Thanks to LeeAnn for the heads up!
The town of Yarmouth is seeking public input on their proposed bylaw. The bylaw defines the following breeds as “fierce and dangerous dog”: Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, and any mixed breed that contains one of these breeds.
Owners of “fierce and dangerous” dogs must specially register their dogs, purchase liability insurance, spay/neuter the dog, and follow special restrictions for containment, signage, and much more. Dogs that belong to owners that do not comply with these restrictions will be euthanized; it is forbidden to adopt out or rehome these dogs. Town staff has also been given permission to “destroy on sight” any such dog, without warning or notification to the owner (no conditions are attached to this provision, so presumably staff could kill your “fierce and dangerous” dog at any time, even as you are walking it down the street).
You may read the draft bylaw here: http://townofyarmouth.ca/agenda/files2/00400/400/draft_dog_bylaw_april_12_2011.pdf
Please send respectful, helpful correspondence to Yarmouth officials to guide them toward an effective breed-neutral bylaw and discourage them from passing discriminatory legislation. Locals, please attend the public meeting on May 9, 6:30 PM, at Town Hall Council Chambers, 400 Main Street.
Contact info for Yarmouth town officials:
Mayor Phil Mooney, Mayor.Mooney@townofyarmouth.ca
Deputy Mayor Byron Boudreau, DeputyMayor.Boudreau@townofyarmouth.ca
Councillor Esther Dares, Councillor.Dares@townofyarmouth.ca
Councillor Ken Langille, Councillor.Langille@townofyarmouth.ca
Councillor Daniel MacIsaac, Councillor.MacIsaac@townofyarmouth.ca
Councillor Neil MacKenzie, Councillor.MacKenzie@townofyarmouth.ca
Councillor Martin Pink, Councillor.Pink@townofyarmouth.ca
Email block for cut-and-paste:
Mayor.Mooney@townofyarmouth.ca; DeputyMayor.Boudreau@townofyarmouth.ca; Councillor.Dares@townofyarmouth.ca; Councillor.Langille@townofyarmouth.ca; Councillor.MacIsaac@townofyarmouth.ca; Councillor.MacKenzie@townofyarmouth.ca; Councillor.Pink@townofyarmouth.ca
May 9 public meeting on draft dog bylaw
Published on April 15, 2011
By Tina Comeau, THE VANGUARDA public meeting will be held on May 9 to get the public’s input on a draft dog bylaw that the town of Yarmouth is considering.
Things contained in the bylaw – which is still a working document – are expected to generate a variety of reaction.[…]
The May 9 public meeting at the town hall will get underway at 6:30 p.m.[…]
The draft bylaw immediately sets out to define a “fierce and dangerous” dog, saying it is any dog that “is a Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier; Pit Bull, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Rottweiler or any dog of mixed breeding which includes any of the aforementioned breeds.” […]
The draft bylaw does not ban any breed of dog, but it does say that owners of dogs that have been defined as being dangerous must, among other things […]
Full article retrieved 4/16/11 from http://www.thevanguard.ca/News/2011-04-15/article-2429508/May-9-public-meeting-on-draft-dog-bylaw/1
Fred M. Kray
krisdiaz9
Stop BSL 
It amazes me how ignorant the human species can be. This is no less then genocide, period. A dog is a dog, no less and no more. They are not aggressive by nature, only by guidance and training are they put down that path. So is it the species fault or the humans? Stop putting the blame on GOD’s creatures and take responsibility for our own actions. Prosecute the guilty humans, and protect and defend the animals. I own five AmStaffs and one rescue. In my 46 years on this earth and having experience with many different breeds, the American Staffordshire Terrier is the most loving, loyal, and forgiving breed there is. They have done nothing but serve us in what ever we ask of them, i.e. farm help, protection, search and rescue, police dogs, service dogs, used in wars to help our soldiers. They were used in rodeos to distract the bulls when the riders fell, which is the job the clowns do now. Do you even know where the term “pit bull” comes from? It does not come from fighting them. Years ago when the ranchers needs to work on a 900lbs+ bull, they called on this breed for help. The ring in the bulls nose goes through a nerve. It would take up to three of these dogs to grab the ring and pull the bull down. The nerve would allow the ranchers to work on the bulls without fear of getting harmed. Years ago when you sent you son to the store to buy what the farm did not produce, it was these dogs dragging back the bought products on a burlap sack back to the farm. That is why there are whats known as “pull dogs” competitions. We no longer use them on farms since the early 1900’s, so the pulling sport was created. Their jaws do not lock. There are no dogs that have locking jaws. Tell a vet that you had your AmStaff jaws worked on so they don’t lock and the vet will laugh you out of the office. Their ears and tails are cropped for farm use, not just for fighting. So since we no longer use them as much as we used to, lets just throw them away like toilet paper. They are as much a part of this county as apple pie and baseball. If it was not for their service to us humans, we would not be where we are today. I cannot tell you how many people I have educated on this breed. I own a tow truck and my AmStaff rides next to me everyday all day. She will kill you alright, but you better bring a towel to dry yourself off. The most dangerous thing on her or any of my AmStaffs is their tongue. They will lick you to death with love and that is it, period. I see more aggression on other breeds, of most that are the small dogs. Three (3) percent of all dogs bites reported are “Pitts”. Eighty (80) percent of the three (3) percent are “mixed breed”, not pure bred “Pitts”. Of which the public is miss informed, as usual. A pure bred AmStaff is a very stable dog. It is the mixed breeds that are unstable. Passing any law to discriminate a particular breed of dog is not only unfair it is flat out discrimination, bigotry, racist, in humane and cruel. The bottom line is this is genocide, murder of an animal that cannot speak out in defense of themselves. Thank GOD there are intelligent people out there that understand and know the real truth about “Pitts”. The true name for these wonderful dogs is American Staffordshire Terriers, and the only reason I use the term “pitt” is that is the only way people know them as. People that call them “Pitts” are using a derogatory name that is very disrespectful to the breed. Any BSL laws are wrong, period. Please do some actual research and get a true understanding of these dogs before you judge them or sentence them to death. I know myself and many other AmStaff owners will not roll over and let this happen without a fight. I will protect my family at any cost. get the picture?
Thank you for your time and listening to my input on this matter.
Sincerely,
Mr. Ken Christensen, Akira, Buster, Diesel, Latifah, Kalena, Gloria
for the town of yarmouth to be this way towards these breeds of dogs makes me ashamed that i am from yarmouth to me it is like people being racest not cool at all what is next if they can get away with this
If you want to protect your property lock your doors, fence in your yard,install an alarm ,and if you train a dog to attact you should be 100% responsable for the actions of that animal. Dogs were never ment to harm people, only people harm people and the owneres must be held accountable.