Tag Archives: animal

Best Friends alert for New Mexico

A bill has been introduced by State Representative Yvette Herrel that would prohibit breed specific legislation in the state of New Mexico. House Bill 63 would create a state law prohibiting any municipalities, including those that are home rule, from enacting breed specific legislation.  HB63 was introduced on January 11, 2013 and has been assigned to the House Health, Government and Indian Affairs Committee.

This bill needs our support.

NEW MEXICO RESIDENTS, please reach out to your respective state legislators and ask them to support HB63.  Let them know that laws that target dogs based on their appearance rather than their behavior creates communities that are more vulnerable to dangerous dogs, not less.  The passage of HB 63 would mean cities and counties, in drafting animal control ordinances, would have to tackle the root cause of dangerous dogs, irresponsible and reckless dog owners, rather than pass a blanket law that regulates all members of specific breeds.

You can find your representatives here or use the simple contact form Best Friends has set up.

Please also send a note to Representative Herrell to thank her for introducing this common sense bill that would prohibit the passage of breed discriminatory ordinances in the state of New Mexico.

Representative Yvette Herrell
P.O. Box 4338
Alamogordo, NM 88311
yherrell@yahoo.com

HB63 can be tracked here.

StopBSL interview on blog radio

Thanks very much to Glo from Stories of Multiple Pets for giving StopBSL the opportunity to talk about BSL on her show!

If you would like to listen to the show, go to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/a-variety-of-pets/2010/10/21/bsl-a-hot-topic

Gwinnett County, GA: Animal advisory council decries proposed BSL

All alerts for Gwinnett County: http://stopbsl.com/?s=gwinnett+county

Gwinnett County Commissioners contact info
The Animal Advisory committee recommended against BSL, but the county commissioners will make the final decision as to whether to proceed with BSL. Please keep your correspondence polite and informative.
District 1 Commissioner: Shirley Lasseter, Shirley.Lasseter@gwinnettcounty.com
770.822.7001
District 2 Commissioner: Bert Nasuti, Bert.Nasuti@gwinnettcounty.com
770.822.7002
District 3 Commissioner: Mike Beaudreau, Mike.Beaudreau@gwinnettcounty.com
770.822.7003
District 4 Commissioner: Kevin Kenerly, Kevin.Kenerly@gwinnettcounty.com
770.822.7004

Citizens’ animal panel decries county plan to restrict pit bulls

By Patrick Fox
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
8:44 p.m. Tuesday, October 19, 2010

If Gwinnett County officials want to restrict pit bull ownership, they’ll do it without the support of their own citizens’ advisory panel.

[…]The seven-member Animal Advisory Council, appointed by the county commission, said they would not endorse the measure after hearing from a host of residents.

Council Chairwoman Gail LaBerge said she has fought breed-specific legislation for 10 years. Most recently she has been involved in the Douglasville City ordinance addressing the same issue.

“I cannot support it in Douglasville,” she said, “and I will not support it in my own county.”

The proposed ordinance would require owners to provide name, address and a registration fee to the county. Owners would also have to supply proof of insurance, a full description of the pit bull, including a photo, and proof of inoculation. They would also be required to provide a sturdy enclosure that does not share fencing with a perimeter fence.[…]

Full article retrieved 10/19/10 from http://www.ajc.com/news/gwinnett/citizens-animal-panel-decries-685839.html

Butte-Silver Bow, MT update: Animal services board to discuss possible BSL, Aug 5

Several proposals have come before the city council in Butte-Silver Bow recently. Although the proposals brought up by Banderob appear to be out (would have affected up to 11 breeds of dogs), councilmember Schultz’s “pit bull” ordinance is still being considered.

Commissioner Mike Sheehy encouraged people with input on the matter to attend Thursday’s animal services board meeting where the public may comment. The animal services board meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the health department, 25 W. Front St.

Previous alerts for Butte-Silver Bow: http://stopbsl.com/?s=butte-silver+bow

Council nixes tougher dog restrictions

By Justin Post of The Montana Standard
Posted: Thursday, August 5, 2010 12:15 am

A citizen’s call for stricter restrictions on “dangerous” dog breeds failed to win council’s support Wednesday evening.

Read the rest of the story here: 

http://www.mtstandard.com/news/local/article_1fffb9f4-a047-11df-90bf-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=story

Boaz, AL update: Ordinance passes without BSL

Previous alerts for Boaz: http://stopbsl.com/?s=boaz

Boaz council tames vicious animals ordinance

By Lionel Green
The Reporter
Published March 25, 2010

The Boaz City Council removed the breed-specific language from a proposed vicious animals ordinance and unanimously passed the measure during a meeting Monday at the Boaz Senior Center.[…]

Article retrieved 3/24/10 from http://www.sandmountainreporter.com/story.lasso?ewcd=16b94c18ecfb1169

Hendersonville, NC: Free dog safety program, Feb. 20

An opportunity to improve public safety through education:

Rabies clinic, dog safety program in Hendersonville Saturday

STAFF REPORTS • February 19, 2010

HENDERSONVILLE — Henderson County Animal Services will offer a free dog safety program for parents and children at 11 a.m. Feb. 20 at its facility at 828 Stoney Mountain Road.

Full story retrieved Feb. 20, 2010 from http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20100219/NEWS01/100219013

Elkhart County, IN: Animal control ordinance revision proposed (not BSL)

**Not to be confused with the city of Elkhart, IN where a “pit bull” ban has just been proposed.**

Although this article references “restrictions on dangerous breeds of dogs,” the actual proposed ordinance at the link provided does NOT reference specific breeds, nor does it appear to be breed-specific in any way.

Elkhart Co. working on proposed animal ordinance

Posted: 12:58 PM Nov 4, 2009

Elkhart County is working on a proposed animal ordinance which would increase restrictions on dangerous breeds of dogs.

According to our reporting partners at the Elkhart Truth, you could keep your dog if it bit or attacked someone, but it would cost big bucks.

[…] You can have your say on the proposed animal ordinance on Tuesday at 6:00 pm in the Elkhart County Public Services building in Goshen.

To look at the complete ordinance, click here.

Full article retrieved 11/5/09 from http://www.wndu.com/localnews/headlines/69122182.html

As further evidence of poor reporting on the part of WNDU, see the original article, cited as a source of WNDU’s article, at the Elkhart Truth: http://www.etruth.com/Know/News/Story.aspx?id=497435

The proposal, however, does not ban pit bulls or otherwise single out any specific breed for particular treatment, as do some ordinances around the country.

“The thinking was that a dangerous animal is a dangerous animal and that can be any breed,” said Byers.[…]