Category Archives: Results of BSL

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

Posted on May 31, 2012 by | 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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Bastrop, LA: Public meeting to discuss “pit bull” ordinance, May 14

Posted on May 13, 2012 by | Leave a comment

There will be a public meeting on May 14 at 5:00 PM at City Hall so Bastrop city officials can talk to the public about enforcement of the “pit bull” ordinance. Residents and locals are encouraged to attend, speak against the ordinance, and try to convince city officials to put something breed-neutral, workable, and effective in place.

Bastrop, LA, City Hall, 202 East Jefferson Avenue, Bastrop, Louisiana 71220
City Clerk Sandra Goleman, sgoleman@cityofbastrop.com
Telephone: 318-283-0250

City responds to complaints about pit bulls

By Andrew Bell, Bastrop Daily Enterprise
Posted May 05, 2012 @ 09:30 AM

BASTROP — On May 14, there will be a public meeting at City Hall at 5 p.m. to discuss how the city is aiming to more closely follow to its authority regarding pit bulls.

“It’s going to be an informative meeting, letting residents know that we are going to start enforcing the ordinance,” explained Public Works director Willie McKee.

[...] In April 2009 the mayor and aldermen approved an amendment to the city’s animal and fowl ordinance that specifically categorizes pit bulls as a “dangerous dog.” [...]

Full article retrieved 5/7/12 from http://www.bastropenterprise.com/news/x1809303690/City-responds-to-complaints-about-pit-bulls

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Posted in BSL Passed, Louisiana, Results of BSL

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Aurelia, IA: City will go to court over “pit bull” service dog

Posted on May 7, 2012 by | 2 Comments

Aurelia, IA, has decided to meet officer and service dog owner James Sak in court. The city has a ban on “pit bulls,” and Mr. Sak’s service dog, Snickers, looks like a “pit bull.” The city has refused to allow Mr. Sak’s service dog a permanent exemption to their breed ban.

We’re somewhat appalled that Aurelia is pursuing this matter. The Americans with Disabilities Act has been strengthened by a Department of Justice ruling that municipal breed bans / BSL cannot and should not apply to service dogs. It seems like a pretty clear-cut situation, and we’re not sure what Aurelia hopes to accomplish by pouring taxpayer money into a court battle with a disabled, cancer-suffering, retired police officer and his federally-protected, unoffending service dog.

All alerts for Aurelia: http://stopbsl.org/?s=aurelia

Animal Farm Foundation is assisting Officer Sak. Below is their press release. Many thanks to Kim for keeping us updated on this issue.

This week the attorneys from Davis Brown Law Firm, who are representing the Saks pro bono, learned that the Town of Aurelia refused to settle out of court and reach a permanent agreement on Snicker’s legal ability to stay with Jim in Aurelia. Therefore, the case will be going to trial. The trial date has been set for July 8, 2013 (note: that says 2013, not 2012).

In the meantime, the attorneys have entered into the discovery period where they will be gathering expert testimony and factual evidence supporting the Saks’ case. This will include information on service dogs, the ADA guidelines, dog behavior, Jim’s health, and so forth.

“Animal Farm Foundation is pleased to support them in these efforts to present the most current, fact-based and peer-reviewed scientific research and information,” said Kim Wolf, Community Engagement Specialist for Animal Farm Foundation.

Snickers has permission from the Federal judge (per the hearing in December 2011) to remain at home with Jim throughout this process.

Earlier this year, Jim was diagnosed with throat cancer. He has been undergoing treatment at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City. He is expected to recover, and the survival rate for this type of cancer is 70% or higher.

“The worst part of my [cancer] treatment is not having my dog here,” said Jim Sak.

Jim will be returning home to Aurelia upon completion of his treatment.

“Jim has been so strong throughout all of this. We know of his strength comes from knowing Snickers is waiting for him at home, waiting to do his job as his service animal and his support,” said Wolf.

“We want everyone to realize that Aurelia’s decision to use taxpayer dollars to put Jim through the agony of a trial, especially while he’s battling cancer, does not reflect the sentiments of every resident of Aurelia. The outpouring of support and disbelief from Jim’s neighbors has been huge. We don’t want all the residents of Aurelia to be cast in a negative light just because of the illogical, unjust, and heartless decisions of a small minority,” said Wolf.

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Posted in Iowa, Results of BSL

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Bastrop, LA: City to start enforcing BSL

Posted on May 7, 2012 by | Leave a comment

There will be a public meeting on May 14 at 5:00 PM at City Hall so city officials can talk to the public about enforcement of the “pit bull” ordinance.
Bastrop, LA, City Hall, 202 East Jefferson Avenue, Bastrop, Louisiana 71220
City Clerk Sandra Goleman, sgoleman@cityofbastrop.com
Telephone: 318-283-0250

City responds to complaints about pit bulls

By Andrew Bell, Bastrop Daily Enterprise
Posted May 05, 2012 @ 09:30 AM

BASTROP — On May 14, there will be a public meeting at City Hall at 5 p.m. to discuss how the city is aiming to more closely follow to its authority regarding pit bulls.

“It’s going to be an informative meeting, letting residents know that we are going to start enforcing the ordinance,” explained Public Works director Willie McKee.

[...] In April 2009 the mayor and aldermen approved an amendment to the city’s animal and fowl ordinance that specifically categorizes pit bulls as a “dangerous dog.” [...]

Full article retrieved 5/7/12 from http://www.bastropenterprise.com/news/x1809303690/City-responds-to-complaints-about-pit-bulls

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Posted in BSL Passed, Louisiana, Results of BSL

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Oshawa, Ontario, Canada: Dog owner wins battle against breed misidentification

Posted on April 29, 2012 by | 1 Comment

After nearly two years, an Oshawa dog owner has won a legal battle with the city. Animal control identified her nonaggressive dog as a “pit bull” and scheduled it for death; she fought the breed ID in court and finally won.

Ontario Bill 16 would repeal the “pit bull” ban and put a stop to senseless legal nightmares like this. If you have not already written to Ontario lawmakers to show your support for Bill 16, please do so today. (If you have, please continue to do so.)

‘Pit bull’ dispute: Oshawa woman wins battle to keep dog from being euthanized

Alyshah Hasham, Staff Reporter

If Scarlett is a pit bull she dies, if she is a Rhodesian ridgeback-boxer cross she lives.

Differentiating the two took a year-and-a-half-long legal battle for Scarlett’s owner Jane Nolan after Oshawa animal services workers labelled the dog a pit bull when she escaped into a neighbour’s yard. [...]

Since the pit bull isn’t considered a breed of dog in Canada — it’s a generic term used in the Dog Owner’s Liability Act to ban breeds like Staffordshire bull terriers or even dogs resembling them — it can be near impossible to identify them, even for vets.

“There is no scientific basis to assess whether a dog is a pit bull or not … Veterinarians, some will identify them, some don’t feel comfortable identifying them,” said Jerry Conlin, director of municipal law enforcement and licensing in Oshawa. [...]

Full article retrieved 4/29/12 from http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1168114–pit-bull-dispute-oshawa-woman-wins-battle-to-keep-dog-from-being-euthanized

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Posted in Breed Identification, Canada, Results of BSL

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Washington, LA: BSL enforcement results in family pet seizures

Posted on April 24, 2012 by | 1 Comment

Contact info for the town of Washington
Please keep all correspondence polite, helpful, and engaging. No diatribes, verbal attacks, or hostile words! Angry correspondence will only make things harder for the folks who are trying to convince city officials to repeal the BSL.
Town of Washington Town Hall, P.O. Box 218, 405 North Washington Street, Washington, Louisiana 70509
Email: townofwashington@bellsouth.net
Telephone: 337-826-3626
Fax: 337-826-3601

Pit Bulls Confiscated in Washington

Posted: Apr 23, 2012 6:03 PM CDT

Monday couldn’t have gotten off to a more controversial start in the town of Washington Monday where enforcement began of a controversial ordinance involving Pit Bulls.

[...] Two other Pitt Bulls taken Monday morning belong to an alderwoman at large who voted against the original measure because she thought singling out just one breed of dog for such strict regulations wasn’t fair.

Fair or not, as of Monday afternoon, officials with animal control in Opelousas have picked 15 Pitt Bulls. [...]

Full article and video can be viewed at http://www.klfy.com/story/17663692/pitt-bulls-confiscated-in-wasington

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Posted in Louisiana, Results of BSL

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UK: Government’s proposed DDA revisions met with disappointment

Posted on April 24, 2012 by | 2 Comments

DEFRA, the UK government arm that is in charge of the Dangerous Dogs Act, announced a number of proposed changes to the Act on Monday.

Disappointingly, but not unexpectedly, the government does not plan to repeal the breed-specific portions of the DDA. There is only slight relief for owners of “banned types” in the proposals: non-dangerous “banned type” dogs might be allowed to remain at home, rather than seized and kennelled, while the courts decide the dog’s fate. (Yes, you read that right. The government knows not all “banned type” dogs are dangerous. We have to wonder: why is the government determined to keep a ban on non-dangerous dogs?) And on the flip side, DEFRA wants it to cost more for owners to put their non-dangerous dogs on the exemption register.

Read the DEFRA press release about the proposed changes: http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2012/04/23/clampdown-on-dangerous-dogs/

DEFRA also opened a new public consultation on the suggested changes to the law. The consulatation is an online survey and it is open to the public.

Go fill it out! The survey features a number of open-response boxes. We recommend repeatedly requesting that DEFRA remove the breed-specific portion of the DDA.

Answer the public survey on DEFRA’s proposals here: http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2012/04/23/dangerous-dogs-1204/

News articles and more news articles about DEFRA’s proposal:

Dangerous dogs measures dismissed as ‘tinkering’ (The Independent)

Chance to tighten law on danger dog attacks missed say charities (Yorkshire Post)

Attack victims: Danger dog changes don’t go far enough (Telegraph and Argus)

Government ‘dragging feet’ over dangerous dogs (ITN)

Battersea Dogs Home disappointed at government over new dog legislation (Battersea People)

Dog owners could be prosecuted if their pets savage burglars under Defra plan (Telegraph)

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

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