Category Archives: Community Initiatives

Aberdeen, SD – Whispers of Breed Specific Regulations

Posted on October 17, 2012 by | Comments Off on Aberdeen, SD – Whispers of Breed Specific Regulations

In March, 2011 Aberdeen City County passed a breed-neutral ordinance after six amendments were offered, including two that would have made the ordinance breed-specific.

Councilmembers David Bunsness and Laure Swanson proposed the two breed-specific amendments.

On October 9th, in response to a resident from the Rolling Hills development, Councilman Bunsness said he would like to talk more about restrictive penalties for pet owners who violate the ordinance after an Aberdeen dog attacked another dog.

Councillor Todd Campbell said he’s “not for a ban of any type, but certain breeds need more scrutiny than others.”

City Manager Lynn Lander said the council will discuss the animal control ordinance at a work session.  That session will probably take place on Monday afternoon in November and will be open to the public.  The last time Council discussed BSL, local residents were on hand to oppose the suggested legislation.

Please send your POLITE, RESPECTFUL and INFORMATIVE correspondence to:

Mike Levsen, Mayor
Term expires June 30, 2014
mayor@aberdeen.sd.us

Lynn Lander, City Manager
lynn.lander@aberdeen.sd.us

Mark Remily, NE District Council Member
Term expires June 30, 2017
mark.remily@aberdeen.sd.us

Jeff Mitchell, NE District Council Member
Term expires June 30, 2013
jeff.mitchell@aberdeen.sd.us

Todd Campbell, NW District Council Member
Term expires June 30, 2017
todd.campbell@aberdeen.sd.us

Jennifer Slaight-Hansen, NW District Council Member
Term expires June 30, 2014
jennifer.slaight-hansen@aberdeen.sd.us

Clint Rux, SE District Council Member
Term expires June 30, 2017
clint.rux@aberdeen.sd.us

Laure Swanson, SE District Council Member
Term expires June 30, 2015
laure.swanson@aberdeen.sd.us

Tom Agnitsch, SW District Council Member
Term expires June 30, 2013
tom.agnitsch@aberdeen.sd.us

David Bunsness, SW District Council Member
Term expires June 30, 2015
david.bunsness@aberdeen.sd.us

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Maple Ridge, BC, Canada: BSL proposed

Posted on October 17, 2012 by | Comments Off on Maple Ridge, BC, Canada: BSL proposed

UPDATE:

Maple Wood is moving forward with legislation that would hold owners of pit bull terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, American pit bull terriers, or crosses of any of the breeds to higher regsitration and ownership standards.

While this is not a ban, the need to continue sending POLITE, RESPECTFUL and INFORMATIVE correspondence to Maple Wood officials is still at hand.

Contact info for Maple Ridge:
Mayor and Council, District of Maple Ridge, 11995 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, B.C. V2X 6A9
Tel: 604-463-5221
Fax: 604-467-7329
mayorandcouncil@mapleridge.ca
Council meeting dates and agendas: http://www.mapleridge.ca/EN/main/municipal/council/council_meetings.html
To speak at the next council meeting, read the info on this page: http://www.mapleridge.ca/EN/main/municipal/council/contact_council.html

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MEETING REMINDER:

Today a City Council Workshop focusing on proposed breed specific legislation will take place at City Hall in the Blaney Room, 9:00 a.m.

_______________________________________________________

UPDATE:

Owners protest breed-specific bylaw in Maple Ridge

By Robert Mangelsdorf – Maple Ridge News
Published: October 03, 2012 5:00 AM

More than 50 pit bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Dachshunds and even Shih Tzus took to the streets of downtown Maple Ridge with their owners Sunday afternoon to protest a proposed bylaw that would single out certain breeds as aggressive.

Two months ago, District of Maple Ridge staff recommended a bylaw that would single out pit bull breeds, such as Staffordshire terriers and American pit bull terriers, as “aggressive” and charge their owners a $200 licensing fee annually, four times that of other breeds. Pit bulls would also be required to be muzzled when off the owner’s property and would also be subject to higher impound fees.

[…]

Bylaws director Liz Holitzki said singling out pit bulls is designed to encourage responsible pet ownership. While both the district and SPCA receive complaints about problem dogs of all breeds, there is significant public concern about pit bulls, in particular.

[…]The bylaw comes back before Maple Ridge council for discussion at a workshop meeting on Oct. 15, and Munz hopes councillors will have a change of heart and steer clear of any breed-specific language.
http://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/172370101.html

______________________________________________

Proposed Maple Ridge bylaw to single out pit bulls

By Robert Mangelsdorf – Maple Ridge News

Published: July 17, 2012 4:00 PM

District of Maple Ridge staff are recommending a new dog bylaw that singles out pit bulls as “aggressive” and would charge their owners a licensing fee four times that of other breeds.

The fee would apply to pit bull terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, American pit bull terriers, or a cross of any of the breeds.

Pit bull owners would be required to pay a $200 “aggressive dog” licensing fee annually, and require their dog to be muzzled when off the owner’s property. Pit bulls would also be subject to higher impound fees. […]

Full article retrieved 7/17/12 from http://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/162800096.html

Please send your RESPECTFUL correspondence to city council in opposition to a breed-specific bylaw. Please also include viable breed-neutral alternatives.

Contact info for Maple Ridge:
Mayor and Council, District of Maple Ridge, 11995 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, B.C. V2X 6A9
Tel: 604-463-5221
Fax: 604-467-7329
mayorandcouncil@mapleridge.ca
Council meeting dates and agendas: http://www.mapleridge.ca/EN/main/municipal/council/council_meetings.html
To speak at the next council meeting, read the info on this page: http://www.mapleridge.ca/EN/main/municipal/council/contact_council.html

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Maple Ridge, BC, Canada: BSL proposed

Posted on October 15, 2012 by | Comments Off on Maple Ridge, BC, Canada: BSL proposed

MEETING REMINDER:

Today a City Council Workshop focusing on proposed breed specific legislation will take place at City Hall in the Blaney Room, 9:00 a.m.

UPDATE:

Owners protest breed-specific bylaw in Maple Ridge

By Robert Mangelsdorf – Maple Ridge News
Published: October 03, 2012 5:00 AM

More than 50 pit bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Dachshunds and even Shih Tzus took to the streets of downtown Maple Ridge with their owners Sunday afternoon to protest a proposed bylaw that would single out certain breeds as aggressive.

Two months ago, District of Maple Ridge staff recommended a bylaw that would single out pit bull breeds, such as Staffordshire terriers and American pit bull terriers, as “aggressive” and charge their owners a $200 licensing fee annually, four times that of other breeds. Pit bulls would also be required to be muzzled when off the owner’s property and would also be subject to higher impound fees.

[…]

Bylaws director Liz Holitzki said singling out pit bulls is designed to encourage responsible pet ownership. While both the district and SPCA receive complaints about problem dogs of all breeds, there is significant public concern about pit bulls, in particular.

[…]The bylaw comes back before Maple Ridge council for discussion at a workshop meeting on Oct. 15, and Munz hopes councillors will have a change of heart and steer clear of any breed-specific language.
http://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/172370101.html

______________________________________________

Proposed Maple Ridge bylaw to single out pit bulls

By Robert Mangelsdorf – Maple Ridge News

Published: July 17, 2012 4:00 PM

District of Maple Ridge staff are recommending a new dog bylaw that singles out pit bulls as “aggressive” and would charge their owners a licensing fee four times that of other breeds.

The fee would apply to pit bull terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, American pit bull terriers, or a cross of any of the breeds.

Pit bull owners would be required to pay a $200 “aggressive dog” licensing fee annually, and require their dog to be muzzled when off the owner’s property. Pit bulls would also be subject to higher impound fees. […]

Full article retrieved 7/17/12 from http://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/162800096.html

Please send your RESPECTFUL correspondence to city council in opposition to a breed-specific bylaw. Please also include viable breed-neutral alternatives.

Contact info for Maple Ridge:
Mayor and Council, District of Maple Ridge, 11995 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, B.C. V2X 6A9
Tel: 604-463-5221
Fax: 604-467-7329
mayorandcouncil@mapleridge.ca
Council meeting dates and agendas: http://www.mapleridge.ca/EN/main/municipal/council/council_meetings.html
To speak at the next council meeting, read the info on this page: http://www.mapleridge.ca/EN/main/municipal/council/contact_council.html

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Sonoma, CA – Vicious Dogs Ordinance on Agenda

Posted on October 12, 2012 by | Comments Off on Sonoma, CA – Vicious Dogs Ordinance on Agenda

Council members will take up a proposed ordinance at the next meeting on Monday, October 15th, 2012.  The ordinance would define a vicious dog as one that without provocation severely injures or kills a person or other animal.  Owners of vicious dogs would be required to keep them locked up or muzzled when out.

While Sonoma does not have a history of vicious dogs or attacks, Mayor Joanne Sanders* sparked a negative response last year when she stated publicly that she would support an outright ban on pit bulls after the death of a pit bull owner in Pacifica.
*Sanders has chosen not to pursue a 3rd term as Mayor

Sanders asked city staff to review Sonoma’s current animal ordinance and draft a new ordinance that residents would support.

The new draft requires that owners of potentially dangerous or vicious dogs would have to obtain liability insurance and show proof they could pay damages up to $50,000.   Bob Edward, President of Sonoma Valley Dog Owners and Guardians said that his group supports the proposed changes, adding that the new ordinance provides due process for owners.  “The current ordinance doesn’t even provide for a hearing,” he said.  “Whoever decides the dog is vicious is the decider.”

 

 

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Posted in California, Community Initiatives, Insurance, Non-BSL Proposed

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Mamaroneck, NY – Village Officials Consider Pit Bull Legislation

Posted on October 4, 2012 by | 39 comments

VILLAGE OF MAMARONECK, NY – Knee-jerk legislation is on the agenda as the result of a recent dog-on-dog attack that also resulted in a dog owners finger being severed while trying to break up the dog fight.

Residents have managed 50 signatures on a petition to have the dog removed from the village.  Meanwhile, Mayor Norman Rosenblum says, “It’s a health, safety and welfare question, especially regarding the kids.”

The matter to adopt legislation that would specifically address pit bulls, “dogs with a reputation for being violent” according to officials, has been added to the agenda for the village board’s Tuesday, October 9th meeting.

The original incident resulted after the pit bull jumped a chest-high chain link fence and attacked the smaller dog, whose injuries were fatal.  The pit bull’s owner has been charged with one count of a dangerous dog attack on a domestic animal.

New York State Law prohibits breed-specific legislation.

5. Nothing contained in this article shall prevent a municipality from adopting its own program for the control of dangerous dogs; provided, however, that no such program shall be less stringent than this article, and no such program shall regulate such dogs in a manner that is specific as to breed. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision one of this section, this subdivision and section one hundred twenty-one of this article shall apply to all municipalities including cities of two million or more.

To send your POLITE, RESPECTFUL and PROFESSIONAL correspondence to Village Officials:

Village of Mamaroneck
123 Mamaroneck Ave.,
Mamaroneck, NY 10543
PH: (914) 777-7700

Mayor Norman Rosenblum
nrosenblum@vomny.org

Louis Santoro
lsantoro@vomny.org

Toni Ryan
trusteeryan@yahoo.com

John Hoffstetter
johnmhofstetter@yahoo.com

Sid Albert
rsidalbert@optonline.net

39 Comments

Posted in BSL, BSL Proposed, Community Initiatives, New York, Whispers of BSL

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Maple Ridge, BC, Canada: BSL proposed

Posted on October 3, 2012 by | Comments Off on Maple Ridge, BC, Canada: BSL proposed

UPDATE:

Owners protest breed-specific bylaw in Maple Ridge

By Robert Mangelsdorf – Maple Ridge News
Published: October 03, 2012 5:00 AM

More than 50 pit bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Dachshunds and even Shih Tzus took to the streets of downtown Maple Ridge with their owners Sunday afternoon to protest a proposed bylaw that would single out certain breeds as aggressive.

Two months ago, District of Maple Ridge staff recommended a bylaw that would single out pit bull breeds, such as Staffordshire terriers and American pit bull terriers, as “aggressive” and charge their owners a $200 licensing fee annually, four times that of other breeds. Pit bulls would also be required to be muzzled when off the owner’s property and would also be subject to higher impound fees.

[…]

Bylaws director Liz Holitzki said singling out pit bulls is designed to encourage responsible pet ownership. While both the district and SPCA receive complaints about problem dogs of all breeds, there is significant public concern about pit bulls, in particular.

[…]The bylaw comes back before Maple Ridge council for discussion at a workshop meeting on Oct. 15, and Munz hopes councillors will have a change of heart and steer clear of any breed-specific language.
http://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/172370101.html

______________________________________________

Proposed Maple Ridge bylaw to single out pit bulls

By Robert Mangelsdorf – Maple Ridge News

Published: July 17, 2012 4:00 PM

District of Maple Ridge staff are recommending a new dog bylaw that singles out pit bulls as “aggressive” and would charge their owners a licensing fee four times that of other breeds.

The fee would apply to pit bull terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, American pit bull terriers, or a cross of any of the breeds.

Pit bull owners would be required to pay a $200 “aggressive dog” licensing fee annually, and require their dog to be muzzled when off the owner’s property. Pit bulls would also be subject to higher impound fees. […]

Full article retrieved 7/17/12 from http://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/162800096.html

Please send your RESPECTFUL correspondence to city council in opposition to a breed-specific bylaw. Please also include viable breed-neutral alternatives.

Contact info for Maple Ridge:
Mayor and Council, District of Maple Ridge, 11995 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, B.C. V2X 6A9
Tel: 604-463-5221
Fax: 604-467-7329
mayorandcouncil@mapleridge.ca
Council meeting dates and agendas: http://www.mapleridge.ca/EN/main/municipal/council/council_meetings.html
To speak at the next council meeting, read the info on this page: http://www.mapleridge.ca/EN/main/municipal/council/contact_council.html

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Wilmington DE – Residents Want Pit Bull Legislation Changed

Posted on October 3, 2012 by | Comments Off on Wilmington DE – Residents Want Pit Bull Legislation Changed
UPDATE FROM:
We had a great evening at Wilmington City Council. 3 people spoke in support of repealing the BSL and zero in opposition (even after the news paper called for opposition to come voice their side). We also had 4 supporters in the audience. We provided every council member with a letter including all of the information f

rom our END BSL tab on our website. There will be a new proposition drafted in the coming week and we will let you know when it will be brought forth for a reading/vote. We will need everyone to come out to support it! We are on the brink of change and we need everyone’s involvement. For more information, check out our website or email Amanda@pitbullsoldiers.com. The next meeting is November 1. Please mark your calendars and come out to support the innocent. Thank you to everyone who attended today’s meeting and to everyone who supports us in this fight. -A

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Twelve years ago Wilmington DE passed an ordinance with strict regulations for any dog deemed a ‘pit bull’.  Owners of such dogs were required to register their dogs, muzzle them while in public parks and keep them on a leash no longer than 6 feet.  Their ordinance also required a person to be at least 21 years old in order to accompany the dog and all pit bulls would be spayed or neutered.

But four months ago resident Amanda Rodriquez started asking for change.

And every  month since then, Ms. Rodriquez has addressed the Wilmington City Council with the same request…Support legislation eliminating its strict laws governing pit bull ownership.

Council hasn’t been so eager to see change however, even though Mayor James M. Baker has introduced legislation to repeal Wilmington’s breed-specific legislation.

While some of the council members have expressed their apprehension to repeal the regulations, pointing out two recent incidents involving unlicensed dogs, others have reserved their decision requesting more information be available to review.

Councilman Michael A. Brown Sr. said “I always like to hear everybody, and apparently we haven’t heard everybody because everybody that has come up into the 30-minute public speaking period, all of them have been for it.  We haven’t heard any on them that are against it.”

Please send your POLITE, RESPECTFUL and PROFESSIONAL correspondence to officials in Wilmington, DE at:

Norman D. Griffiths
Council President
ngriffiths@wilmingtonde.gov

Charles Potter, Jr.
1st District Council Member
cpjr00@aol.com

Ernest “Trippi” Congo II
2nd District Council Member
sammycongo@aol.com

Eric D. Robinson
3rd District Council Member
3rddistrep@gmail.com

Hanifa G.N. Shabazz
4th District Council Member
hshabazz@wilmingtonde.gov

Samuel Prado
5th District Council Member
sammy_wilm@yahoo.com

Kevin F. Kelley, Sr.
6th District Council Member
President Pro Tempore
6thdistrict@comcast.net

Paul F. Ignudo, Jr.
7th District Council Member
ignudo7th@comcast.net

Tracey Thomson Schofield
8th District Council Member
traceyscho@gmail.com

Michael A. Brown, Sr.
Council Member At-Large
mabrown@wilmingtonde.gov

Charles M. “Bud” Freel
Council Member At-Large
budfreel@aol.com

Loretta Walsh
Council Member At-Large
lwalsh@wilmingtonde.gov

Justen A. Wright
Council Member At-Large
justen@justenwright.org

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