Category Archives: California

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

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

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

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

Many thanks to Jodi for this alert!

Upland, CA, city council will revisit possible breed-specific mandatory spay/neuter in May.

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 MSN is good for dogs that look like “pit bulls,” 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

City Council Advisory Committee to recommend changes to dog-related municipal codes, holds on mandatory spay, neuter

Sandra Emerson, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Created: 04/05/2012 11:49:16 AM PDT

UPLAND – The City Council Advisory Committee on Wednesday tabled discussion on making the spaying and neutering of pit bulls and pit bulls mixes mandatory.

The committee reviewed a proposal from Animal Services to establish the breed-specific code, but decided to return to the issue at its May meeting.[...]

Full article retrieved 4/8/12 from http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_20333450/city-council-advisory-committee-recommend-changes-dog-related