Waterbury, CT: Proposed animal ordinance revisions are not breed-specific

Posted on May 23, 2012 by | Leave a comment

We have finally gotten a copy of Waterbury alderman Brunelli’s proposed animal ordinance revisions, and we are pleased to say that the revisions are not breed-specific.

The proposal is not exactly easy to find, so here it is (PDF): waterbury_brunelli_proposal

There will be a public hearing on the proposed revisions on June 11 at 6:30 PM in the council chambers. You must be a Waterbury resident to speak.

As we have confirmed that BSL is not a concern, StopBSL will no longer actively track Waterbury. However, locals and residents are encouraged to attend the public hearing and stay actively involved in the lawmaking process.

All alerts for Waterbury: http://stopbsl.com/?s=waterbury

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Posted in Connecticut, Non-BSL Proposed

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Mount Clemens, MI: Work session to discuss BSL repeal, May 21

Posted on May 21, 2012 by | 2 Comments

In February, Mount Clemens, MI, commissioners voted to amend their animal control ordinance to remove breed-specific language. There was a first reading in March, and then… nothing.

Tonight, May 21, at 6:00 PM, the council will hold a work session. The animal ordinance is on the work session agenda for discussion. The workshop is open to the public. Commission Chambers, City Hall, One Crocker Boulevard.

If you are able to attend this work session to show your support for repeal of BSL, please do so! Because the city has been silent on this for so long, we are concerned that the city may not go forward with repeal of BSL.

Please continue to encourage city commissioners to support repeal  of BSL!
bdempsey@cityofmountclemens.com; lhill@cityofmountclemens.com; gblash@cityofmountclemens.com; rbunton@cityofmountclemens.com; rcampbell@cityofmountclemens.com; mdreger@cityofmountclemens.com; jrheker@cityofmountclemens.com

All alerts for Mount Clemens: http://stopbsl.com/?s=mount+clemens

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Posted in Michigan, Proposal to Repeal

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Trinidad and Tobago: BSL to go into effect, August 2012

Posted on May 21, 2012 by | Leave a comment

We last reported on Trinidad and Tobago in May 2011. Trinidad and Tobago has had BSL in place since 2000 (regulating “pit bulls,” Japanese Tosa, and Fila Brasiliero), but the Act has never been enforced. T&T government has decided to enforce the BSL, effective August 2012.

Last year, the government was considering some revisions to the Dangerous Dogs Act, but as of today, they have decided not to revise it. The T&T Dangerous Dogs Act currently mirrors the Dangerous Dog Act of the UK, which has been a miserable failure.

The following news article also contains the text of the DDA for T&T. Click the article link (below) to read the entire article and to see the text of the DDA.

Man’s best friend in the doghouse

By CAROL MATROO Sunday, May 20 2012

Despite misgivings by various interest groups and dog lovers throughout Trinidad and Tobago, Government will apparently make the Dangerous Dogs Act law on August 1 without amendment.

The act, originally inspired by former attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, was passed in June 2000 but was never proclaimed. It requires owners of dangerous dogs to be at least 18 years old, carry $250,000 insurance, adhere to special containment requirements, sterilisation and registration, and to apply and obtain a $500 annual licence per dog. [...]

Full article retrieved 5/21/12 from http://www.newsday.co.tt/features/0,160437.html

All alerts for T&T: http://www.stopbsl.org/?s=trinidad

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Posted in BSL Passed, Outside of U.S.

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

Posted on May 20, 2012 by | Leave a comment

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

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Posted in BSL Proposed, California

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Wagmatcook, NS, Canada: Whispers of BSL

Posted on May 20, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Back in January, Wagmatcook First Nation reserve band council had a “pit bull” ban on their agenda. That effort did not succeed, but after a recent dog bite(involving a dog that was tethered), some in the community are apparently calling for a breed ban again.

Wagmatcook First Nation is a reserve. This is all the contact information I have.

Council of Wagmatcook Band, P.O. Box 30001, Wagmatcook, NS B0E 3N0
Chief Norman Bernard, Wagmatcook First Nation
Tribal Council: Union of Nova Scotia Indians, P.O. Box 237 Baddeck, NS B0E 1B0
Phone: (902) 295-2598
Fax: (902) 295-3398

Pit bull attacks Cape Breton woman

New calls to ban the breed on Wagmatcook reserve

CBC News Posted: May 18, 2012 7:47 PM AT

[...] The January attack sparked calls for a ban on pit bulls on the reserve. Peck seconded that call, adding there are a lot of them in the community.

“They should ban the dogs around here, because the owners are making them more aggressive. They’re already aggressive anyway,” she said. [...]

Full article retrieved 5/20/12 from http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2012/05/18/ns-woman-bit-pitbull.html

All alerts for Wagmatcook: http://stopbsl.org/?s=wagmatcook

 

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Posted in Whispers of BSL, Canada

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Kingsford, MI: Breed ban repeal effort needs your help, May 21

Posted on May 20, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Residents have asked Kingsford city council to repeal their longstanding breed ban. One resident who attended the last meeting has advised us that the council is not really interested in repeal, and that the repeal proposal may ultimately be buried in committee unless more people show up at the council meetings to put pressure on the council.

The next council meeting is May 21 at 6:30 PM at City Hall. (See contact info below to reach city clerk for more information.) Residents and locals, please attend this meeting and show your support for the repeal of Kingsford’s breed ban.

Contact information for city of Kingsford:
City of Kingsford, 305 South Carpenter Avenue, Kingsford, MI 49802
(906) 774-3526
info@cityofkingsford.com
Public Safety Director Tim Gussert: kpsdirector@cityofkingsford.com

Residents bark back against pit bull ban

by Beth Cefalu
Posted: 05.17.2012 at 10:09 PM

[...] Residents are continuing to bark back against the ban in hopes the city council will revoke the ordinance that was implemented in 1987. The city council is reviewing the ban, but no decisions have been made.

Full article retrieved 5/20/12 from http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?id=755313#.T7j0T0XgjpU

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Posted in Michigan, Proposal to Repeal

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Ohio: New statewide dog control legislation goes into effect, May 22

Posted on May 20, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Ohio’s new state-level dog control law goes into effect on May 22. The new law repeals the old one, which was breed-specific, and replaces it with a breed-neutral dog control law.

IMPORTANT: The new state-level law does NOT prohibit cities from passing or enforcing BSL and does NOT change local laws. There are many cities in Ohio that currently have BSL written into their local dog control law. Those laws will continue to be in effect unless or until city lawmakers decide to change the city law. Know your local laws!

Both the new and the old Ohio state code can be viewed here (they may remove the old code after the effective date): http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/955

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Posted in BSL Repealed, Ohio

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