Category Archives: Arkansas

Haskell, AR: Breed ban proposed

Thanks to Jodi for this alert! According to the news article I found, the proposed “pit bull” ban would include American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and American Bulldog.

The City of Haskell, Arkansas is currently considering an ordinance that would ban “pit bulls.” I am trying to obtain a copy of the proposed ordinance, but it is my understanding it would NOT include a grandfather clause.

Haskell is a small town of approximately 2,000 people. The town has an employee that acts as the animal control officer, but performs many other duties for the city, as well. The “shelter” is small, open-sided shed that holds approximately 5 crates.

It is extremely important to note that a rescue is located in the Haskell city limits. Should this ordinance pass, not only will the dogs currently residing in Haskell be prohibited, but its passage has the potential to affect countless dogs that could otherwise be pulled by this rescue, and deny those dogs the second chance at a new life. Members of this rescue are pleading for help to stop this ordinance from passing.

The first reading and vote will be held on July 11, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. It is imperative that we have a full house at this meeting!

In the meantime, please send your POLITE, RESPECTFUL and INFORMATIVE opposition to breed specific legislation to the Haskell officials listed below. Please also send your viable suggestions and alternate ordinances for their consideration.

Arkansas has some hard-hitting BSL supporters, and you can bet they will be making their voice heard on this issue. PLEASE act on this regardless of where you live!

Haskell is very small and does not have its agendas or minutes posted online. If there is a local nearby who can help keep StopBSL updated on this issue, it would be appreciated.

City of Haskell, AR
Phone: 501-776-2666
Fax: 501-776-1201

Jeff Arey, Mayor, mayor@cityofhaskell.org
Laura Dempsey, Administrative Assistant, administrative@cityofhaskell.org
Josh Meadows, Animal Control, animalcontrol@cityofhaskell.org
City Council members
Ronnie Ballard, bfd_ballard@yahoo.com
Rose Marie Wilkinson, romawilkins@wmconnect.com
Brad Graham, coachbdg@yahoo.com
Allan Nash, nash@hp-link.net
Dwayne Hippensteel, hippensteelCD@aol.com

Council members Gary Vice, Hal Baker, and Ray Bennett do not make their e-mail address available. However, you may send your correspondence via the Mayor’s fax number with a polite request to forward it on to them.

Email block for cut and paste (note not all city council members have email)
mayor@cityofhaskell.org; administrative@cityofhaskell.org; animalcontrol@cityofhaskell.org; bfd_ballard@yahoo.com; romawilkins@wmconnect.com; coachbdg@yahoo.com; nash@hp-link.net; hippensteelCD@aol.com

Haskell City Council to discuss pit bull ban

June 13, 2011
BY HOLLAND DORAN, newseditor@bentoncourier.com

An ordinance banning pit bulls within the Haskell city limits will be the main item on the agenda at Haskell City Council’s meeting today.[...]

Specifically, the ordinance specifies these as American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier and American Bull Dog.[...]

Full article retrieved 6/24/11 from http://www.bentoncourier.com/content/haskell-city-council-discuss-pit-bull-ban

Springdale, AR: Alderman wants breed ban

Springdale considered a pit bull ban in August 2009 as well. Note that they just revised their animal ordinances (breed-neutral changes) in April 2010.

The Ordinance Committee meets on Nov. 23 and will discuss a possible pit bull ban. Per the current agenda:

5:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 23rd Finance Committee followed immediately by an Ordinance Committee meeting
Where: Multi-purpose Rm. #236, second floor, City Administration Building.
• The Finance Committee meeting is pertaining to Agenda item 9.The Ordinance Committee meeting is pertaining to Agenda Items 10 B and a discussion only concerning the banning of pit bulls.

This issue may also be discussed at the next city council meeting, November 23 at 6:00 PM. The City Council holds regular meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. Regular meetings convene at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at the City Hall, 201 Spring Street in Springdale. The public is encouraged to participate in the City’s decision-making process and is invited to attend City Council meetings where issues affecting the community are discussed.

City Administration Building, 201 Spring Street, Springdale, AR 72764
Phone: (479) 750-8114
Fax: (479) 750-8559

City Clerk’s Office
Denise Pearce, City Clerk, dpearce@SpringdaleAR.gov
Phone: (479) 750-8118
Fax: (479) 750-8505

Mayor Doug Sprouse, dsprouse@SpringdaleAR.gov
Jim Reed, jreed@SpringdaleAR.gov
Kathy Jaycox, jaycoxbk@cox.net
Mike Overton, mike@overtonrealty.net
Ricky C. Evans, Rickevans1957@hotmail.com
Jesse Core, jesse@jessecore.com
Jeff Watson, (479) 750-7717 (Work)
Bobby Stout, bobbystout@cox.net
Eric Ford, eford1@cox.net

Springdale Alderman Wants Pit Bull Ban

Reported by: Liz Hogan
11/15/10

[...] Overton, a dog owner himself, initiated a pit bull ban discussion last year and says he plans on bringing it back up at next weeks ordinance committee meeting.[...]

Full article retrieved 11/21/10 from http://nwahomepage.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=199387

All alerts for Springdale: http://stopbsl.com/?s=%22springdale%2C+ar%22

Batesville, AR: Final reading on breed ban, Nov 9

The city of Batesville, AR, will hold a final reading on a proposed breed ban tonight, Nov. 9, at 5:30 at Batesville Municipal Building, 500 E. Main Street, Batesville, AR 72501.

You can read the entire proposed ordinance here:

http://www.cityofbatesville.com/assets/files/Animal%20Control%20pitbull10%207%2010.doc

Contact info for city officials:
Rick Elumbaugh, Mayor, mayor@cityofbatesville.com
Tommy Bryant, Ward #1, Position #1, w1p1@cityofbatesville.com
Margarett Henley, Ward #1, Position #2, w1p2@cityofbatesville.com
David Shetron, Ward #2, Position #1, w2p1@cityofbatesville.com
Douglas Matthews, Ward #2, Position #2, w2p2@cityofbatesville.com
Fred Krug, Ward #3, Position #1, w3p1@cityofbatesville.com
Richard O’Neal, Ward #3, Position #2, w3p2@cityofbatesville.com
Davy Insell, Ward #4, Position #1, w4p1@cityofbatesville.com
Matt McDonald, Ward #4, Position #2, mailto:w4p2@cityofbatesville.com

Previous alerts for Batesville: http://stopbsl.com/?s=batesville+ar

Council to hear final animal readings

November 8, 2010

The Batesville City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at city hall to hear the third and final readings of ordinances regarding fowl within the city limits, the tethering of dogs and vicious or dangerous animals.[...]

Full article retrieved 11/9/10 from http://guardonline.com/content/council-hear-final-animal-readings

Greenwood, AR update: Group to present BSL proposal to council in Jan

All alerts for Greenwood: http://stopbsl.com/?s=greenwood%2C+ar

Greenwood City Hall, 30 Bell Road, Greenwood, AR 72936
Main: 479-996-2742
Fax: 479-996-2743

Jim Gossett
Rod Powell
Lance Terry
Tim Terry
Jim Newcomb
Dr. Lee Johnson

Online contact form for city clerk:
http://www.greenwoodar.org/Government/ClerkTreasurer/ContacttheClerk/tabid/269/Default.aspx

Greenwood Residents Passionate About Dog Ban

Mallory Cooke Reporter
10:20 PM CDT, November 4, 2010

[...] A handful of residents gathered Thursday night to discuss the possibility of banning vicious animals, including pit bulls, in the city limits.[...]

Both sides agree pet owners with vicious animals need more restrictions, tougher fines, and harsher punishments.

Community members say there have been about 20 bites in the last two years, and four of those were pit bulls. The group hopes to take their recommendation to the city council in January.

Full article retrieved 11/5/10 from http://www.kfsm.com/news/kfsm-news-greewood-animal-ordinance,0,2954142.story

Batesville, AR: Proposed breed ban scheduled for second reading, Oct 26

Batesville, AR, has proposed a ban on “pit bulls.” The ban passed first reading on Oct 12.

Two more readings are required to pass the ordinance. The next reading will take place on Oct. 26 at 5:30 at Batesville Municipal Building, 500 E. Main Street, Batesville, AR 72501

You can read the entire proposed ordinance here:

http://www.cityofbatesville.com/assets/files/Animal%20Control%20pitbull10%207%2010.doc

Contact info for city officials:
Rick Elumbaugh, Mayor, mayor@cityofbatesville.com
Tommy Bryant, Ward #1, Position #1, w1p1@cityofbatesville.com
Margarett Henley, Ward #1, Position #2, w1p2@cityofbatesville.com
David Shetron, Ward #2, Position #1, w2p1@cityofbatesville.com
Douglas Matthews, Ward #2, Position #2, w2p2@cityofbatesville.com
Fred Krug, Ward #3, Position #1, w3p1@cityofbatesville.com
Richard O’Neal, Ward #3, Position #2, w3p2@cityofbatesville.com
Davy Insell, Ward #4, Position #1, w4p1@cityofbatesville.com
Matt McDonald, Ward #4, Position #2, mailto:w4p2@cityofbatesville.com

Previous alerts for Batesville: http://stopbsl.com/?s=batesville+ar

Batesville, AR: Council to consider “pit bull” ban, Oct 12

Batesville city council will read and discuss a proposed “pit bull” ban on October 12 at 5:30 at Batesville Municipal Building, 500 E. Main Street, Batesville, AR 72501.

A grandfather clause has been added, but contains heavy restrictions on grandfathered dogs.

You can read the entire proposed ordinance here:

http://www.cityofbatesville.com/assets/files/Animal%20Control%20pitbull10%207%2010.doc

Contact info for city officials:
Rick Elumbaugh, Mayor, mayor@cityofbatesville.com
Tommy Bryant, Ward #1, Position #1, w1p1@cityofbatesville.com
Margarett Henley, Ward #1, Position #2, w1p2@cityofbatesville.com
David Shetron, Ward #2, Position #1, w2p1@cityofbatesville.com
Douglas Matthews, Ward #2, Position #2, w2p2@cityofbatesville.com
Fred Krug, Ward #3, Position #1, w3p1@cityofbatesville.com
Richard O’Neal, Ward #3, Position #2, w3p2@cityofbatesville.com
Davy Insell, Ward #4, Position #1, w4p1@cityofbatesville.com
Matt McDonald, Ward #4, Position #2, mailto:w4p2@cityofbatesville.com

Previous alerts for Batesville: http://stopbsl.com/?s=batesville+ar

Greenwood, AR: Whispers of BSL

Thanks, Jodi!

During a public forum, a resident requested the city council consider a breed specific law that would target pit bulls. Although nothing has been introduced at this time, the individual who heads a committee looking at possible revisions of the city’s animal control ordinance said such a change could be incorporated into the existing ordinance.

Greenwood residents need to reach out to their city officials NOW before an ordinance is proposed.

Greenwood City Hall, 30 Bell Road, Greenwood, AR 72936
Main: 479-996-2742
Fax: 479-996-2743

Jim Gossett
Rod Powell
Lance Terry
Tim Terry
Jim Newcomb
Dr. Lee Johnson

Online contact form for city clerk:
http://www.greenwoodar.org/Government/ClerkTreasurer/ContacttheClerk/tabid/269/Default.aspx

http://www.greenwooddemocrat.com/articles/2010/10/06/news/news01.txt

During a citizens forum, Matt Sobolewski presented information on dog attacks and asked the city council to take a “hard look at a breed specific” law, especially one that bans or restrict pit bulls.

Steve Rateree, who heads a committee looking at possible revisions of the city’s animal control ordinance, said such a change could be incorporated into the existing ordinance.