

You may read the draft bylaw here: http://townofyarmouth.ca/agenda/files2/00400/400/draft_dog_bylaw_april_12_2011.pdf

Please send respectful, helpful correspondence to Yarmouth officials to guide them toward an effective breed-neutral bylaw and discourage them from passing discriminatory legislation. Locals, please attend the public meeting on May 9, 6:30 PM, at Town Hall Council Chambers, 400 Main Street.

Contact info for Yarmouth town officials:
Mayor Phil Mooney, Mayor.Mooney@townofyarmouth.ca
Deputy Mayor Byron Boudreau, DeputyMayor.Boudreau@townofyarmouth.ca
Councillor Esther Dares, Councillor.Dares@townofyarmouth.ca
Councillor Ken Langille, Councillor.Langille@townofyarmouth.ca
Councillor Daniel MacIsaac, Councillor.MacIsaac@townofyarmouth.ca
Councillor Neil MacKenzie, Councillor.MacKenzie@townofyarmouth.ca
Councillor Martin Pink, Councillor.Pink@townofyarmouth.ca

Email block for cut-and-paste:
Mayor.Mooney@townofyarmouth.ca; DeputyMayor.Boudreau@townofyarmouth.ca; Councillor.Dares@townofyarmouth.ca; Councillor.Langille@townofyarmouth.ca; Councillor.MacIsaac@townofyarmouth.ca; Councillor.MacKenzie@townofyarmouth.ca; Councillor.Pink@townofyarmouth.ca

May 9 public meeting on draft dog bylaw

Published on April 15, 2011
By Tina Comeau, THE VANGUARD

A public meeting will be held on May 9 to get the public’s input on a draft dog bylaw that the town of Yarmouth is considering.

Things contained in the bylaw – which is still a working document – are expected to generate a variety of reaction.[...]

The May 9 public meeting at the town hall will get underway at 6:30 p.m.[...]

The draft bylaw immediately sets out to define a “fierce and dangerous” dog, saying it is any dog that “is a Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier; Pit Bull, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Rottweiler or any dog of mixed breeding which includes any of the aforementioned breeds.” [...]

The draft bylaw does not ban any breed of dog, but it does say that owners of dogs that have been defined as being dangerous must, among other things [...]

Full article retrieved 4/16/11 from http://www.thevanguard.ca/News/2011-04-15/article-2429508/May-9-public-meeting-on-draft-dog-bylaw/1

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Canada

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Nevada AB324 would prohibit BSL

Posted on April 14, 2011 by | 2 Comments

Update 4/26/11: This bill passed committee in time, but did not pass the originating house (Assembly) by the deadline, and is now dead.

Nevada AB 324 would, among other things, prohibit municipalities from declaring dogs dangerous based on breed.

The relevant portion of the bill is reproduced below.

13. A dog must not be deemed dangerous or vicious based solely on the breed of the dog.

14. A local authority shall not adopt or enforce an ordinance or regulation that deems a dog dangerous or vicious based solely on the breed of the dog.

AB324 was introduced on March 21 and sent to the Committee on Judiciary. It had a hearing on April 7, but no action was taken on that day.

AB324 may be tracked here: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/76th2011/Reports/history.cfm?ID=683

Bill sponsor: John Hambrick, jhambrick@asm.state.nv.us
Contact information for Committee on Judiciary: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/76th2011/committees/a_committees/JUD.cfm

The legislature website provides a page where Nevada residents can leave their opinion about any particular bill. Visit this page to submit your opinion on AB324: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Opinions/A/?CFID=4467985&CFTOKEN=430d8587b02be239-4B5A486F-C88B-F613-B5BE84B27DE4D35E

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Posted in Nevada, Non-BSL Proposed

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