Category Archives: Kansas

Ramona, KS: Resident wants breed ban

EDIT UPDATE 8/26/12: Per the city clerk, the council subsequently voted not to change their current ordinances, so the resident’s request for breed ban was turned down by council.


A Ramona, KS, resident will ask city council for a “pit bull” ban during the August 13 council meeting, 7:00 PM at Ramona City Hall, 302 D Street, Ramona.

Ramona is a very tiny town. Please communicate RESPECTFULLY with city officials. We do not know where they stand regarding the resident’s request.
Ramona City Government, Post Office Box #84, Ramona, Kansas 67475
Clerk email: patandjess@californiasisters.com
More contact info: http://www.ramonaks.com/government

Ramona resident wants pit bull ban

By ADAM STEWART, News editor

If Norma Bird-Wright has her way, Ramona will be the next city in Marion County to restrict ownership of certain breeds of dogs, specifically pit bulls and similar breeds.

[…] “What I want is a pit bull ban, and I’m going to take it to city council,” she said Monday. “They are a dangerous breed.” […]

She plans to address Ramona City Council at its meeting 7 p.m. Monday about her request for a ban on pit bulls in the city.

Ramona Mayor Brendan Bailey said he doesn’t have an opinion on the topic yet and wants more time to look at the facts. He does know that people on both sides of the issue are passionate.[…]

Full article retrieved 8/12/12 from http://peabodykansas.com/direct/ramona_resident_wants_pit_bull_ban+4346pit+52616d6f6e61207265736964656e742077616e7473207069742062756c6c2062616e

Larned, KS: Resident will request BSL, April 2

Many thanks to Jodi for investigating and sharing this alert!

I have confirmed with the Larned City Manager that an animal control issue will be discussed at this Monday’s (April 2, 2012) city council meeting. A resident has approached the council and has requested the city enact a breed specific ordinance. That resident will be making a presentation to the council at the meeting. No ordinance has been drafted at this time.

If you are in the Larned, Kansas area, please make every attempt to attend the upcoming meeting. The Council meets [April 2] at 6:30 p.m. at the Larned City Offices at 417 Broadway Street.

The original alert with contact information is below. If you do contact the city, please be sure to include alternatives and suggestions and, of course, be polite and respectful in all your communications.

City of Larned, Kansas
417 Broadway Street, Larned, KS 67550
Telephone: (620)285-8500
Fax: (620)285-8544

Mission Hills, KS: Council decides not to add Rottweilers to breed ban

Mission Hills, KS council has decided not to add Rottweilers to their current ban on “pit bulls.” This comes after a council meeting at which city staff produced dog bite data showing that none of the 21 dog bites in 2011 were committed by Rottweilers.

However, the city’s ban on “pit bulls” remains in place.

News article about this decision: http://pvpost.com/2011/11/17/mission-hills-wont-pursue-rottweiler-ban-7665

City contact form: http://www.missionhillsks.gov/Directory.aspx
CITY OF MISSION HILLS • 6300 State Line Road • Mission Hills, Kansas 66208
Phone: 913-362-9620 • Fax: 913-362-0673
City Administrator Courtney Christensen, cchristensen@missionhillsks.gov, 913-362-9620 ext 202
City Clerk Jill Clifton (will send your correspondence to city council upon request), jclifton@missionhillsks.gov

Mission Hills, KS reminder: Council to discuss dog ordinance (BSL), Nov 14

Mission Hills, KS council has considered adding Rottweilers to their current ban on “pit bulls.” The city’s dangerous dog regulations are on the agenda for the November 14 council meeting, 6:30 PM. It is not known at this time exactly what will be discussed. Locals are encouraged to attend the council meeting and ask council to repeal their ineffective breed ban rather than add more breeds to it.

City contact form: http://www.missionhillsks.gov/Directory.aspx
CITY OF MISSION HILLS • 6300 State Line Road • Mission Hills, Kansas 66208
Phone: 913-362-9620 • Fax: 913-362-0673
City Administrator Courtney Christensen, cchristensen@missionhillsks.gov, 913-362-9620 ext 202
City Clerk Jill Clifton (will send your correspondence to city council upon request), jclifton@missionhillsks.gov

All alerts for Mission Hills: http://stopbsl.com/?s=mission+hills

Mission Hills, KS: Council may add breed to current breed ban

Mission Hills, KS council may add Rottweilers to their current ban on “pit bulls.”

Jodi at Bless the Bullys has some great commentary on the recent trend to add breeds to ineffective, failing BSL. We have seen this most recently in Merrillville, IN and Lake City, AR.

Rather than confront the issue of “problem dog owners,” Merrillville and Mission Hills want to add more BSL to that which is already in place. The domino effect illustrated perfectly. What breed is next?

How unfortunate that officials in these cities don’t recognize the opportunity they have to craft effective ordinances that hold irresponsible dog owners accountable and actually make their communities safer. Instead, their solution is to add additional breeds to the ordinances in place which are obviously being ignored by the very people who should be targeted. The truth is right in front of them, yet they choose to wear blinders, they choose to continue to focus on the wrong end of the leash.

City contact form: http://www.missionhillsks.gov/Directory.aspx
CITY OF MISSION HILLS • 6300 State Line Road • Mission Hills, Kansas 66208
Phone: 913-362-9620 • Fax: 913-362-0673
City Administrator Courtney Christensen, cchristensen@missionhillsks.gov, 913-362-9620 ext 202
City Clerk Jill Clifton (will send your correspondence to city council upon request), jclifton@missionhillsks.gov

Kansas community consider banning certain breed of dog

Posted: 11:30 PM

MISSION HILLS, Kansas – […] Mission Hills City Administrator Courtney Christensen is considering banning people from owning Rottweiler’s.

Christensen tells NBC Action News to reexamine its domestic animals regulations after a person was recently attacked by a dog in Mission Hills.

Pit Bulls are already banned. […]

The city council is expected to vote on the ban within the next few months.

Full article retrieved 10/13/11 from http://www.nbcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_kansas/johnson_county/kansas-community-consider-banning-certain-breed-of-dog#ixzz1aeea42mQ

Topeka, KS: Repeal of BSL results in fewer shelter euths

Topeka, KS repealed BSL in September 2010; this year, the local humane society reports a drop in euthanasia. BSL has shown to be a drain on local animal shelter resources and to increase euthanasia rates, so this result after BSL repeal is expected.

Note: The headline is a little bit misleading because Topeka no longer has BSL. The headline should probably say “A year later, no pit bull rules means less euthanasia.”

A year later, pit bull rules mean less euthanasia

Posted: September 23, 2011 – 5:25pm
By Tim Hrenchir, THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

The Helping Hands Humane Society has seen a 24 percent drop in the number of dogs it euthanizes since a city ordinance was approved nearly a year ago changing animal control rules, says humane society executive director Bill Acree.

Most euthanasia at the shelter now takes place because of health and behavior, with “very little” resulting from a lack of space, Acree said Friday.

He said the decrease came about after the city’s governing body voted Sept. 28, 2010, to revise city rules for stray cats and dangerous dogs, including loosening up regulations regarding pit bulls.[…]

The ordinance also changed the previous rules by allowing for Helping Hands to adopt out pit bulls picked up by the city. […]

Full article retrieved 9/23/11 from http://cjonline.com/news/local/2011-09-23/year-later-pit-bull-rules-mean-less-euthanasia

Previous alerts for Topeka: http://stopbsl.com/?s=%22topeka%2C+ks%22

Gardner, KS: Council to discuss animal ordinance revisions, Sept 6

Councilmember Larry Fotovich has requested that Gardner reinstate a breed ban. The city repealed their “pit bull” ban in 2007 after officials raised a number of concerns about the ineffectiveness of the ban, including difficulties with enforcement, unexpected expenses, problems with breed identification, intentional breed misidentification by the public, and more.

City staff has requested that council provide specific direction as to what animal ordinance revisions they desire. The council has been asked to provide this direction during the September 7 council meeting, at 7:00 PM, in City Hall, 120 East Main Street, Gardner, KS. In other words, the council will probably vote whether or not to instruct city staff to rewrite the ordinance to include a breed ban.

At this time, it does not appear that the other councilmembers are supportive of a ban. Please remain polite and courteous in your correspondence to educate and encourage the councilmembers to stay away from a breed ban.

David Drovetta, Mayor, ddrovetta@gardnerkansas.gov
Kristy Harrison, kharrison@gardnerkansas.gov
Brian Broxterman, bbroxterman@gardnerkansas.gov
Larry Fotovich, lfotovich@gardnerkansas.gov
Chris Morrow, cmorrow@gardnerkansas.gov
Dennis Pugh, dpugh@gardnerkansas.gov

Email block for cut-and-paste
ddrovetta@gardnerkansas.gov; kharrison@gardnerkansas.gov; bbroxterman@gardnerkansas.gov; lfotovich@gardnerkansas.gov; cmorrow@gardnerkansas.gov; dpugh@gardnerkansas.gov

Agenda for Sept 6: http://www.gardnerkansas.gov/council_agenda_090611

Background/Description of Item:

The Council has discussed possible changes to City Ordinance No. 2175 that pertains to animal control and protection and defines vicious animals and how they are to be handled. It does not define specific breeds of dogs that are banned. This ordinance was passed in 2005.

Looking to understand the direction of the City Council, staff is requesting Council to review Ordinance No. 2175 and provide specific direction so that corrections to the ordinance, if any, can be made and brought back for consideration at the October 3rd meeting.

Staff Recommendation:

Direct staff on changes to Ordinance 2175 – Animal Control and Protection.