Monthly Archives: November 2011

Australia: National government urges all states to pass breed ban

Posted on November 18, 2011 by | Comments Off

Attorney General Robert McClelland and Home Affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor have issued a media release stating that they would like all Australian states and territories to review their dog laws and think about adopting the recent legislation passed by Queensland and Victoria.

It should be noted that the media release does not explicitly recommend BSL or breed bans as the correct solution; the national leaders instead support these states’ ”creation of new offenses and penalties.” We are left to read between the lines, since QLD and VIC recently passed several new dangerous dog laws, not all of which were breed-specific. McClelland and O’Connor are either supportive of, or ignorant of, the new restrictions that mean certain death for unregistered dogs that appear to be a “dangerous breed.” (The news article below puts forth the former interpretation.)

Australia citizens may contact and educate these two leaders about the tragedy of BSL at the below addresses.

The Hon. Brendan O’Connor, MP Minister for Home Affairs, PO Box 6022, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT 2601
Telephone: 02 6277 7290 Fax: 02 6273 7098

Attorney General Robert McClelland, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6277 7300 Fax: (02) 6273 4102
Email: attorney@ag.gov.au

Govt calls for uniform dangerous dog laws

news.com.au November 18, 2011 5:17PM

THE federal government has called for uniform state and territory laws for the control of dangerous dogs.

Attorney General Robert McClelland and Home Affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor on Friday pressed state and territory attorneys general to adopt Victoria and Queensland’s approach to the registration and management of certain dog breeds. [...]

Full article retrieved 11/18/11 from http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/govt-calls-for-uniform-dangerous-dog-laws/story-e6freuyi-1226199295362

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

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Wentzville, MO: Council to discuss possible BSL repeal, Dec 7

Posted on November 18, 2011 by | Comments Off

Residents and locals of Wentzville, MO, have been asking city council to repeal BSL. The city council will take up this discussion next at a work session on December 7 at 6:00 PM at City Hall.

Here is a Facebook event for the BSL challenge at the city council meeting: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=172598802834727&view=wall&notif_t=event_wall

Please send respectful, helpful correspondence to Wentzville city aldermen. Encourage them to repeal their breed-discriminatory ordinance and ask them to apply their laws to all dog owners equally, regardless of a dog’s appearance.
Wentzville City Hall, 310 West Pearce Boulevard, Wentzville, MO 63385
636-327-5101
636-639-2017 fax
Online contact forms for aldermen: http://www.wentzvillemo.org/mayor-and-alderman.aspx

Wentzville board to discuss changing pit bull ordinances

By Raymond Castile > rcastile@yourjournal.com | Posted: Thursday, November 17, 2011 11:23 am

The Wentzville Board of Aldermen plans to discuss changing the city’s pit bull ordinances during a work session Dec. 7.

About 30 people attended the board’s meeting Nov. 16 to show their support for changing the laws. Alderman Chris Gard, Ward 2, gave the aldermen a list of his proposed changes to discuss during the work session, scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 310 W. Pearce Blvd. [...]

“With the information we have today, it is difficult to write breed-specific laws,” Gard said. “It is much easier to write better laws that are not breed-specific. I think the board will see that in our discussion.”

Full article retrieved 11/18/11 from http://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/stcharles/news/wentzville-board-to-discuss-changing-pit-ball-ordinances/article_50e9dd44-a97a-542a-acc3-7c7fabba5be2.html

All alerts for Wentzville: http://stopbsl.com/?s=wentzville

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Posted in Missouri, Proposal to Repeal, Results of BSL

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Springfield, TN: Retroactive BSL proposal nixed

Posted on November 16, 2011 by | Comments Off

The Springfield council was considering a new retroactive registration fee for “pit bull” owners, on top of its current breed-specific ordinance. The vote in October was deferred, which means delayed but still alive. As of this week, the proposal is officially dead. The council voted—against the fee.

Springfield Leaders Vote Against Pitbull Fee

Posted: Nov 16, 2011 6:28 AM CST

SPRINGFIELD, Tenn. – A plan to charge pitbull owners a $50 fee has been shot down in Springfield.

On Tuesday night, Springfield city leaders voted against the plan which was proposed last month. [...]

Full article retrieved 11/16/11 from http://www.newschannel5.com/story/16052513/springfield-leaders-vote-against-pitbull-fee

Unfortunately, Springfield’s existing BSL (restrictions on “pit bull” ownership) is still in place. Residents are encouraged to continue dialogue with Springfield council to see if BSL repeal can be achieved.

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

All alerts for Springfield, TN: http://stopbsl.com/?s=springfield%2C+tn

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Posted in BSL Defeated, Tennessee

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Overland, MO: Breed ban repealed

Posted on November 16, 2011 by | 2 Comments

Overland city council is confirmed to have repealed the breed-specific portion of their newly passed animal ordinances. Thank you to all of those citizens who spoke out at the meetings and wrote to the councilmembers—the ban was repealed because of you.

It is also important to recognize city councilmembers’ willingness to receive public feedback and reconsider their actions. You may contact Overland city officials below:
City Hall, 9119 Lackland Road, Overland, MO 63114
(314) 428-4321
Fax (314) 428-3515
Directory (phone and email) for mayor and council: http://overlandmo.org/Directory.aspx?did=7

City ordinance won’t single out pit bulls

Post-Dispatch
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 12:00 am

Overland City Council revised on Monday night an ordinance passed in September that would have imposed restrictions on pit bulls new to the city beginning Jan. 1. Instead, the city will restrict “dangerous” animals, designated by unprovoked severe or repeat attacks on people or animals. [...]

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/overland-city-ordinance-won-t-single-out-pit-bulls/article_369480ca-0ffc-11e1-b211-0019bb30f31a.html#ixzz1dvLd3BtT

All alerts for Overland: http://stopbsl.com/?s=overland

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Posted in BSL Repealed, Missouri

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Edmonton, Alberta, Canada: Possibility of BSL repeal

Posted on November 15, 2011 by | Comments Off

The mayor of Edmonton has asked for a review of the city’s BSL because he keeps receiving emails against BSL from the public. The results of the review will be presented in January. In the meantime, we encourage the public to continue providing respectful, helpful correspondence to city officials to guide them away from ineffective, discriminatory breed-specific laws.

City of Edmonton, 3rd Floor, City Hall, 1 Sir Winston Churchill Square, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5J 2R7
Phone: 780-442-5311
E-mail: 311@edmonton.ca
Mayor contact form: http://webproxy.edmonton.ca/forms/Contact311/default.aspx
City Councillors: Councillors@edmonton.ca

Council reopens contentious debate on breed-specific bylaw

BY ELISE STOLTE, EDMONTONJOURNAL.COM NOVEMBER 14, 2011

EDMONTON — [...] Mayor Stephen Mandel asked animal control staff to report back in January with recommendations on whether the current restrictions are warranted.

“Breed-specific legislation might not be justified,” said David Aitken, the city branch manager responsible for bylaw enforcement. “There’s a train of thought that suggests it’s not the animal, it’s the owner that has the issue. Therefore, you can’t hold specific breeds responsible for actions.”

City council last debated pit bulls in 2003, after amending a bylaw that restricted mixed-breed American Staffordshire and Staffordshire bull terriers, which are often referred to as pit bulls. Dog owners for those dogs pay higher registration fees, must carry $1 million in insurance, and must keep the dogs muzzled on public property and tethered on private property. [...]

But of the 450 restricted dogs currently registered with the City of Edmonton, only 34 are restricted because of a past attack. The rest are restricted because of their genetic history, Aitken said. [...]

Mandel told committee members he wanted to reopen the bylaw debate because his office continues to get emails objecting to the breed-specific ban. [...]

The committee is scheduled to hear back Jan. 23 on what changes could be made to the bylaw and on what restrictions other municipalities have in place.

Full article retrieved 11/15/11 from http://www.edmontonjournal.com/life/Council+reopens+contentious+debate+breed+specific+bylaw/5708453/story.html

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Posted in Canada, Proposal to Repeal, Results of BSL

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Ohio HB 14: Senate committee hearing on Nov 16

Posted on November 14, 2011 by | 3 Comments

Edit 1/31/12: You are viewing an old post; HB 14 has advanced. View all alerts for HB 14: http://stopbsl.com/?s=ohio+hb+14

The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on HB 14 on November 16 at 3:15 PM! North Hearing Room, 2nd Floor, Senate Building, Capitol Square, Columbus, OH.

If you live in Ohio, please attend the hearing to physically show your support for the repeal of statewide BSL. Please also contact the Senate Judiciary Committee and your own Ohio state senator and tell them that you support HB 14!

HB 14 is a comprehensive dog control bill that would repeal Ohio’s statewide BSL. HB 14 has gotten further in the process than similar attempts in previous years, and has the support of the Ohio Dog Wardens Association, so we have high hopes for its success. HB 14 passed the House in June and has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Contact the Senate Judiciary Committee and urge them to pass HB 14 out of committee:
SD02@senate.state.oh.us; SD22@senate.state.oh.us; SD25@maild.sen.state.oh.us; SD12@senate.state.oh.us; SD09@maild.sen.state.oh.us; SD27@senate.state.oh.us; SD29@senate.state.oh.us; SD33@maild.sen.state.oh.us; SD08@senate.state.oh.us

Link to Senate Judiciary Committee:
http://www.ohiosenate.gov/committees/standing/detail/judiciary.html

Find your state senator using the legislator locator:
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/index.cfm

The full text of HB 14 as reported from the House can be read here: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=129_HB_14

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Posted in Ohio, Proposal to Repeal

Bristol, CT: Ordinance committee may discuss BSL, Nov 16

Posted on November 14, 2011 by | Comments Off

Update 11/15/11: We are hearing rumors that the Ordinance Committee is postponing any discussion until next month. We encourage people to attend the meeting nevertheless, and to continue corresponding with city officials, to make sure officials are fully aware of the public’s opposition to BSL.

The Ordinance Committee meets on November 16 at 4:30 PM in City Hall Meeting Room 1. The committee may discuss Councillor David Mills’ suggestion to institute a breed ban on “dangerous breeds.” The proposal is in very early stages, so we do not know exactly which breeds would be affected or any other details about the breed ban. Presumably, the ordinance committee will work out the details over the next few months.

This is the best time for the public to protest the breed ban and to offer effective, breed-neutral alternatives—before the city council becomes highly invested in the idea. Please send your respectful correspondence to the below contact information. If you are a local, please attend the ordinance committee meeting.

City of Bristol, 111 North Main Street, Bristol, CT 06010
(860) 584-6200
Email block for cut-and-paste
mayorsoffice@ci.bristol.ct.us; artward@ci.bristol.ct.us; kevinmcCauley@ci.bristol.ct.us; cliffordblock@ci.bristol.ct.us; kencockayne@ci.bristol.ct.us; kevinfuller@ci.bristol.ct.us; davemills@ci.bristol.ct.us

The most detailed information about the proposal can be read here: http://www.bristolpress.com/articles/2011/11/06/news/doc4eb7419c04daa090936610.txt

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Posted in Connecticut, Whispers of BSL

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