Category Archives: BSL Passed

Elephant Butte, NM: BSL passed

Posted on March 26, 2012 by | 4 Comments

In January, Elephant Butte, NM, passed a law that discriminates against all “pit bull,” German Shepherd, and Rottweiler owners. This includes any mixed-breed dog that is at least one-half of these breeds, and any dog that displays “distinguishing physical characteristics” of any of these breeds.

“Pit bull” includes American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and miniature bull terrier (not sure why standard Bull Terriers are not included).

Owners of these breeds and mixes must follow a laundry list of restrictions, including liability insurance, special containment, and special registration. If you are found in violation of the ordinance, the city will kill your dog.

The ordinance further states that the city will post an announcement that encourages residents to turn in other residents who they think might be violating the ordinance, as such: “If you or your family is at risk because someone living near you illegally keeps a pit bull dog, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, or Canine Hybrid, contact the City Code Enforcement Officer.”

Read the full ordinance, if you dare. The first five pages cover the breed definitions, and various breed-discriminatory restrictions can be found on page 8, 12, and 15-20.  http://cityofelephantbutte.com/images/pdfs/city-ord/20120104-Ord-131-Animal-Control-Ordinance.pdf

The ordinance went into effect on March 1. This is the first time we’ve heard of it, but Elephant Butte is a very small community.

Contact info for Elephant Butte officials:
mayor@cityofelephantbutte.com; alan.brown@cityofelephantbutte.com; kim.skinner@cityofelephantbutte.com; gerald.lafont@cityofelephantbutte.com; sarah.stagner@cityofelephantbutte.com; citymanager@cityofelephantbutte.com

City Requires $100K Insurance For Pit Bulls

Rottweilers, German Shepherds Also Must Be Insured

POSTED: 8:38 am MDT March 26, 2012

ELEPHANT BUTTE, N.M. — One New Mexico town is requiring owners of pit bulls, rottweilers and German shepherds to get special liability insurance. [...]

But as of March 1, pit bulls, rottweilers and German shepherds are considered potentially dangerous dogs by the city of Elephant Butte. Anyone with those breeds now has 90 days to insure their dogs for $100,000 worth of personal property liability. [...]

Full article retrieved 3/26/12 from http://www.koat.com/news/30760663/detail.html

→ 4 Comments

Posted in BSL Passed, New Mexico

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Terrell County, GA: Commissioners pass BSL

Posted on February 2, 2012 by | 6 Comments

Terrell County commissioners voted to approve BSL; “pit bulls” are now considered “potentially dangerous” dogs. Owners of potentially dangerous dogs must comply with a number of restrictions. This is basically the same ordinance that passed in the city of Dawson.

The ordinances for both city of Dawson and Terrell County may be read here (PDF):
Dawson and Terrell County Ordinances

Contact info for Terrell County officials
Terrell County Courthouse, 235 E Lee Street, Dawson, GA 39842
P.O. Box 525, Dawson, GA 39842-0525
Phone: (229) 995-4476
Fax:(229) 995-4320
County Clerk: Beth001@windstream.net

[Note: Obviously, the title of the below news article is sensational rather than realistic.]

Pit Bulls may be a breed of the past in Terrell County

by Ashley Knight
Posted: 02.01.2012 at 10:36 AM

TERRELL COUNTY, GA — Terrell County unanimously passed an ordinance that includes pit bulls in their “Dangerous Dogs” ordinance.

The ordinance calls for keeping the dogs in a 10X10 enclosure, keeping the dog on a leash when it’s outside the enclosure as well as muzzled. [...]

Full article retrieved 2/2/12 from http://www.mysouthwestga.com/news/story.aspx?id=714374#.TyqzPlz2ZpV

→ 6 Comments

Posted in BSL Passed, Georgia

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Village of Amsterdam, OH: BSL passed

Posted on January 17, 2012 by | 1 Comment

Ohio currently defines “pit bulls” as “vicious dogs.” Amsterdam appears to have written this definition into their own ordinance. Therefore, even if Ohio HB 14 passes and the state’s definition of “vicious” changes, Amsterdam’s breed-specific ordinance will remain in place.

Amsterdam is a tiny village. Village phone number: (740) 543-4393

Amsterdam enacts ‘vicious dog’ rules

By Eric Minor
Posted: 9:50 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16, 2012

AMSTERDAM, Ohio — Owners of pit bulls and other so-called “vicious dogs” will have to register their pets with the Village of Amsterdam under tough new laws passed Monday night. [...]Dog owners must prove they are carrying $500,000 in liability insurance on their dogs.[...]

Full article retrieved 1/17/12 from http://www.wtov9.com/news/news/amsterdam-enacts-vicious-dog-rules/nGNwZ/

→ 1 Comment

Posted in BSL Passed, Ohio

Tagged , , , , ,

Fitzgerald, GA: Citizens petition against recently passed BSL

Posted on January 16, 2012 by | Comments Off

Support the efforts of these residents to oppose Fitzgerald’s discriminatory ordinance by writing to city officials and respectfully encouraging them to repeal the “pit bull” ordinance. If you are a resident of Fitzgerald, you can also sign the petition: Walmart parking lot, Jan 28.

City Hall, 302 E Central Ave, Fitzgerald, GA 31750
Telephone: (229) 426-5060
Email addresses for city officials:
fitzcity@mchsi.com, fitzgeraldmayor@mediacombb.net, cityclerk@fitzgeraldga.org

Pit bull lovers sign petition

Posted: Jan 14, 2012 4:32 PM CST
By Gianna Caserta

FITZGERALD, GA – [...] Now, pit bull owners are coming together to get signatures on a petition, calling it unfair to single out a certain breed. [...]

The ordinance requires a pit bull be muzzled when they are on a leash and being walked.

All pit bulls must be registered and have liability insurance of up to $50,000. [...]

The law also requires that the dog must be kept in a pen, at least 6 feet long by 6 feet wide and 6 feet tall, with a secured roof and floor. [...]

The group will be back at the Walmart parking lot on January 28th to try to get more signatures. [...]

Full article retrieved 1/16/12 from http://www.walb.com/story/16521718/pit-bull-lovers-sign-petition

Comments Off

Posted in BSL Passed, Community Initiatives, Georgia

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Dawson, GA: BSL passed

Posted on January 13, 2012 by | 8 Comments

Pit Bull ordinance passed in Dawson

Posted: Jan 13, 2012 12:29 AM CST
By Sharinda Williams

Dawson,GA – [...] The Dawson City Council amended the city’s animal control ordinance to add the breed specifically as a potentially dangerous dog.

Owners must now keep the dogs in pens concrete or wire bottoms to keep them from digging out. The dogs must also be muzzled when let out of the cage. [...]

Pit bull owners in Dawson have 90 days to insure, Microchip, register their dogs and build those cages.

Full article retrieved 1/13/12 from http://www.walb.com/story/16511885/pit-bull-ordinance-passed-in-dawson

Contact info for city officials:
101 S. Main Street, Dawson, Georgia 39842
Phone:(229) 995-4444
Fax: (229) 995-3713

All alerts for Dawson: http://stopbsl.com/?s=dawson

→ 8 Comments

Posted in BSL Passed, Georgia

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Bermuda: Govt revises prohibited breeds list, creates new “restricted breeds” list

Posted on December 30, 2011 by | 1 Comment

Bermuda has moved some previously prohibited breeds into a new restricted-breed category. (We last told you about this plan in September 2010, but the official breed list is now finalized.)

Prohibited breeds may not be imported or bred. All of the below breeds were also prohibited under the previous prohibited-breed list.

  • American Pit Bull Terrier
  • American Bulldog
  • American Staffordshire Terrier
  • Argentine Mastiff / Dogo Argentino
  • Boerboel
  • Brazilian Mastiff / Fila
  • Cane Corso
  • Presa Canario
  • Neapolitan Mastiff
  • Tosa Inu
  • Wolf / Wolf hybrid
  • Any crossbreed of above

Restricted breeds can be imported or bred, but there are restrictions on ownership, such as special enclosures, property inspections, etc. Some of the below breeds were previously on the prohibited breed list, and some of the below breeds were not previously restricted or prohibited. I have noted the changes. Restricted breeds are as follows:

  • Akita (previously prohibited)
  • Australian Cattle Dog (previously unrestricted)
  • Belgian Malinois (previously unrestricted)
  • Bouvier Des Flandres (previously unrestricted)
  • Bull Terrier (previously prohibited)
  • Bullmastiff (previously prohibited)
  • Chow Chow (previously unrestricted)
  • Doberman Pinscher (previously unrestricted)
  • Dogue De Bordeaux (previously prohibited)
  • German Shepherd (previously unrestricted)
  • English Mastiff (previously prohibited)
  • Rhodesian Ridgeback (previously unrestricted)
  • Rottweiler (previously prohibited)
  • Staffordshire Bull Terrier (previously unrestricted)
  • Any crossbreed of above

News articles with details regarding the new breed lists:
http://bernews.com/2011/12/minister-bean-on-dog-importations/
http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20111229/NEWS01/712299932

All alerts for Bermuda: http://stopbsl.com/?s=bermuda

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Additional Breeds, BSL Passed, Outside of U.S.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Xenia, OH: BSL / ban kept in revised animal ordinance

Posted on December 26, 2011 by | Comments Off

Xenia, OH, has passed a new animal ordinance. Rather than remove the breed-specific language that was already in the old ordinance, the new animal ordinance has clarified the language and increased the restrictions for owners of certain breeds. However, there’s also a twist—due to conflicting language in the ordinance, it appears Xenia may actually have a breed ban, not restrictions.

Section 604 of the ordinance defines and describes the following breeds: American Bulldog, Canary Dog, and pit bull terrier (Am Staff, APBT, Staff Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, mixes of these, and look-alikes). It also defines “vicious dog” as all of the above breeds.

Section 618.02 describes the new requirements for keeping vicious dogs (including American Bulldogs, Canary Dogs, and pit bull terriers). These requirements include special registration, liability insurance, special containment, muzzling, and a limit of 3 ”vicious” dogs.

And then there’s Section 618.15. This is an old section of the code and was not changed by the recent revisions. This section bans the keeping of wild, vicious, and dangerous animals. In particular, the section bans without exception ”vicious domesticated animals.”

Although “domesticated animal” is not defined in the code, we assume it includes dogs; therefore, it seems that vicious dogs cannot be kept or owned in Xenia—to include American Bulldogs, Canary dogs, and pit bull terriers.

See the conflict? The new revisions in 618.02 increase the restrictions on ownership of vicious dogs, but 618.15 bans vicious animals/dogs.

This conflict between the sections leads us to believe that Xenia city council is unaware of the ramifications of 618.15. We also suspect that those charged with enforcing the ordinance are unaware of the ban imposed by 618.15. Although the ban probably isn’t being enforced, if you own any of the aforementioned breeds (including look-alikes and mixes) that are designated as “vicious,” we suggest that you avoid Xenia.

Read the revised ordinance for yourself: http://www.ci.xenia.oh.us/uploads/City%20Clerk%20Documents/2011%20Ordinances%20and%20Resolutions/Ord.%2011-70%20Amend%20XCO%20Chap.%20604%20and%20618%20Animals.pdf

News articles about the recent ordinance changes: http://www.wdtn.com/dpp/news/local/greene_county/xenia-requires-viscous-dog-registration
http://www.wdtn.com/dpp/community/dangerous-dog-registration-in-greene-co

Contact information for city officials:
Jeanne Mills, Council President, jmills@ci.xenia.oh.us
William (Bill) R. Miller, Vice President, bmiller@ci.xenia.oh.us
Marsha J. Bayless, Mayor, mbayless@ci.xenia.oh.us
John G. Caupp, jcaupp@ci.xenia.oh.us
Michael D. Engle, mengle@ci.xenia.oh.us
Dale Louderback, dlouderback@ci.xenia.oh.us
Wesley Smith, wsmith@ci.xenia.oh.us
City Clerk, (937) 376-7235, mjohnson@ci.xenia.oh.us

Email block for cut and paste: jmills@ci.xenia.oh.us; bmiller@ci.xenia.oh.us; mbayless@ci.xenia.oh.us; jcaupp@ci.xenia.oh.us; mengle@ci.xenia.oh.us; dlouderback@ci.xenia.oh.us; wsmith@ci.xenia.oh.us; mjohnson@ci.xenia.oh.us

Comments Off

Posted in BSL Passed, Ohio

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,