Monthly Archives: October 2011

Mission Hills, KS: Council may add breed to current breed ban

Posted on October 13, 2011 by | Comments Off

Mission Hills, KS council may add Rottweilers to their current ban on “pit bulls.”

Jodi at Bless the Bullys has some great commentary on the recent trend to add breeds to ineffective, failing BSL. We have seen this most recently in Merrillville, IN and Lake City, AR.

Rather than confront the issue of “problem dog owners,” Merrillville and Mission Hills want to add more BSL to that which is already in place. The domino effect illustrated perfectly. What breed is next?

How unfortunate that officials in these cities don’t recognize the opportunity they have to craft effective ordinances that hold irresponsible dog owners accountable and actually make their communities safer. Instead, their solution is to add additional breeds to the ordinances in place which are obviously being ignored by the very people who should be targeted. The truth is right in front of them, yet they choose to wear blinders, they choose to continue to focus on the wrong end of the leash.

City contact form: http://www.missionhillsks.gov/Directory.aspx
CITY OF MISSION HILLS • 6300 State Line Road • Mission Hills, Kansas 66208
Phone: 913-362-9620 • Fax: 913-362-0673
City Administrator Courtney Christensen, cchristensen@missionhillsks.gov, 913-362-9620 ext 202
City Clerk Jill Clifton (will send your correspondence to city council upon request), jclifton@missionhillsks.gov

Kansas community consider banning certain breed of dog

Posted: 11:30 PM

MISSION HILLS, Kansas – [...] Mission Hills City Administrator Courtney Christensen is considering banning people from owning Rottweiler’s.

Christensen tells NBC Action News to reexamine its domestic animals regulations after a person was recently attacked by a dog in Mission Hills.

Pit Bulls are already banned. [...]

The city council is expected to vote on the ban within the next few months.

Full article retrieved 10/13/11 from http://www.nbcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_kansas/johnson_county/kansas-community-consider-banning-certain-breed-of-dog#ixzz1aeea42mQ

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Posted in Additional Breeds, Kansas

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Merrillville, IN: Council may add breed(s) to BSL

Posted on October 12, 2011 by | 1 Comment

Merrillville currently has BSL that affects “pit bull” owners. Rather than repeal their currently ineffective BSL and institute an ordinance that applies to all dogs, regardless of breed, the town council is considering adding “Staffordshire Terrier” to the ordinance.

Town council emails:
tgoralczyk@merrillville.in.gov; asylwestrowicz@merrillville.in.gov; rhardaway@merrillville.in.gov; cmiano@merrillville.in.gov; cbarron@merrillville.in.gov; spettit@merrillville.in.gov; rwiding@merrillville.in.gov

Town meetings: Second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, 6:30 p.m.
Town Hall, 7820 Broadway, Merrillville, IN 46410

Merrillville council worried about pit bulls

By Karen Caffarini Post-Tribune correspondent October 11, 2011 8:32PM

MERRILLVILLE — Town officials are looking at giving the town’s animal ordinance more teeth after learning Monday that owners of pit bulls and veterinarians are getting around the current one.[...]

Councilwoman Carol Miano, D-3rd, said under the current ordinance pit bulls and other dogs deemed dangerous are supposed to wear a muzzle and the owner is supposed to have $300,000 liability insurance. “The problem is, when people find out they need $300,000 in insurance, they go to their vet and the vet reclassifies the dog as a Staffordshire terrier. They’re not the same,” Miano said.[...]

Councilman Richard Hardaway, D-2nd, said the town needs to change its ordinance to include Staffordshire terriers as a vicious animal and require their owners to have the same insurance. Other council members agreed with Hardaway.[...]

Full article retrieved 10/12/11 from http://posttrib.suntimes.com/news/lake/8154703-418/merrillville-council-worried-about-pit-bulls.html

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Posted in Additional Breeds, Indiana

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Franklin, KY: BSL passed

Posted on October 12, 2011 by | Comments Off

Franklin, KY, has passed BSL that declares “pit bulls” and Rottweilers to be automatically declared vicious dogs. Owners of these breeds are subject to restrictions on vicious dog ownership.

Mayor Ronnie Clark, mayor@franklinky.org
City Commission, Commission@Franklinky.org 

Certain Dogs Now Considered Vicious in Franklin

Posted: 4:41 PM Oct 11, 2011
Reporter: Casey Wheeless

Some Franklin residents are upset over the new animal ordinance, which says Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, along with Wolf-Hybrid dogs are considered vicious animals. [...]

Although the ordinance was passed this morning, the judge says he will review it again in a few months to see if changes should be made.

Full article retrieved 10/12/11 from http://www.wbko.com/news/headlines/Certain_Dogs_Now_Considered_Vicious_in_Franklin_131551763.html?ref=763

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Posted in BSL Passed, Kentucky

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Three Rivers, TX: Town may consider breed ban

Posted on October 7, 2011 by | Comments Off

Texas state law prohibits municipalities from passing breed-specific legislation. Small, rural towns in the state are sometimes unaware of this prohibition. The police chief in this town has suggested a ban on “pit bulls.”

Please send polite, respectful, informative correspondence to city hall, advising city officials that a breed-specific law would be illegal, and encouraging them to consider effective, nondiscriminatory breed-neutral measures.

Contact information for Three Rivers:
City Hall, 105 Harborth Ave., PO Box 398, Three Rivers, Texas 78071
Voice: 361-786-2528
Fax: 361-786-3281

Police Department, Chief Vance Roberts, 361-786-2743
Mayor James Liska, 361-786-2528 X 225
City Administrator Rosie Forehand, 361-786-2528 X 226

South Texas town could examine ban on pit bulls

by Phil Anaya / KENS 5
Posted on October 6, 2011 at 8:25 PM
Updated today at 7:32 AM

After two separate pit bull attacks in one week it appears there’s potential that the town of Three Rivers could examine the idea of banning the breed from city limits.

This comes after the Three Rivers Police Chief was quoted in the local paper saying a ban would better protect the community and residents.[...]

A city administrator and councilmember were aware of the concerns, but said the chief has yet to suggest a breed ban at the next council meeting. Residents seemed split on the idea. [...]

Full article and video retrieved 10/7/11 from http://www.kens5.com/news/local/South-Texas-town-could-examine-ban-on-pit-bulls-131300284.html

Chief wants city to ban pit bulls

by Mike Alexieff editor
1 day 20 hrs ago

THREE RIVERS – Police Chief Vance Roberts plans to ask the city council to ban pit bulls in the wake of two attacks that sent a woman and two boys to hospitals.[...]

“I think we need to ban pit bulls in the city limits,” Roberts said. “We need to do that to protect our community, our citizens.”

Full article retrieved 10/7/11 from http://www.mysoutex.com/view/full_story/15904667/article-Chief-wants-city-to-ban-pit-bulls?

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Posted in Texas, Whispers of BSL

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Pascagoula, MS: Whispers of BSL

Posted on October 7, 2011 by | Comments Off

Thanks to Jodi at Bless the Bullys for this alert.

Pascagoula residents need to be on alert.  Reach out to your city officials NOW to offer suggestions and assistance in creating breed-neutral suggestions to
address animal control issues in the community.

The Pascagoula City Council meets each month on the first and third Tuesday at 6:00pm in the Council Chambers of the Joe D. Cole, Jr. Municipal Building, located at 603 Watts Avenue across from the Jackson County Courthouse. Next city council meeting: October 18. Contact the city clerk and other officials: http://cityofpascagoula.com/city-telephone-directory

Pit bulls running loose in Pascagoula worry councilman

Published: Thursday, October 06, 2011

PASCAGOULA, Mississippi — Pit bulls running loose in his ward worry Councilman George Wolverton.

During the council meeting earlier this week, Wolverton said that he’s received numerous reports about pit bulls running loose. [...]

Pascagoula’s vicious dog ordinance is not breed-specific, but in the past several years the handful of cases the city has dealt with involved pit bulls, according to city officials.

Full article retrieved 10/7/11 from http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2011/10/pit_bulls_running_loose_in_pas.html

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Posted in Mississippi, Whispers of BSL

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Springfield, TN: New ordinance adds to current BSL

Posted on October 5, 2011 by | 3 Comments

Springfield, TN, already has BSL for “pit bull” owners. The city intends to add another breed-specific ordinance to the current BSL—a special $50 registration fee.

Update 10/6/11: Bless the Bullys reports that the fee would be retroactive. Next city council meeting: October 18.

Ordinance Would Charge Fee For Pitbulls

Posted: Oct 03, 2011 4:31 PM CDT
by Amanda Hara

Springfield, Tenn. – The City of Springfield already requires pit bulls to be registered, muzzled and leashed at all times and registered on a city database, but those rules could soon become stricter.

City Manager Paul Nutting says a new ordinance will likely pass requiring owners to pay a 50 dollar registration fee for their pit bull. [...]

City Manager Paul Nutting said the ordinance passed its first reading and will likely pass its third and final reading no later than November.

Full article retrieved 10/5/11 from http://www.newschannel5.com/story/15607080/ordinance-would-charge-fee-for-pitbulls

Contact info for Springfield, TN city officials
City Hall, 405 North Main Street, Springfield, Tennessee 37172
615.382.2200

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Tennessee

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Wyoming, MI: City manager says city decided against BSL

Posted on October 5, 2011 by | Comments Off

Wyoming, MI, has decided against BSL, according to a blog post by the city manager. BSL had been suggested by a resident in early July, and the city looked into the issue.

All alerts for Wyoming, MI: http://stopbsl.com/?s=%22wyoming%2C+mi%22

From the City Manager’s blog:

Thursday, September 29, 2011
Pit Bulls
Recently, the Wyoming City Council was approached by several citizens who voiced concerns regarding Pit Bulls in our community. In reviewing these concerns, it has become apparent to Police Chief Carmody and other city staff that the concerns mentioned stem from owner responsibility and not necessarily the breed specifically. [...]

During our research, we found that vicious animal laws far exceeded any breed specific eradication laws. We believe enforcement and subsequent costs associated with a breed specific ordinance would not be cost effective based upon the desired result. In addition, we have no support from the county, who provide animal control services, or our neighbors in implementing breed specific prohibition language that would cross municipal borders.

The city council will be considering a refined ordinance in October. The ordinance would place a greater accountability on the dog owner and hopefully will serve as a reminder to owners of their responsibilities in keeping their dogs under control.

Full blog article can be read here: http://www.wyomingmi.gov/blog_index.asp?Itemid=113&CategoryID=135

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Posted in BSL Defeated, Michigan

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