Monthly Archives: August 2011

Gardner, KS: “Pit bull” ban proposed

Posted on August 10, 2011 by | 3 Comments

The article below is worth reading in its entirety for a better understanding of the situation in Gardner. The city repealed their “pit bull” ban in 2007 after officials raised a number of concerns about the ineffectiveness of the ban, including difficulties with enforcement, unexpected expenses, problems with breed identification, intentional breed misidentification by the public, and more.

Councilmember Larry Fotovich has requested that the breed ban be reinstated in Gardner. At this time, it does not appear that the other councilmembers are supportive of a ban. Please remain polite and courteous in your correspondence to educate and encourage the councilmembers to vote against a breed ban.

The council intends to place the proposal on the agenda for a vote during the September 5 council meeting, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers, City Hall, 120 East Main Street, Gardner, Kansas.

David Drovetta, Mayor, ddrovetta@gardnerkansas.gov
Kristy Harrison, kharrison@gardnerkansas.gov
Brian Broxterman, bbroxterman@gardnerkansas.gov
Larry Fotovich, lfotovich@gardnerkansas.gov
Chris Morrow, cmorrow@gardnerkansas.gov
Dennis Pugh, dpugh@gardnerkansas.gov

Email block for cut-and-paste
ddrovetta@gardnerkansas.gov; kharrison@gardnerkansas.gov; bbroxterman@gardnerkansas.gov; lfotovich@gardnerkansas.gov; cmorrow@gardnerkansas.gov; dpugh@gardnerkansas.gov

PIT BULL BAN

Councilmember Fotovich requested that a change to the City Code that would ban “Pit Bulls.” The City of Gardner had a pit bull ban in the past, but moved to the “Vicious” animal ban in 2007.[...]

Following extensive discussion on the issue, it was determined that a proposal to ban pit bulls would be placed upon an upcoming agenda. The ordinance change will probably appear on the September 5th agenda. Items discussed in a work session and placed on the agenda typically have the consensus support of the Council. In this case, however, it appears that the Council has placed the proposed change on the agenda in order to take a formal vote on the issue. Based upon questions and statements made during the discussion, a majority will most likely vote against the proposal.[...]

Full article retrieved 8/10/11 from http://www.gardneredge.com/news/2011/08/10/4562-gardner-council-moves-forward-on-insurance-museum-and-pit-bulls

Many thanks to Jo for this alert!

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Kansas

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Mason City, IA: Breed ban possible

Posted on August 10, 2011 by | 1 Comment

Thanks to Jodi for this alert!

Please note that a breed ban is one of over a half dozen different suggestions for ordinance revision, and not all council members are in favor of the idea. Additionally, these ideas are in the early formation stages, and the specific breeds that would be affected by a ban have not been selected yet (although “pit bulls” would almost certainly be included, as the council’s informational material included a news article about another city’s pit bull ordinance).

Officials in Mason City, Iowa are considering are considering a number of options in an effort to control “vicious” dogs. One of the options under consideration is regulation of the ownership of specific breeds of dogs. The council discussed this issue at a work session yesterday afternoon, but took no action. This is expected to come up at a future council meeting.

Please take the opportunity to send your POLITE, RESPECTFUL and INFORMATIVE letters in opposition to an ordinance that would regulate and/or restrict the ownership of specific breeds of dogs, and encourage city officials to pursue a breed-neutral vicious dog ordinance.

City of Mason City, 10 First Street NW, Mason City, IA 50401
Phone: 641-421-3600
Fax: 641-423-5369
Email: cityinformation@masoncity.net

Mayor Eric Bookmeyer, mayor@masoncity.net
Max Weaver, weaveratlarge@masoncity.net
Scott Tornquist, tornquistatlarge@masoncity.net
Jeff Marsters, marsterswardone@masoncity.net
Travis Hickey, hickeywardtwo@masoncity.net
Don Nelson, nelsonwardthree@masoncity.net
Janet Solberg, solbergwardfour@masoncity.net

City Administrator/City Clerk Brent Trout
btrout@masoncity.net
(641) 421-2701

Email block for cut-and-paste
mayor@masoncity.net; weaveratlarge@masoncity.net; tornquistatlarge@masoncity.net; marsterswardone@masoncity.net; hickeywardtwo@masoncity.net; nelsonwardthree@masoncity.net; solbergwardfour@masoncity.net; btrout@masoncity.net

City Council meetings are held the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7:00 p.m. Next Council Meeting: Aug 16. Meeting agendas & minutes: http://www.masoncity.net/agenda.aspx?id=1279&catid=58

Dog owner group protests potential city pit bull ban

By PEGGY SENZARINO, peggy.senzarino@globegazette.com
Posted: Tuesday, August 9, 2011 8:20 pm

MASON CITY — [...]Any changes to the city’s vicious animal ordinance will be considered at a future council meeting.

Ordinance changes under consideration include:

• Making insurance mandatory for dogs the City Council defines as vicious.

• Defining certain breeds or characteristics that could be banned from the city. [...]

Capt. Mike McKelvey of the Mason City Police Department and Animal Control Officer Pat Gansen said enforcement of a breed ban might be difficult.

“It’s hard enough to keep ahead of the licensing,” Gansen said.[...]

Read more: http://globegazette.com/news/local/dog-owner-group-protests-potential-city-pit-bull-ban/article_87aa1b00-c308-11e0-b65e-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz1Ucw3CKAN

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Posted in Iowa, Whispers of BSL

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Vancouver, WA: Strict breed-neutral dog ordinance in the works

Posted on August 9, 2011 by | Comments Off

Faced with strong, organized public protest, Vancouver, WA, city council backed away from plans for a breed ban, and appears to be pursuing a strict—but breed-neutral—dangerous dog ordinance instead.

The new ordinance will be read during the Sept. 12 council meeting, and a public hearing and council vote may take place as early as Sept. 19. Council meetings take place in Council Chambers, City Hall, first floor, 210 East 13th Street. The public is encouraged to attend these council meetings to offer feedback on the proposal.

All alerts for Vancouver, WA: http://stopbsl.com/?s=%22vancouver%2C+wa%22

Contact info for mayor and city council
Tim.Leavitt@cityofvancouver.us; Jeanne.Harris@cityofvancouver.us; Jeanne.Stewart@cityofvancouver.us; Larry.Smith@cityofvancouver.us; Pat.Campbell@cityofvancouver.us; jack.burkman@cityofvancouver.us; bart.hansen@cityofvancouver.us

City mulls strict dangerous dog policy

Unprovoked attacks could lead an animal to be banned from Vancouver

By Andrea Damewood, Columbian Staff Reporter
Monday, August 8, 2011

[...] The policy wouldn’t ban pups who, unprovoked, make a minor nip that barely breaks the skin. Those dogs would be named “potentially dangerous.” But if that dog does it again, it could be labeled a dangerous dog — and would no longer be allowed in Vancouver. Or, if a dog with no previous history of aggression, unprovoked, inflicts severe injury — broken bones or disfiguring lacerations that need multiple sutures or plastic surgery — or kills a domestic animal or livestock, it too could be deemed a dangerous dog and could no longer be kept in Vancouver.

The policy the city council discussed would make Vancouver’s law stricter than those in unincorporated Clark County. [...]

Full article retrieved 8/9/11 from http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/aug/08/city-mulls-strict-dangerous-dog-policy/ 

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Posted in Non-BSL Proposed, Washington State

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Marinette, WI: Committee to meet, may recommend breed ban, Aug 10

Posted on August 7, 2011 by | Comments Off

Thanks to Kathy for this Marinette update!

In July, the Marinette, WI, Public Safety and Code Enforcement Committee wrote up a proposal to ban ”pit bulls.” Their decision to advance the ordinance to council was delayed by public protest.

The Committee will again discuss and possibly recommend a breed ban or breed-specific restrictions on Wednesday, August 10, at 4:45 PM, in Council Chambers, Marinette City Hall, 1905 Hall Avenue, Marinette, WI.

In addition to sending correspondence to council to oppose breed-discriminatory laws, residents and locals are urged to attend the Public Safety and Code Enforcement Committee meeting on August 10 to reiterate public opposition to the proposed ban.

Marinette City Hall, 1905 Hall Avenue, Marinette, WI 54143-1716
Mayor Robert M. Harbick, mayor@marinette.wi.us
Elected officials’ contact information may be viewed here (emails not available): http://www.marinette.wi.us/government/elected_officials.php

The Public Safety and Code Enforcement Committee meets on the second Wednesday of  each month at 4:45 PM. City Council meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM. Call 715.732.5120 for more information.

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Wisconsin

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Vancouver, WA: City workshop to discuss proposed ordinance revisions, Aug 8

Posted on August 6, 2011 by | Comments Off

Although Vancouver, WA, has publicly called off plans to ban “pit bulls,” breed-specific restrictions of some kind have not been officially nixed. The city council is holding a work session on Monday, Aug 8, at 4:00 PM in council chambers to discuss recommendations made by city staff. Residents and locals are encouraged to attend the work session to determine whether any ordinance revisions will be breed specific.

Following the work session, at 6:30 PM, the city council will hold a consent agenda meeting that ends with a citizen forum. The public may speak to the council on any topic during the citizen forum.

All alerts for Vancouver, WA: http://stopbsl.com/?s=%22vancouver%2C+wa%22

Contact info for mayor and city council
Tim.Leavitt@cityofvancouver.us; Jeanne.Harris@cityofvancouver.us; Jeanne.Stewart@cityofvancouver.us; Larry.Smith@cityofvancouver.us; Pat.Campbell@cityofvancouver.us; jack.burkman@cityofvancouver.us; bart.hansen@cityofvancouver.us

Council meetings take place in Council Chambers, City Hall, first floor, 210 East 13th Street. 

Workshop Agenda from http://www.cityofvancouver.us/councilmeetings.asp?menuid=10462&submenuID=10474&itemID=84668

WORKSHOPS (City Council Chambers)

4:00-5:00 p.m. Animal Ordinance Updates
Summary

In May, 2011, the Vancouver City Council adopted amendments to the City’s Animal Ordinance, VMC 8.24 VMC, which brought the City and County penalties for noncompliance into alignment. During the process of developing those changes, staff from the City and from Clark County Animal Protection and Control identified a number of other provisions of the City Animal Ordinance which needed updating. The City’s Animal Ordinance has not had a general review since the mid-1980’s.

Staff has been meeting since May to further fine-tune proposed changes. Their recommendations were presented to and unanimously endorsed by the Clark County Animal Protection and Control Advisory Board July 28th. Staff will now review with Council the recommended changes to the City’s Animal Ordinance and seek Council direction. (Judy Zeider, Chief Assistant City Attorney, 487-8521; Paul Scarpelli, Clark County Animal Protection and Control Manager, 397-2375 ext. 4705)

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Posted in Washington State, Whispers of BSL

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Niles Township, MI: Town considers ordinance that prohibits breed discrimination

Posted on August 4, 2011 by | 2 Comments

**Not to be confused with Niles, MI**

Update 9/20/11: The ordinance was passed with some changes. I have not confirmed whether the prohibition against breed discrimination remains intact; but I have not read anything that suggests it was removed.

Niles Township, MI, is considering a new animal control ordinance after a loose dog attacked a cat and another dog. While such incidents, when committed by certain types of dogs, usually inspire breed-specific ordinances, the draft ordinance currently being worked on in Niles Township says just the opposite.

The current draft reads: “No animal shall be found to be a dangerous animal solely because it is a particular breed.”

This is currently a draft. The township board supervisor advises that the draft is undergoing changes; he hopes to have a final draft ready for a first reading at the August 15 township board meeting.

Please write the Township and show your support for breed-neutral language. Encourage them to keep this prohibition against breed discrimination!

Contact info for Niles Township
Jim Kidwell, Supervisor, jkidwell@nilestwpmi.gov
Marge Durm-Hiatt, Clerk, mdurm-hiatt@nilestwpmi.gov
Jim Ringler, jringler@nilestwpmi.gov
Richard Noble, rnoble@nilestwpmi.gov
Richard Cooper, rcooper@nilestwpmi.gov
August Kuehn, akuehn@nilestwpmi.gov
Gary Conover, gconover@nilestwpmi.gov

Email block for cut and paste:
jkidwell@nilestwpmi.gov; mdurm-hiatt@nilestwpmi.gov; jringler@nilestwpmi.gov; rnoble@nilestwpmi.gov; rcooper@nilestwpmi.gov; akuehn@nilestwpmi.gov; gconover@nilestwpmi.gov

Thanks to Regina for the heads up!

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Posted in Michigan, Non-BSL Proposed

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Jasper, AL: Committee meeting to discuss dog law, Aug 4

Posted on August 4, 2011 by | Comments Off

Thanks to Jodi for keeping up with Jasper!

All alerts for Jasper: http://stopbsl.com/?s=jasper

The committee appointed by Mayor Posey to study vicious dog ordinances will be meeting tonight, Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. at city hall. The committee recently heard from a city official from Fayette, Alabama regarding that city’s pit bull ordinance. This issue did not come up at [Tuesday's] council meeting as officials wanted to give the public an opportunity to offer input before the committee makes a recommendation to the city council.

The public is encouraged to attend the working session tonight and share their concerns and suggestions with the committee members. The working session is at city hall, which is located at 400 West 19th Street in Jasper.

Please continue to send your POLITE, RESPECTFUL and INFORMATIVE letters in opposition to any type of breed specific ordinance in Jasper, and encourage city officials to pursue a breed-neutral vicious dog ordinance.

Contact info for mayor and city council:
Mailing Address:
City of Jasper, Alabama, P. O. Box 1589, Jasper, Alabama 35502-1589
Street Address:
Jasper City Hall, 400 West 19th Street, Jasper, Alabama 35501
Phone: 205-221-2100
Mayor, sposey@jaspercity.com
City Hall, cityhall@jaspercity.com
*Individual e-mail addresses are not available for the council members. Correspondence can be sent to the City Hall e-mail address with a polite request to forward to each city council member.

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Posted in Alabama, Whispers of BSL

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