Author Archives: StopBSL

Maryland: Legislative task force formed to study effects of court ruling

Posted on May 31, 2012 | Leave a comment

Legislators in Maryland have created a Joint Task Force to study the potential fallout from the recent discriminatory court decision in Tracey v Solesky.

You can be sure that pro-BSL groups like PETA will send the task force members plenty of misinformation to support the discriminatory ruling. In fact, they already have. Read PETA’s outrageous pro-BSL letter to MD lawmakers here. (PDF) And we all know the name of the infamous pro-BSL website that provided the tinder for the discriminatory Solesky court ruling in the first place. The owner of that website is undoubtably contacting MD lawmakers as well.

You can combat the misinformation being spread by these groups by sending respectful, informative communications to the task force that demonstrate why the Solesky court decision is discriminatory, expensive, and dangerous.

Contact info for task force legislators:
Brian.Frosh@senate.state.md.us; Lisa.Gladden@senate.state.md.us; Joseph.Getty@senate.state.md.us; Jamie.Raskin@senate.state.md.us; Norman.Stone@senate.state.md.us; Curt.Anderson@house.state.md.us; Eric.Bromwell@house.state.md.us; Benjamin.Kramer@house.state.md.us; Heather.Mizeur@house.state.md.us; Michael.Smigiel@house.state.md.us

Maryland Lawmakers Form Pit Bull Task Force

Posted: May 30, 2012 5:51 PM CDT

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) – Maryland lawmakers will review the impact of a ruling by the state’s highest court that concluded pit bulls are an inherently dangerous breed and consider legislation in response, the presiding officers of the Maryland General Assembly announced Wednesday. [...]

The task force will review state law, the court’s decision and laws in other states. The panel also will review the viability and definition of breed-specific standards in Maryland law, a dog owner or landlord’s ability to secure property insurance and existing breed-specific prohibitions in local jurisdictions in Maryland. [...]

Senators on the panel will include: Brian Frosh, D-Montgomery, Lisa Gladden, D-Baltimore, Joseph Getty, R-Carroll, Jamie Raskin, D-Montgomery and Norman Stone, D-Baltimore County. Delegates on the task force will be Curt Anderson, D-Baltimore, Eric Bromwell, D-Baltimore County, Benjamin Kramer, D-Montgomery, Heather Mizeur, D-Montgomery, and Michael Smigiel, R-Cecil.

Full article retrieved 5/31/12 from http://www.wboc.com/story/18660466/maryland-lawmakers-form-pit-bull-task-force

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Posted in Maryland, Results of BSL, Court Cases

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Geneva-on-the-Lake, OH: City repeals breed ban

Posted on May 29, 2012 | Leave a comment

GOTL de-lists pit bulls as vicious dogs

Advocate rallies for ’Bula to do the same

May 23, 2012
By MARGIE NETZEL – mnetzel@starbeacon.com, Staff Writer

GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE — Village Council is showing a bit of puppy love for pit bulls, eradicating an ordinance that bans ownership of the breed within village limits.

After three readings, council revised its vicious dog ordinance this week, following the new state standard that also de-listed the dogs as a vicious breed, village administrator Jim Hockaday said. [...]

Full article retrieved 5/29/12 from http://starbeacon.com/local/x1647282414/GOTL-de-lists-pit-bulls-as-vicious-dogs

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Posted in BSL Repealed, Ohio

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Winnipeg, MB, Canada: City will not repeal breed ban

Posted on May 29, 2012 | Leave a comment

Contact information for Winnipeg City Hall:
City Hall, Council Building, 510 Main Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 1B9
Contact page for Councillors: http://www.winnipeg.ca/council/contact.stm

Facebook group to repeal the ban: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Help-Repeal-Winnipegs-Pit-Bull-Ban/166789433355315?v=wall

City won’t lift ban on pit bulls

By: Jen Skerritt
Posted: 1:00 AM

WINNIPEG’S ban on pit bulls is here to stay as officials worry lifting it could cause more overcrowding in city animal shelters.

Last year, animal advocates urged the city to consider repealing the pit-bull ban as part of its wider review of responsible pet ownership. [...]

Winnipeg’s revamped pet-ownership bylaw will not be made public until fall, but on Monday, animal services chief operating officer Leland Gordon said the department does not support repealing the ban. [...]

Full article retrieved 5/29/12 from http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-wont-lift-ban-on-pit-bulls-155263825.html

All alerts for Winnipeg: http://stopbsl.com/?s=winnipeg

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Posted in Proposal to Repeal, Canada

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North Royalton, OH: Proposal to repeal BSL

Posted on May 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

North Royalton, OH, is working on repealing their BSL. Their city law mirrored the old Ohio state law by automatically categorizing “pit bulls” as vicious dogs. The city has rewritten their dog ordinances to more closely resemble the new, breed-neutral state law.

You can read the new proposed dog ordinance here: http://www.northroyalton.org/Council/Legislation/2012%20Ordinances/12-087%20Vicious%20dogs%20EXHIBIT%20A%20PENDING.pdf

This ordinance has had a second reading and will next be discussed by the Safety Committee on June 5.

Please show the council your support for BSL repeal:
ward1@northroyalton.org; ward2@northroyalton.org; ward3@northroyalton.org; ward4@northroyalton.org; ward5@northroyalton.org; ward6@northroyalton.org; councilpres@northroyalton.org

Lack of leash could hurt North Royalton dog owners

Published: Thursday, May 24, 2012, 5:30 PM
By Scott Patsko, Sun News

NORTH ROYALTON: [...] A third ordinance dealing with dog behavior, specifically vicious and dangerous dogs, was sent to a second reading and will be discussed further by the Safety Committee on June 5.

Full article retrieved 5/25/12 from http://www.cleveland.com/north-royalton/index.ssf/2012/05/lack_of_leash_could_hurt_north.html

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Posted in Ohio, Proposal to Repeal

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Carmi, IL: Residents ask for BSL

Posted on May 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

Illinois state law prohibits municipalities from passing BSL, so Carmi cannot legally pass BSL or a breed ban despite residents’ requests. City officials are aware of this. (Illinois “home rule” municipalities can pass BSL despite state law, but Carmi is not a “home rule” city.)

Residents and locals may wish to get involved in Carmi to help city officials make the community safer and more educated about dog behavior and responsible dog ownership.

Dog owners urged to obey leash laws

By Braden Willis, Carmi Times
Posted May 24, 2012 @ 10:03 AM

[...] The attacking dog was a pit bull breed and Port acknowledged at Monday’s meeting there has been a call from neighbors in that area for the council to enact breed-specific prohibitions against pit bulls.

The mayor said such an ordinance has been considered, but the council learned state law prohibits breed-specific prohibitions. [...]

Full article retrieved 5/25/12 from http://www.carmitimes.com/news/x1898611450/City-realizes-34K-profit-despite-losses

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Posted in Illinois, Whispers of BSL

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Lebanon, OH: Proposal to repeal BSL

Posted on May 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

Lebanon, OH, is working on repealing their BSL. Their city law mirrored the old Ohio state law by automatically categorizing “pit bulls” as vicious dogs. The city has rewritten their dog ordinances to more closely resemble the new, breed-neutral state law.

Although many city officials are supportive of the change to a breed-neutral dog ordinance, the mayor is against it. I’m not sure if the mayor holds veto power in Lebanon, but it probably wouldn’t hurt for city officials to hear from a supportive public.

Please send your respectful, encouraging support to city officials in Lebanon as they work toward repeal of BSL: citycouncil@lebanonohio.gov

Lebanon updates law banning vicious dogs

Law will be easier to enforce, as it is no longer breed specific.

By Justin McClelland, Staff Writer

5:59 PM Thursday, May 24, 2012

LEBANON — Following the lead of a new state law, Lebanon officials are looking to do away with a ban on pitbull terriers and move to a more general ban on dogs deemed as “vicious.” [...]

“It’s very difficult to enforce a law that is breed specific,” said Lebanon City Attorney Mark Yurick. “This new law is not breed specific and instead focuses on the conduct of any dog or the purpose for which it is bred.”

Yurick said the new law would be much easier to enforce as law officers would no longer have to “prove” a dog was a pitbull or of pitbull ancestry. [...]

Lebanon Mayor Amy Brewer said she would not support the lifting of the ban.

“I feel strongly that these dogs are dangerous and can’t support the legislation,” Brewer said. [...]

Full article retrieved 5/25/12 from http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/middletown-news/lebanon-updates-law-banning-vicious-dogs-1381057.html

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Posted in Ohio, Proposal to Repeal

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Strongsville, OH: Proposal to repeal BSL

Posted on May 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

Strongsville, OH, is working on repealing their BSL. Their city law mirrored the old Ohio state law by automatically categorizing “pit bulls” as vicious dogs. The city has rewritten their dog ordinances to more closely resemble the new, breed-neutral state law.

The first reading of the ordinance took place this week. The ordinance is expected to be approved at the next council meeting (June 4). You can read the revised ordinance here (begins on pg 42): http://www.strongsville.org/content/userfiles/file/City%20Council/2012%20City%20Council%20Agendas/CA%2005-21-12.pdf

Please encourage and thank the city council for moving ahead with BSL repeal:
http://www.strongsville.org/content/council_contact.asp

Pit Bulls Welcome Again in Strongsville

No more restrictions on the controversial breed

By Debbie Palmer

Pit bulls are no longer considered vicious in Ohio, and soon they won’t be in Strongsville, either.

The city is amending its vicious dog ordinance to reflect new changes in the state law, which — as of this week — does not automatically classify the pit bull breed as “vicious” dogs. [...]

Full article retrieved 5/25/12 from http://strongsville.patch.com/articles/pit-bulls-welcome-again

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Posted in Ohio, Proposal to Repeal

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