Tag Archives: county

DeKalb County, GA: County approves repeal of BSL

Posted on May 8, 2012 by | 1 Comment

DeKalb County commissioners have unanimously voted to repeal the breed-specific language in their county zoning ordinance. Residents and locals, please write the county commissioners and THANK them for making a smart decision.

Contact information for county commissioners
Board of Commissioners, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, GA 30030
Fax: 404-371-7004
ecboyer@dekalbcountyga.gov; jrader@dekalbcountyga.gov; larryjohnson@dekalbcountyga.gov; sbsutton@dekalbcountyga.gov; lmay@dekalbcountyga.gov; kgannon@dekalbcountyga.gov; stanwatson@dekalbcountyga.gov

DeKalb lifts pit bull ban

By April Hunt , The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The DeKalb County Commission unanimously agreed Tuesday to lift the ban on pit bulls — part of the county’s zoning code, not animal control ordinances — after more than a year of weighing the issue.

No other metro county has a ban on pit bulls, and DeKalb’s was less a ban than a source of confusion. Code enforcement officers cited owners who simply had to point out “pit bull” is not a breed of dog to have their tickets tossed.

“It has not been an effective tool for being able to get rid of dangerous animals,” said Commissioner Jeff Rader, who had championed the change. “We are better served relying on the criminal code.” [...]

Full article retrieved 5/8/12 from http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/dekalb-lifts-pit-bull-1433546.html

All alerts for DeKalb County: http://stopbsl.org/?s=dekalb

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Posted in BSL Repealed, Georgia

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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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DeKalb County, GA: County moves forward with BSL repeal

Posted on April 29, 2012 by | 1 Comment

It’s taken nearly a year, but DeKalb County is finally moving forward with plans to repeal the breed-specific language in their county zoning ordinance.

A previous alert, and a more thorough explanation of the current ordinance in DeKalb County, can be found here: http://stopbsl.com/2011/07/21/dekalb-county-ga-opportunity-to-repeal-breed-ban/

Residents and locals, please write the county commissioners and THANK them for making a smart decision. The old zoning ordinance was confusing, unnecessary, and particularly deadly for shelter dogs. Please show your support for removal of the breed-specific language.

Contact information for county commissioners
Board of Commissioners, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, GA 30030
Fax: 404-371-7004
ecboyer@dekalbcountyga.gov; jrader@dekalbcountyga.gov; larryjohnson@dekalbcountyga.gov; sbsutton@dekalbcountyga.gov; lmay@dekalbcountyga.gov; kgannon@dekalbcountyga.gov; stanwatson@dekalbcountyga.gov

This issue will be on the commissioners’ agenda for May 8 at 9:00 am in the Maloof Auditorium at 1300 Commerce Drive.

‘Pit bull’ may be removed from county ordinance

Written By: Andrew Cauthen
4/26/12

[...] Marian Eisenberg, zoning administrator, told commissioners April 10 that the intent of the amendment is to remove “pit bulls” from the county’s definition of [what is not a] household pet in the county’s ordinance. [...]

“The text does not specifically state that you may not own a pit bull; it simply states that a pit bull by definition is not considered a household pet,” Eisenberg said. [...]

Because ‘pit bull’ is not a recognized breed, “it is not a breed that has a legal definition,” said Burke Brennan, the county’s chief communications officer. [...]

The ordinance has “caused a lot of misunderstanding and disadvantages to owners of dogs,” Cornell said. “It became more of an obstruction than anything helpful. It didn’t mean anything.” [...]

The proposed text amendment is expected to be on the May 8 agenda for the Board of Commissioners.

Full article retrieved 4/29/12 from http://championnewspaper.com/news/articles/1647%E2%80%98pit-bull%E2%80%99-may-be-removed-from-county-ordinance-1647.html

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Posted in Georgia, Proposal to Repeal

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Pointe Coupee Parish, LA: New animal ordinance is not BSL

Posted on April 18, 2012 by | 1 Comment

Good news in Pointe Coupee Parish. The police jury passed a new animal control ordinance in early April. The parish has considered BSL in the past, and there were concerns that this new ordinance could incorporate some of the breed-specific language that was previously under consideration.

We have received a copy of the new ordinance, and confirmed that it is breed-neutral. Many thanks to the parties in and around the parish who worked to make sure that the new ordinance was not breed discriminatory.

If you would like to read the text, we noticed that the parish has not posted it online (their website isn’t very up to date). So, here it is, for your convenience: Pointe Coupee Animal and Fowl Ordinance 3_27_12

All alerts for Pointe Coupee: http://stopbsl.com/?s=pointe+coupee

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Posted in BSL Defeated, Louisiana

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Miami-Dade County, FL: Voters will decide whether to repeal breed ban

Posted on April 11, 2012 by | 2 Comments

But the question is, in a county where fear and stereotype of “pit bulls” and their owners runs rampant (courtesy of the breed ban), will voters want to repeal the breed ban? County commissioners think they won’t. We suggest a hard-hitting PR campaign, starting now.

Jamie Buehrle Speaks for Pit Bulls, Finds Receptive Audience at County Commission

Miami-Dade Commissioners voted 3-1 to allow the ordinance banning pit bulls to go before voters

By Betty Yu | Tuesday, Apr 10, 2012

[...] She found support from the majority of commissioners. They voted 3-1 to allow the 1989 ordinance banning pit bulls to go before voters on the August election ballot. [...]

Commissioner Barbara Jordan was the only one to vote against letting the voter decide. [...]

The ballot question will go before voters on August 14 in the Miami-Dade County primary.

Full article retrieved 4/11/12 from http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Jamie-Buehrle-Speaks-for-Pit-Bulls-Finds-Receptive-Audience-on-Miami-Dade-County-Commission-146908195.html

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Posted in Florida, Proposal to Repeal

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Pointe Coupee Parish, LA reminder: Public hearing on proposed animal ordinance, March 27 (possible BSL)

Posted on March 26, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The Pointe Coupee Parish police jury will meet on March 27 at 5:00 PM. One of the items on the agenda is a public hearing to amend the animal control ordinance.

Although we do not know exactly what the police jury has proposed this time, we remember the extensive breed ban that was proposed (and failed) in 2010. Several police jurors have expressed a desire to reconsider BSL or a breed ban.

Jurors could bring the 2010 proposal back to the table, they could write up a new proposal, or they could decline to change their current ordinances.

Please contact the Pointe Coupee Police Jury and respectfully guide them away from breed-specific laws and toward workable solutions to their dangerous dog issues.
Pointe Coupee Parish Police Jury, P.O. Box 290, New Roads, Louisiana 70760
Ph (225) 638-9556 – Fax (225) 638-5555

All alerts for Pointe Coupee Parish: http://stopbsl.com/?s=pointe+coupee

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Posted in Louisiana, Whispers of BSL

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Florida legislative session over, HB 997 / SB 1322 dead

Posted on March 10, 2012 by | 9 Comments

The Florida legislature wrapped up on March 9. HB 997 / SB 1322, which would have repealed Miami-Dade’s breed ban, did not make it. HB 997 was waiting on a second hearing, and SB 1322 was stuck in a subcommittee.

However, hope is not lost for Miami-Dade. Florida residents, and Miami-Dade residents in particular, can continue to work for repeal of the county’s breed ban in several ways.

Ask Miami-Dade county commissioners to repeal the breed ban. Of course, people have already asked the commissioners to repeal the breed ban, and they’ve flatly refused (which is why HB 997 came to be in the first place). But commissioners have recently suggested putting the breed ban to a public vote. Also, election times give residents the opportunity to remove pro-ban commissioners and vote repeal-oriented commissioners in.

Miami-Dade County Commissioner email block
district1@miamidade.gov; district2@miamidade.gov; district3@miamidade.gov; district4@miamidade.gov; district5@miamidade.gov; district6@miamidade.gov; district7@miamidade.gov; district8@miamidade.gov; district9@miamidade.gov; district10@miamidade.gov; district11@miamidade.gov; district12@miamidade.gov; district13@miamidade.gov;

Ask your Florida legislator to re-file or co-sponsor HB 997 / SB 1322 in the next legislative session. Sometimes it takes a couple of tries to get a law passed. (Just ask Ohio!)

Contact your State Representative and Senator
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/sections/representatives/myrepresentative.aspx

Join the Miami Coalition Against Breed-Specific Legislation to keep up with efforts to repeal Miami-Dade’s BSL: http://www.mcabsl.wildapricot.org/

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Posted in Florida, Proposal to Repeal

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