Tag Archives: ban

West Fork, AR: Proposed breed ban public hearing, May 8

Posted on May 7, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Many thanks to Mona for putting this on our radar.

West Fork, AR, is experiencing growing pains. They’re growing, they lack animal ordinances, and they have only one part-time animal control officer.

The city council has come up with some proposed animal control ordinances. One of the provisions is a “pit bull” ban with a grandfather clause. Current residents can keep their “pit bulls” as long as they register the dog by the date of the ordinance’s passage. No new or unregistered ”pit bulls” will be allowed.

The council added the “pit bull” ban to the proposed ordinances because they are having new problems with “pit bulls” running loose and with people not registering their “pit bulls” (as is currently required for all dog owners). The irony here is that, according to the mayor, West Fork’s ”pit bull” problem is partly due to neighboring communities banning the dogs. So… what is West Fork council doing to solve the problem? Banning the dogs and passing the problem on to one of its neighbors. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: breed bans and BSL don’t make communities safer, because these laws don’t hold bad dog owners responsible—BSL just pushes the problem around.

The city will hold a public hearing on the animal ordinances, including the “pit bull” ban, on May 8 from 6:00 to 6:30 at City Administration building, 262 Main Street, West Fork (across from the Little O’ Oprey).

IMPORTANT: The mayor and council are aware that the “pit bull” ban is the most contentious of the proposed ordinances. The mayor understands the concerns about the breed ban and has advised us that the council is looking for SOLUTIONS. And they can’t solve anything if all they get are angry objections. We agree.

If you attend the council meeting on May 8, please come prepared to speak concisely and informatively. BE HELPFUL. Briefly state your objection to the breed ban, and then provide a good breed-neutral alternative dog ordinance or some pointers for the council to improve the ordinance. All dog owners should be held to the same standards, regardless of what their dog looks like.

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Posted in Arkansas, BSL Proposed

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Miami-Dade County, FL: Breed ban will go to public vote, Aug 14

Posted on May 2, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The ballot question, which is terribly confusing to read, and contains bias (as expected), will be: “Shall the ordinance repealing the county’s 23 year old law prohibiting the ownership of pit bulls as a dangerous breed of dogs become effective?”

All alerts for Miami-Dade County: http://stopbsl.org/?s=%22miami-dade+county%22

Miami-Dade pit-bull ban to go to voters in August

County commissioners placed Miami-Dade’s 23-year-old pit-bull ban on the August ballot, giving voters a say on the prohibition for the first time.

BY PATRICIA MAZZEI AND CHARLES RABIN
PMAZZEI@MIAMIHERALD.COM

Miami-Dade voters will get a say for the first time on the county’s ban on pit bulls, after county commissioners agreed on Tuesday to put the 23-year-old prohibition on the August ballot.

Commissioners approved the referendum on an 11-1 vote, with Commissioner Barbara Jordan voting against. [...]

The question on the August 14 ballot will ask voters, “Shall the ordinance repealing the county’s 23 year old law prohibiting the ownership of pit bulls as a dangerous breed of dogs become effective?”

Pit-bull enthusiasts, who had preferred that the Legislature take action because it will likely be more difficult to repeal the ban by referendum, have objected to including the phrase “dangerous breed of dogs” in the ballot language. [...]

Full article retrieved 5/2/12 from http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/01/2776226/miami-dade-commission-to-discuss.html

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Posted in Florida, Proposal to Repeal

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Gainesville, GA: City council decides against breed ban

Posted on May 2, 2012 by | 1 Comment

Gainesville city council says they won’t ban “pit bulls.”

The reason? The city attorney says state law prohibits breed bans. We’re actually not aware of any GA state law that prohibits GA municipalities from passing BSL. Plenty of municipalities in GA have BSL. But we’re happy not to correct the city attorney and council in this case.

All alerts for Gainesville, GA: http://stopbsl.org/?s=%22gainesville%2C+ga%22

Gainesville won’t ban pit bulls

Georgia law prohibits breed-specific prohibition

By Ashley Fielding,afielding@gainesvilletimes.com
POSTED: May 1, 2012 11:30 p.m.

[...] But after the first of them, Gwinnett County resident Johanna Falber, spoke, City Attorney James E. “Bubba” Palmour said the city could not, under Georgia law, exclude the ownership of a specific breed.

Palmour had looked into the request after a woman called on the City Council at its April 17 meeting to initiate a citywide ban on the breed. [...]

After the city attorney’s statements, however, Mayor Danny Dunagan said the council won’t be taking any more action on pit bulls — a decision that drew praise from those present. [...]

Full article retrieved 5/2/12 from http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/section/6/article/66937/

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Posted in Georgia, Whispers of BSL

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Georgia: Effort to ban breeds reaches state legislature

Posted on April 30, 2012 by | 13 Comments

A resident of Gainesville, GA, has turned to state legislators to request a statewide breed ban. State representative Carl Rogers has agreed to help this resident pursue a statewide breed ban.

Please make sure your correspondence with Rep. Rogers and all other lawmakers is RESPECTFUL and informative!
Rep. Carl Rogers, Room 417, State Capital, Atlanta GA 30334
Phone: 404-656-5146
Email: carl.rogers@house.ga.gov
Find your other state representatives here (yeah, Georgia Assembly does not have their own legislator finder): http://www.congress.org/congressorg/officials/congress/

Residents have mixed feelings on pit bull breed

Advocates say bad owners are the problem

By Aaron Hale ahale@gainesvilletimes.com
POSTED:April 28, 2012 11:30 p.m.

[... Gainesville resident] Brannon has since written the governor and spoken to state Rep. Carl Rogers on the issue, with Rogers promising to put the issue of dangerous dogs, specifically pit bulls, before the state legislature.

“We’ve got to do something to be protective of (potential) victims, especially children, before they become victims,” he said. [...]

One local elected official said he is poised to take that a step further.

“What I promised Ms. Brannon,” Rogers said, “is we would certainly look at trying to ban the breed.”

The representative said he believes pit bull attacks are happening enough to draw the state legislature to act.

Before doing so, Rogers said he’ll bring in experts on animals and breeding, as well as victims of pit bull attacks, to talk about the problem and garner possible solutions. [...]

Full article retrieved 4/30/12 from http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/section/6/article/66835/

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Posted in Georgia, Whispers of BSL

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Gainesville, GA: Group plans to speak against BSL at city council meeting, May 1

Posted on April 30, 2012 by | 1 Comment

Faced with possible BSL or a breed ban in Gainesville, a group of community members plans to speak at the next council meeting, May 1. They would love warm bodies to attend for support.

The breed ban effort is unfortunately spreading to the state level (see next post). All Georgia residents need to get involved to put a stop to these efforts.

If you are local to Gainesville and would like to be involved in this effort to stop BSL, please read the below information carefully. Courtesy of Johanna:

Tomorrow, Tuesday May 1st, is the Council meeting in Gainesville. As you know by now, there is a push on the ground to get BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) passed in the area that could potentially result in either restrictions, requirements or an all-out ban.

I spoke to the Deputy City Clerk, Alisa Grayson, and City Clerk, Denise Jordan. Both were very receptive and appreciated my calling to advise them of our coming. They are allowing the public to speak at the very start of the meeting, afterthe Pledge of Allegiance. While they do not have a “limit” to the number of speakers, the Attorney may reduce the number of speakers if we each speak for more than “a few minutes”. I gave them each my word that we would come prepared with facts, be professional and unemotional and each speak for four minutes or so, tops. They were very appreciative.

I ask that everyone that plans on speaking send me an email to savedpittiegirl@gmail.com so that we can plan on each of our points. They liked that each of us will cover one topic free from emotion so that we can give more time to one another. Please plan on wearing red or black (or both!) whether you speak or not. If anyone has name badges, feel free to bring one and wear it.

Tuesday May 1st 5:30pm
LOCATION: AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMPLEX (GAINESVILLE JUSTICE CENTER) IN THE MUNICIPAL COURT ROOM LOCATED AT 701 QUEEN CITY PARKWAY in Gainesville.

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Posted in Georgia, Whispers 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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Cincinnati, OH update: Committee approves motion to repeal BSL

Posted on April 24, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The Livable Communities Committee of Cincinnati, OH, approved a motion to repeal the breed ban and breed-specific language in their animal ordinances.

Next, the proposal moves to the full city council for a vote. The below news article says the council will vote this week. However, we do not see the proposal on this week’s council agenda, so we cannot confirm that this is true.

Please contact Cincinnati city council and respectfully show your support for repeal of the city’s longstanding breed ban. We can get this repealed!
City Council, 801 Plum St., Cincinnati, OH 45202-1979
Information Line: 513-352-1576
E-mail: CityCouncil@cincinnati-oh.gov

Council committee votes to repeal pit bull reference in dog law

By Mark Heyne
4/24/2012 2:10:00 PM

A Cincinnati Council committee has voted to repeal the breed-specific language in the city’s vicious dog law. [...] Five committee members voted for the motion. Councilman Cecil Thomas voted against it.[...]

The motion now goes to the full council for adoption this week. [...]

The motion also creates a task force that will recommend amendments that address spay and neuter, animal treatment, tethering and dog fighting.

Full article retrieved 4/24/12 from http://www.wvxu.org/news/wvxunews_article.asp?ID=9983

All alerts for Cincinnati: http://stopbsl.com/?s=cincinnati

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Posted in Ohio, Proposal to Repeal

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