Category Archives: BSL Proposed

City of Ventura, CA: Council will consider BS-MSN proposal, May 21

Ventura city council members will vote on mandatory spay/neuter for “pit bulls” during its council meeting on May 21, 6:00 PM, in Council Chambers, 501 Poli Street, Ventura, CA.

Agenda: http://www.cityofventura.net/meeting/city-council-meeting-118

Please ask the city of Ventura to drop the breed-specific language in their proposal. Breed-specific MSN—like any other breed-specific law—discriminates against people and their dogs based on whether the owner or dog have a “desirable” or “undesirable” physical appearance. Breed identification is a subjective, non-scientific process, which results in unfair and unequal application of the law. Disputes over breed identification are also inevitable, and appeals and court cases fighting breed designations are expensive and resource-consuming.

StopBSL takes no position on mandatory spay/neuter as long as it is not breed-specific. Whether you support or oppose MSN, it doesn’t need to be breed-specific. If MSN is good for dogs that look like “pit bulls,” it is good for any dog. By removing the breed-specific focus, the city of Ventura can avoid the expense and inequality that goes with BSL.

City of Ventura Mayor and City Council
mike.tracy@cityofventura.net, cheitmann@ci.ventura.ca.us, nandrews@ci.ventura.ca.us, bbrennan@ci.ventura.ca.us, jmonahan@ci.ventura.ca.us, cmorehouse@ci.ventura.ca.us, cweir@ci.ventura.ca.us

All alerts for Ventura (county and cities): http://stopbsl.com/?s=ventura

Upland, CA: BS-MSN proposal sent to committee

The Upland, CA, Advisory Committee has recommended mandatory spay/neuter for all ”pit bulls.” After they presented this recommendation to council on Monday, the council sent the proposal to the Public Safety Committee for further consideration.

I’m going to say it again: this proposal is NOT about reducing a shelter overpopulation of medium-sized, short-coated dogs. The Upland Advisory Committee believes “pit bulls” are dangerous (despite their own city statistics that indicate otherwise). State law is the only thing preventing them from going further. The committee communicated the danger of “pit bulls” to council on Monday, and the council acknowledged that concern.

Please ask city officials to drop the breed-specific language in their proposal. Breed-specific MSN—like any other breed-specific law—discriminates against people and their dogs based on whether the owner or dog have a “desirable” or “undesirable” physical appearance.

Whether you support or oppose MSN, it doesn’t need to be breed-specific. If you think MSN is good for dogs that look like “pit bulls,” then it is good for any dog. By removing the breed-specific focus, Upland can avoid the expense and inequality that goes with BSL.

Upland City Hall, 460 N. Euclid Ave., Upland, Ca 91786
(909) 931-4100
City Clerk, smendenhall@ci.upland.ca.us
Mayor and City Council, citycouncil@ci.upland.ca.us
City Manager, citymanager@ci.upland.ca.us

All alerts for Upland, CA: http://stopbsl.org/?s=upland

Upland Public Safety Committee to review pit bull ordinance

Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/14/2012 10:32:27 AM PDT

UPLAND – The city’s Police and Fire Committee will review a proposal to implement a mandatory spay and neuter ordinance for pit bulls and pit bull mixes.

[...] “You’ve raised some very interesting issues that many citizens of Upland have raised whether it be at the dog park or be at the AYSO fields or whether it be at the Lemon Festival with people walking around with some of these breeds with children around,” Councilman Brendan Brandt said. [...]

Full article retrieved 5/16/12 from http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_20618731/upland-council-hear-pit-bull-report

Portsmouth, OH reminder: Final reading and vote on BSL, May 14

Portsmouth, OH, is rewriting their vicious dog ordinance. The current proposal is breed-specific. Pit bull owners will have to meet several requirements, including special containment. Read the current proposal: Portsmouth Dog Ordinance 3-18-12

The next city council meeting takes place on May 14 at 6:00 PM. Per the city clerk, the ordinance will have a third reading, and will either pass or fail. Residents and locals, please attend the meeting and take this opportunity to reiterate your opposition to BSL.

Please RESPECTFULLY contact Portsmouth city officials and remind them that breed-specific laws don’t improve public safety, are expensive, and are unjust. Provide alternative breed-neutral vicious dog laws for their consideration. RESPECTFULLY ask Portsmouth officials to remove the breed-specific language from their proposal.

City council email block (NOTE: one councilmember does not have email):
kwwj@roadrunner.com; rich@saddler.me; jkalb@roadrunner.com; ii6svvh@yahoo.com; ssturgill@zoomnet.net; TNathan@portsmouthoh.org; dmalone@portsmouthoh.org; andrew.gedeon@odh.ohio.gov

All alerts for Portsmouth, OH: http://stopbsl.com/?s=portsmouth

Covington, LA: Proposed BSL will target “a group of breeds”

A recent news article reports that Covington will consider BSL that targets not just “pit bulls” but ”a group of breeds considered vicious.”

Contact information for Covington city council:
lalexius@bellsouth.net; rsokeefe@bellsouth.net; jcallahan50@bellsouth.net; jconer@covla.com; markalexanderwright@hotmail.com; rollingdistrictd@aol.com; rsmith@covla.com
City Council Office, 317 N. Jefferson Ave., Covington, LA 70433
Phone: (985) 898-4722
Fax: (985) 898-4723
council@covla.com

Next city council meeting: May 15, 6:00 PM, in Council Chambers at 222 Kirkland St., Covington, LA. 70433. This item is not explicitly on the agenda; however, residents and locals are encouraged to attend and speak up about the proposal. (Contact the city clerk at (985) 898-4722 to find out how to speak at the meeting.)

Current animal ordinances can be read here.

Covington Council will put dog bites back into crime

Posted: Sunday, May 13, 2012 1:00 am
By Debbie Glover St. Tammany News

[...] They would not single out pit bulls as a breed, but may include a group of breeds that are considered vicious. [...]

The first order of business is to review what is currently in the city’s ordinances, then to see what can be done to strengthen the current ordinances or enact new ones to keep the public safe and prevent, or at least make owners more accountable, for attacks in the future.

The process is not going to be immediate, but will take a few months to examine all phases of the problem. Some suggestions so far have included microchipping certain breeds so that owners can be located. However, that can be expensive and some dogs don’t even have licenses as it is. [...]

Full article retrieved 5/13/12 from http://www.thesttammanynews.com/news/article_3e2d1152-9c57-11e1-a8c8-001a4bcf887a.html

Upland, CA: Committee will recommend BS-MSN to council, May 14

The Upland, CA, Advisory Committee has recommended mandatory spay/neuter for all ”pit bulls.” They will present their recommendation to city council during the council meeting on May 14 at 7:00 PM in council chambers, City Hall, 460 N. Euclid Avenue, Upland.

Make no mistake, this proposal is not about reducing a shelter overpopulation of medium-sized, short-coated dogs. The Upland committee is recommending BS-MSN because they believe “pit bulls” are dangerous (despite their own city statistics that indicate otherwise). State law is the only thing preventing them from going further.

Please encourage city officials to drop the breed-specific language in their proposal. Breed-specific MSN—like any other breed-specific law—discriminates against people and their dogs based on whether the owner or dog have a “desirable” or “undesirable” physical appearance.

Whether you support or oppose MSN, it doesn’t need to be breed-specific. If you think MSN is good for dogs that look like “pit bulls,” then it is good for any dog. By removing the breed-specific focus, Upland can avoid the expense and inequality that goes with BSL.

Upland City Hall, 460 N. Euclid Ave., Upland, Ca 91786
(909) 931-4100
City Clerk, smendenhall@ci.upland.ca.us
Mayor and City Council, citycouncil@ci.upland.ca.us
City Manager, citymanager@ci.upland.ca.us

All alerts for Upland, CA: http://stopbsl.org/?s=upland

West Fork, AR update: Citizens oppose proposed breed ban

Residents and locals, please continue to work respectfully with city officials to find a compromise that is breed-neutral. The next city council meeting will be June 12.

City of West Fork, Arkansas, P.O. Box 339, West Fork, AR 72774
Phone: (479) 839-2342
Fax: (479) 839-3335
Email: city@westforkar.gov (may not work–better to fax)

All alerts for West Fork: http://stopbsl.org/?s=west+fork

Possible Pit Bull Ban in West Fork Sparks Community Reaction

By: Marissa Stevens

Updated: May 8, 2012

A possible ban on pit bulls in West Fork had a lot of people talking during Tuesday night’s meeting.

The West Fork City Council wanted to hear what residents had to say and they definitely heard some very strong opinions. [...]

Not a single resident was in favor of the breed-specific ban at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Instead, they want to see harsher punishments for irresponsible owners.

“They just need to start ticketing people and enforcing the fines on any dog at large, whether it’s a yorkie or a pit bull, to me it makes no difference,’ said Jacqueline Dunn. [...]

City officials said they will work with residents and hopefully come up with a compromise that makes all dog owners happy. [...]

Full article retrieved 5/9/12 from http://nwahomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=330242

Upland, CA: Committee recommends BS-MSN

The Upland, CA, Advisory Committee has recommended BS-MSN for “pit bulls.”

Please encourage city officials to drop the breed-specific language in their proposal. Breed-specific MSN—like any other breed-specific law—discriminates against people and their dogs based on whether the owner or dog have a “desirable” or “undesirable” physical appearance.

Whether you support or oppose MSN, it doesn’t need to be breed-specific. If you think MSN is good for dogs that look like “pit bulls,” then it is good for any dog. By removing the breed-specific focus, Upland can avoid the expense and inequality that goes with BSL.

Also of note, committee members did not choose BS-MSN in order to control overpopulation. (If so, Chihuahuas would also be named.) Rather, committee members voted for BS-MSN because, as committee member and councilor Tom Mitchell says, there’s a “problem” with “pit bulls” according to “a preponderance of the evidence.” What evidence? We’re not sure. According to city statistics, Labs and Chihuahuas racked up the most dog bites in 2011. “Pit bulls” and German Shepherds came in next. As we would expect from the most popular breeds / types of dogs in Upland.

Upland City Hall, 460 N. Euclid Ave., Upland, Ca 91786
(909) 931-4100
City Clerk, smendenhall@ci.upland.ca.us
Mayor and City Council, citycouncil@ci.upland.ca.us
City Manager, citymanager@ci.upland.ca.us

Upland committee recommends mandatory spay/neuter of pit bulls

Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 05/05/2012 02:00:37 PM PDT

UPLAND – The City Council Advisory Committee is recommending the City Council move forward on implementing a mandatory spay and neuter ordinance for pit bulls and pit bull mixes.[...]

The ordinance mirrors the ordinance implemented by San Bernardino County in 2010. [...]

Committee Member Mark Creighton voted against the recommendation and is against breed specific legislation. [...]

Chihuahuas, like pit bulls, also make up the majority of dogs in shelters, Creighton said.

“We should have mandatory spay and neuter for them as well, but we’re not arguing that because Chihuahuas aren’t rabidly aggressive dogs,” he said. “Obviously this conversation is only because of people’s fear of a specific breed.” [...]

Full article retrieved 5/7/12 from http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_20556996/upland-committee-recommends-mandatory-spay-neuter-pit-bulls