Monthly Archives: September 2011

Oktibbeha County, MS: Public hearing on vicious dog ordinance, Sept 13

Posted on September 11, 2011 by | Comments Off

Update 9/20/11: Great news! The proposed ordinance under consideration is NOT breed-specific. Thanks to Anita for keeping StopBSL updated!

Thanks to Anita for this information!

The County Board will hold a public hearing to discuss a proposed dog ordinance on September 13 at 10:00 AM in the old Courthouse, 2nd Floor. The county currently does not have a leash law or dangerous/vicious dog ordinance.

The official proposal has not been publicized yet, and it is unclear at this time whether the proposal will be breed-specific or breed-neutral. Some residents and the news media have expressed concerns about specific breeds. StopBSL suggests that county locals and residents attend the public hearing to determine whether the proposal is breed-specific and to guide public discussion away from breed-specific measures if BSL is brought up.

Previous alerts for Oktibbeha County: http://stopbsl.com/?s=oktibbeha

StopBSL would like to request assistance from locals and residents in the county to help keep an eye on the situation in Oktibbeha. The board’s agendas and minutes are not posted online, and news coverage hasn’t been the most reliable source. We would appreciate information about whether the proposal is breed-specific, whether the public asks for BSL during the public hearing, and whether the county board seems receptive to BSL.

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Posted in Mississippi, Whispers of BSL

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City of Sonoma, CA: Council decides against BSL

Posted on September 8, 2011 by | Comments Off

**Not to be confused with Sonoma County, CA**

All alerts for city of Sonoma: http://stopbsl.com/?s=sonoma

Sonoma council member Joanne Sanders previously asked city staff to research the possibility of breed-specific regulations or a ban on “pit bulls.”

Sonoma Passes On New Vicious Dog Laws

Council favors extra money for spay/neuter clinics, community forum

By Alexis Fitts

Pit Bull advocates crowded the Sonoma City Council meeting Wednesday for an emotionally charged vote where the council declined to amend current vicious dog legislation—opting for a greater emphasis on informal outreach events and low cost spay/neuter programs instead. [...]

“If we don’t do something these bad dog owners are going to ruin it for the good dog owners,” [Councilmember Joanne] Sanders said. “If the one good thing that comes out of [these talks] is more money for spay and neutering, [even] if it’s not breed specific, I can live with that.”

Full article retrieved 9/8/11 from http://sonoma.patch.com/articles/sonoma-passes-on-new-vicious-dog-laws

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Posted in BSL Defeated, California

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Mount Currie, B.C., Canada: Pit bull ban suggested

Posted on September 8, 2011 by | Comments Off

Thanks to Jodi for this alert!

Mount Currie Chief Lucinda Phillips has called for a ban on pit bulls on the Reserve in the wake of a recent dog attack and because dog owners are not taking proper care of their dogs.

Mount Currie is a small community in British Columbia with a population of about 1,400. It is the center of the Mount Currie Indian Reserve. The Mount Currie Reserve is among the most populous, and poorest, of all Indian Reserves in Canada. Their government is the Mount Currie Indian Band of the Lillooet Tribal Council.

Because this is a small, tight-knit community with little funding for animal control, this is an excellent opportunity to encourage public education with respect to responsible dog ownership practices. Fortunately, Chief Phillips recognizes that problem dogs are the result of problem dog owners. Please encourage the officials to address the problems associated with irresponsible dog owners, and politely remind them that simply removing dogs based on appearance does not address the root cause of the problems in the Mount Currie community.

Please send your POLITE, RESPECTFUL and INFORMATIVE letters in opposition to breed specific legislation to the tribal council, and encourage them to seek a breed-neutral solution that highlights public education and responsible dog ownership.

Lil´wat Nation, P.O. Box 602, Mount Currie, British Columbia V0N 2K0
Email: info@lilwat.ca
Phone: 604.894.6115
Fax: 604.894.6841

Chief Lucinda Phillips, lucinda.phillips@lilwat.ca
Senior Administrator Sheldon Tetreault, SheldonTetreault@lilwat.ca
The entire council can be contacted at: council@lilwat.ca
or you may address the leadership individually by accessing their e-mail info here: http://www.lilwat.ca/leadership/chief-council.cfm

Chief and Council meet every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at the Ullus Community Complex. Council meetings are open to Lil’wat Nation members and the minutes of all meetings are available to Lil’wat Nation members from the Council Executive Secretary.

Chief seeking Mount Currie pit bull ban

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011
ERIC MACKENZIE, ERIC@WHISTLERQUESTION.COM

Mount Currie Chief Lucinda Phillips is calling for amendments to the band’s animal bylaw that would see pit bulls banned from the reserve, while the Lil’wat leader has also said she believes dogs should no longer be permitted in band-owned rental housing. [...]

Phillips told The Question that she is a believer in the ‘blame the owner, not the breed’ mantra that is touted by pit-bull advocates. However, she also said the attack earlier this summer was an example of how some Mount Currie residents are failing to raise the dogs properly.

“I have absolutely nothing against pit bulls at all,” she said. “Banning them from my community is a decision I’m basing because my community members are not taking care of their dogs. It’s definitely the owners’ fault, not the dogs’.” [...]

Full article retrieved 9/8/11 from http://www.whistlerquestion.com/article/20110908/WHISTLER12/309089971/-1/WHISTLER/chief-seeking-mount-currie-pit-bull-ban

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Canada

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Oktibbeha County, MS: Council asks for public comment on vicious dog ordinance, Sept 6

Posted on September 5, 2011 by | Comments Off

Oktibbeha County, MS, intends to schedule public hearings to gather local input about a possible dangerous/vicious dog ordinance. Though they do not have an official proposal ready for discussion, the county board also expects to take public comment and suggestions during the September 6 board meeting.

The county currently does not have a leash law or dangerous/vicious dog ordinance. It is not clear at this time exactly what kind of law residents will request. However, StopBSL feels that there is a possibility that the residents at the Sept 6 board meeting will request BSL or a breed ban.

Fortunately, the county board does not seem inclined toward breed-specific measures—but nevertheless, the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors could probably use some public encouragement to maintain a breed-neutral course. To contact the Board of Supervisors, call the County Administrator’s office at 662-323-1520 (a few supervisors have email; for details visit http://www.oktibbehacountyms.org/government/index.htm).

VERY important: keep correspondence respectful and informational; the county board has not expressed interest in breed-specific laws and several board members have made statements against breed-based discrimination. Please commend them and encourage them to continue thinking this way.

Oktibbeha to schedule public hearing for vicious animal ordinance

DAVID MILLER
SEPTEMBER 3, 2011 10:20:00 PM

STARKVILLE — In anticipation of public pressure to adopt a vicious animal ordinance, the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors plans to schedule public hearings about the issue at Tuesday’s meeting.

Following a pit bull attack on two children on Self Creek Road on Aug. 13, the board has studied ordinances in Pontotoc and Lowndes counties. [...]

County Administrator Don Posey said there isn’t a special hearing to discuss a possible ordinance for Tuesday’s meeting, though citizens can express concerns during the usual public comments portion of the meeting.[...]

Read more: http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=12825#ixzz1X6fpZFhT

StopBSL would like to request assistance from locals and residents in the county to help keep an eye on the situation in Oktibbeha. The board’s agendas and minutes are not posted online, and news coverage hasn’t been the most reliable source. Ideally, a resident or local could make a special effort to stay in contact with the Chancery Clerk or the County Board of Supervisors in order to stay on top of developments.

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Posted in Mississippi, Whispers of BSL

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Gardner, KS: Council to discuss animal ordinance revisions, Sept 6

Posted on September 4, 2011 by | Comments Off

Councilmember Larry Fotovich has requested that Gardner reinstate a breed ban. 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.

City staff has requested that council provide specific direction as to what animal ordinance revisions they desire. The council has been asked to provide this direction during the September 7 council meeting, at 7:00 PM, in City Hall, 120 East Main Street, Gardner, KS. In other words, the council will probably vote whether or not to instruct city staff to rewrite the ordinance to include a breed ban.

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 stay away from a breed ban.

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

Agenda for Sept 6: http://www.gardnerkansas.gov/council_agenda_090611

Background/Description of Item:

The Council has discussed possible changes to City Ordinance No. 2175 that pertains to animal control and protection and defines vicious animals and how they are to be handled. It does not define specific breeds of dogs that are banned. This ordinance was passed in 2005.

Looking to understand the direction of the City Council, staff is requesting Council to review Ordinance No. 2175 and provide specific direction so that corrections to the ordinance, if any, can be made and brought back for consideration at the October 3rd meeting.

Staff Recommendation:

Direct staff on changes to Ordinance 2175 – Animal Control and Protection.

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Posted in Kansas, Whispers of BSL

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City of Sonoma, CA: Council to discuss vicious animal regulations, Sept 7

Posted on September 4, 2011 by | 2 Comments

**Not to be confused with Sonoma County, CA**

Council will discuss possible changes to the vicious animal ordinance during the September 7 council meeting that begins at 6 PM. Sonoma council member Joanne Sanders previously asked city staff to research the possibility of breed-specific regulations or a ban on “pit bulls.” California state law prohibits municipalities from passing breed-specific laws, with the exception of breed-specific mandatory spay/neuter. Upon finding this out, Sanders backed away from earlier statements in favor of a breed ban. We do not know what options will be discussed during the council meeting, but locals and residents are encouraged to attend and encourage the council to choose revisions that do not discriminate against owners of any one breed or general type of dog.

Contact information for Sonoma City Council
City Council, City of Sonoma, No. 1 The Plaza, Sonoma CA 95476
City Clerk: (707) 933-2216
Steve Barbose, sbarbose@vom.com
Ken Brown, ken@bearflagsocialclub.com
Laurie Gallian, lauriegallian@comcast.net
Joanne Sanders, cityhall@sonomacity.org
Tom Rouse, SonomaRouse@gmail.com

Email block for cut and paste
sbarbose@vom.com; ken@bearflagsocialclub.com; lauriegallian@comcast.net; cityhall@sonomacity.org; SonomaRouse@gmail.com

The regular meetings of the Sonoma City Council are held on the first and third Mondays of each month at 6:00 PM.

Council agendas: http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

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Posted in California, Whispers of BSL

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Jasper, AL: Council says “no” to committee’s proposed BSL

Posted on September 3, 2011 by | 1 Comment

Thanks to Jodi of Bless the Bullys for tracking Jasper!

Just to keep everyone updated on the situation in Jasper, Alabama:

I received the agenda for next Tuesday’s city council meeting, and the proposed vicious dog ordinance targeting 3 breeds of dogs (which we were told would be presented on September 6) was not an agenda item.  I called city hall and spoke with one of the clerks.  At last week’s work session, the committee presented their breed specific ordinance, and the council rejected it.  Moreover, I was advised that the council told the committee from the get-go that the council as a whole had no intention of passing any ordinance that regulates the ownership of specific breeds of dogs.

The committee was instructed to go back to the drawing board and craft a vicious dog ordinance that DOES NOT make reference to specific breeds of dogs.

I will continue to keep an eye on the situation in Jasper, but considering two city council members are pit bull owners and the majority of the council is against BSL, I think you can drop this one off your radar until further notice.

Jodi

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

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Posted in Alabama, BSL Defeated

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