Category Archives: Pennsylvania

Pottsville, PA: City admin says council will not consider BSL

Posted on July 9, 2011 by | 1 Comment

Despite earlier public comments suggesting that the council was going to consider breed-specific restrictions or a ban, the Pottsville city administrator now says that BSL is not an option. Officials acknowledge that Pennsylvania state law does not permit municipalities to pass breed-specific laws.

They will be considering other ways to strengthen their dog ordinance. The council intends to discuss this issue further during their council meeting on Monday, July 11, at 6:30 PM at City Hall, 2nd Floor, 401 North Centre Street, Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Residents and locals are encouraged to attend this and subsequent meetings to ensure that any selected revisions are reasonable, humane, enforceable, and effective.

Send an email to the entire city council: citycouncil@city.pottsville.pa.us

All alerts for Pottsville: http://stopbsl.com/?s=pottsville

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Pottsville, PA: Council to consider BSL, July 11

Posted on July 6, 2011 by | 4 Comments

Pennsylvania state law does not permit municipalities to pass breed-specific laws. The council intends to discuss this issue further during their council meeting on Monday, July 11, at 6:30 PM at City Hall, 2nd Floor, 401 North Centre Street, Pottsville, Pennsylvania.

Send an email to the entire city council: citycouncil@city.pottsville.pa.us

In light of recent pit bull attacks, Pottsville considers dog law changes

BY STEPHEN J. PYTAK (STAFF WRITER SPYTAK@REPUBLICANHERALD.COM)Published: July 6, 2011

The recent rash of pit bull attacks – there have been three in Pottsville in the past two weeks – has encouraged city officials to improve its dog laws, City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said Tuesday.

While city code addresses issues including “animal bites” and “vicious and destructive animals,” Palamar said the city is looking into the possibility of developing a special section related to certain breeds.[...]

“A lot of states do have breed-specific ordinances in place which require you to register certain breeds of dogs. They are quite controversial. We have a lot of questions,” Palamar said.

These questions involve which breeds of dogs are considered pit bulls, he said.[...]

Full article retrieved 7/6/11 from http://republicanherald.com/news/in-light-of-recent-pit-bull-attacks-pottsville-considers-dog-law-changes-1.1171626

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Posted in Pennsylvania, Whispers of BSL

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Bristol Borough, PA reminder: Council to discuss BSL in February

Posted on February 6, 2011 by | 2 Comments

Pennsylvania state law prohibits breed-specific legislation. Bristol Borough, PA council is considering a muzzle law for “pit bulls.” They will discuss the issue during the February meeting. Unfortunately, there are two February meetings and it is not clear at this time which meeting they were referring to.

Borough council meetings take place on Feb. 7 (work session) and Feb. 14 (agenda meeting) at 7:00 PM in Borough Hall, 250 Pond Street, Bristol Borough, PA 19007.

The council meeting video for the January 10 agenda meeting reveals the following important pieces of information.

Councilmember James Lutz has been adamantly against the proposed BSL. He advised council that breed-specific laws are not legal in PA.

Borough attorney William Salerno replied that PA state law prohibition against BSL only applies to dangerous dog laws. He stated that the muzzling proposal would be a containment law, not a dangerous dog law, and, therefore, the prohibition against BSL would not apply. He stated he was familiar with the Reading case and argued that the situation was dissimilar. He did not appear averse to the idea that he may have to fight for the law in court.

Council president Ralph DiGuiseppe said that he was prepared to give a presentation at the February meeting that would prove that a muzzle law for “pit bulls” was necessary.

Councilmember Betty Rodriguez claimed that she did not know “what else to do,” implying that the council had no alternative but to mandate the muzzling of “pit bulls.”

Please keep this info in mind when corresponding with council; please keep correspondence respectful and productive. Breed-neutral alternative laws may be very helpful, considering Councilmember Rodriguez’s comment. Council is also considering a breed-neutral leash law.

BRISTOL BOROUGH MUNICIPAL BUILDING, 250 POND STREET, BRISTOL, PA 19007
Fax Number: 215-788-5366
Borough Office Phone Number: 215-788-3828

Solicitor William Salerno, 220 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, PA 19007
Phone : 215-788-5450

Borough Council contact info:
Lorraine Cullen, lcullen@bristolboro.com
James Lutz, 215-788-2647
Anthony Muccie, amuccie@bristolboro.com
Patrick Sabatini, 215-781-9003
Ralph DiGuiseppe, rdiguiseppe@bristolboro.com
Leo Plenski, Jr., lplenski@bristolboro.com
Robyn Trunell, rtrunell@bristolboro.com
Betty Rodriguez, brodriguez@bristolboro.com

All alerts for Bristol Borough: http://stopbsl.com/?s=bristol+borough

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Pennsylvania

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Bristol Borough, PA: BSL may pass as soon as Feb.

Posted on January 12, 2011 by | Comments Off

State law clearly prohibits breed-specific laws, and Bristol Borough is fully aware of this, but they intend to proceed.

Next Bristol Borough council meeting:
Work session meeting February 7, 7 PM, Borough Hall

BRISTOL BOROUGH MUNICIPAL BUILDING, 250 POND STREET, BRISTOL, PA 19007
Fax Number: 215-788-5366
Borough Office Phone Number: 215-788-3828

Solicitor William Salerno, 220 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, PA 19007
Phone : 215-788-5450

Borough Council contact info:
Lorraine Cullen, lcullen@bristolboro.com
James Lutz, 215-788-2647
Anthony Muccie, amuccie@bristolboro.com
Patrick Sabatini, 215-781-9003
Ralph DiGuiseppe, rdiguiseppe@bristolboro.com
Leo Plenski, Jr., lplenski@bristolboro.com
Robyn Trunell, rtrunell@bristolboro.com
Betty Rodriguez, brodriguez@bristolboro.com

All alerts for Bristol Borough: http://stopbsl.com/?s=%22bristol+borough%22

Bristol may pass dog muzzle law next month

By: George Mattar, phillyBurbs.com

Bristol Borough council authorized advertising two proposed ordinances Monday which would require all pit bulls to be muzzled on public property and that all dogs must be on a leash.

The proposals could become law at next month’s meeting.

Full article retrieved 1/12/11 from http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/courier_times/courier_times_news_details/article/2463/2011/january/10/bristol-may-pass-dog-muzzle-law-next-month.html

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Bristol Borough, PA: Council intends to proceed with BSL

Posted on January 5, 2011 by | 2 Comments


Pennsylvania state law is very clear: breed-specific dog laws are not allowed.
3 P.S. § 459-507-A

Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated Statutes
Title 3 P.S. Agriculture
Chapter 8. Dogs and Cats
Dog Law
Article V-A. Dangerous Dogs
§ 459-507-A. Construction of article
(c) Local ordinances.–Those provisions of local ordinances relating to dangerous dogs are hereby abrogated. A local ordinance otherwise dealing with dogs may not prohibit or otherwise limit a specific breed of dog.

During the council meeting, the Borough solicitor deliberately confused the issue, focusing on the legality of muzzles rather than the legality of breed-specific laws.

BSL is widely acknowledged by lawmakers in PA to be prohibited. Reading, PA, had their dangerous dog law thrown out by a court because it violated this state law. Other cities in PA, such as Wilkes-Barre, have recognized that breed-specific laws are not legal. State legislators have also confirmed that state law does not currently allow breed-specific laws—hence the furor over HB 671, in 2009, after it was revealed that the bill would have eliminated the prohibition against BSL.

Next Bristol Borough council meetings:
Agenda meeting January 10, 7 PM, Borough Hall
Work session meeting February 7, 7 PM, Borough Hall

BRISTOL BOROUGH MUNICIPAL BUILDING, 250 POND STREET, BRISTOL, PA 19007
Fax Number: 215-788-5366
Borough Office Phone Number: 215-788-3828

Solicitor William Salerno, 220 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, PA 19007
Phone : 215-788-5450

Borough Council contact info:
Lorraine Cullen, lcullen@bristolboro.com
James Lutz, 215-788-2647
Anthony Muccie, amuccie@bristolboro.com
Patrick Sabatini, 215-781-9003
Ralph DiGuiseppe, rdiguiseppe@bristolboro.com
Leo Plenski, Jr., lplenski@bristolboro.com
Robyn Trunell, rtrunell@bristolboro.com
Betty Rodriguez, brodriguez@bristolboro.com

All alerts for Bristol Borough: http://stopbsl.com/?s=%22bristol+borough%22

Dog owners say muzzles not the answer

By: George Mattar, phillyBurbs.com

Several dog owners and the executive director of the Bucks County SPCA spoke before Bristol council Tuesday about a proposed ordinance which may require pit bulls and even all breeds of dogs be muzzled when on public property.[...]

Other dog owners believe the borough cannot legally enact an ordinance requiring muzzles on pit bulls, or other breeds.[...]

“People say we are violating state law. That is not true. We need to separate the myths from the facts. No cases we have found have said a municipal dog law is unconstitutional,” [Borough solicitor William Salerno] said. [...]

Council did not act Monday, but next week it hopes to advertise the proposed ordinance in which DiGuiseppe would like to see a leash law, all dogs 25 pounds and larger to wear a muzzle and all pit bull and pit bull mixes wear a muzzle on public property.[...]

Full article retrieved 1/5/11 from http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/courier_times/courier_times_news_details/article/2463/2011/january/04/dog-owners-say-muzzles-not-the-answer.html

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Bristol Borough reminder: BSL may be discussed, Jan 4

Posted on January 3, 2011 by | Comments Off

All alerts for Bristol Borough: http://stopbsl.com/?s=%22bristol+borough%22

PA state law prohibits breed-specific laws. Council member Ralph DiGuiseppe is pushing for a breed-specific muzzle law, and has called it his “top priority.”

BRISTOL BOROUGH MUNICIPAL BUILDING, 250 POND STREET, BRISTOL, PA 19007
Fax Number: 215-788-5366
Borough Office Phone Number: 215-788-3828

Borough Council contact info:
Lorraine Cullen, lcullen@bristolboro.com
James Lutz, 215-788-2647
Anthony Muccie, amuccie@bristolboro.com
Patrick Sabatini, 215-781-9003
Ralph DiGuiseppe, rdiguiseppe@bristolboro.com
Leo Plenski, Jr., lplenski@bristolboro.com
Robyn Trunell, rtrunell@bristolboro.com
Betty Rodriguez, brodriguez@bristolboro.com

Next council meeting: Jan 4, 7 PM, at Borough Hall. Locals are invited to speak about this proposal.

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Bristol Borough, PA: BSL still a top priority for council

Posted on December 7, 2010 by | 1 Comment

All alerts for Bristol Borough: http://stopbsl.com/?s=%22bristol+borough%22

PA state law prohibits breed-specific laws.

BRISTOL BOROUGH MUNICIPAL BUILDING, 250 POND STREET, BRISTOL, PA 19007
Fax Number: 215-788-5366
Borough Office Phone Number: 215-788-3828

Borough Council contact info:
Lorraine Cullen, lcullen@bristolboro.com
James Lutz, 215-788-2647
Anthony Muccie, amuccie@bristolboro.com
Patrick Sabatini, 215-781-9003
Ralph DiGuiseppe, rdiguiseppe@bristolboro.com
Leo Plenski, Jr., lplenski@bristolboro.com
Robyn Trunell, rtrunell@bristolboro.com
Betty Rodriguez, brodriguez@bristolboro.com

Next council meeting: December 13, 7 PM, at Borough Hall. Locals are invited to speak about this proposal.

Pit bull ordinance top priority

By: GEORGE MATTAR, Bucks County Courier Times
BRISTOL BOROUGH

Although it may not become the law until early next year, Bristol Borough Council President Ralph DiGuiseppe reiterated Monday that he wants a muzzle ordinance for all pit bulls and pit bull mix breeds.

[...]“I don’t care what the state says; my job is to protect the people and other animals. I will push for this law,” DiGuiseppe said.

DiGuiseppe had told borough solicitor William Salerno last month to begin drafting up an ordinance, which would require all pit bulls to have a muzzle on when off private property. DiGuiseppe wants the ordinance to be voted on in February.[...]

Full article retrieved 12/7/10 from http://www.phillyburbs.com/information/guides/pets/pets_details/article/242/2010/december/07/pit-bull-ordinance-top-priority.html

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