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Georgia bill to prohibit breed discriminatory laws moves forward

Posted on March 14, 2015 by krisdiaz9 | Comments Off

A bill that was introduced in the Georgia state legislature would prohibit breed discriminatory laws on the state level.

SB 184 is a relatively simple bill. It would amend the current dangerous dog law to include the following language:

“Notwithstanding the provisions of Code Section 4-8-1, no county, municipality, or local 12 authority shall adopt any ordinance or resolution for the regulation of domestic dogs that 13 classifies based on breed.”

Most importantly, the bill expressly includes language that would repeal all existing breed discriminatory laws.

Last week, SB 184 cleared the Senate and moved on to the House. The vote of 42-11 was a decisive victory for the bill. SB 184 has been assigned to the House Government Affairs committee.

There is a companion bill in the House, HB 124. This bill is identical in its language to SB 184. This bill has cleared the second reading and is moving to the Senate side. The fact that these bills have cleared the sides of the legislature that they started on is a very good sign. There is support for the end of breed discriminatory laws on both sides.

The passage of these bills would be a huge step. We do not see a lot of southern states taking on the issue of breed discriminatory laws and BDL seems to be more common in the south than in the north and west percentage wise. Not only would this bill protect the rights of residents, it would also have a huge impact on the surrounding states and open the door to consideration of similar bills in the surrounding area.

GEORGIA RESIDENTS: It is imperative that you continue to reach out to express support for this bill. Take the time to write your Representative a note of support for SB 184. A list of members of the House can be found here: http://www.house.ga.gov/Representatives/en-US/HouseMembersList.aspx

You can find your specific Representative here: http://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/

The contact information for the House Government affairs committee is as follows:
Rep. Ed Rynders, Chair: ed.rynders@house.ga.gov
Rep. Buzz Brockway,: buzz.brockway@house.ga.gov
Rep. Tyrone Brooks: tyrone.brooks@house.ga.gov
Rep. Barry Fleming: barry.fleming@house.ga.gov
Rep. Hugh Floyd: hugh.floyd@house.ga.gov
Rep. Mark Hamilton: mark.hamilton@house.ga.gov
Rep. Dustin Hightower: dustin.hightower@house.ga.gov
Rep. Rusty Kidd: rusty.kidd@house.ga.gov
Rep. Eddie Lumsden: eddie.lumsden@house.ga.gov
Rep. John Meadows: john.meadows@house.ga.gov
Rep. Howard Mosby: howard.mosby@house.ga.gov
Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver: mary.oliver@house.ga.gov
Rep. Larry O’Neal: larry.oneal@house.ga.gov
Rep. Alan Powell: alan.powell@house.ga.gov
Rep. Jay Powell: jay.powell@house.ga.gov
Rep. Tom Taylor: tom.taylor@house.ga.gov
Rep. Darlene K. Taylor: darlene.taylor@house.ga.gov
Rep. Bruce Williamson: bruce.williamson@house.ga.gov

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Posted in Georgia, State Specific

Tagged animal control, ban, bill to prohibit breed specific legislation, breed specific legislation, BSL, dangerous, dangerous dog, dogo argentino, Georgia, German Shepherd, hb 124, Rottweiler, statewide

Savannah, GA – Officials Focus on Irresponsible Owners

Posted on September 26, 2012 by Fred M. Kray | 3 comments

We reported last July that a group in Savannah had rallied 1000 signatures on a petition seeking breed-specific legislation.

Officials are assuring residents that ‘bully breed’ dogs are not the subject of their foreseeable changes to the current policy.

Savannah City Council is reviewing the dog policy in effort to strengthen Animal Control ordinances. According to Lt. Brenda Boulware of Animal Control, “We want to strengthen ordinances, making owners more responsible.”

After several dog attacks in the area, stricter guidelines on owners of dogs declared dangerous is a community-safety necessity. While the proposed changes to the ordinance is not targeting a breed, it is targeting temperament.

According to Boulware, the misconception that there is one free bite is incorrect. A dog can be classified as dangerous or potentially dangerous after the first bite, or before it bites. The changes to the ordinance would make a court appearance mandatory for owners who are cited for ‘dogs at large’ as well as making failure to register their animal with the city an offense resulting in a citation.

Chatham County (where Savannah is located) has already adopted the proposed changes that Savannah officials are considering. That ordinance can be viewed here.

http://www2.wsav.com/news/2012/sep/25/changes-dog-ordinance-city-council-vote-ar-4626261/

SAVANNAH, GA —

It’s a possible policy change that could affect all Savannah dog owners.

Several dog attacks in the area, including a vicious one in Treat Park last year that left a little boy severely injured, some concerned neighbors in the community have asked for a crack down on certain breeds.

But supporters of the changing city ordinance are more focused on the behavior of the dog, not the breed of the dog.

Savannah City Council is currently reviewing their dog policy, and many of you—our viewers– were worried that they will pass breed specific legislation, targeting “bully breeds” — that is any kind of bull mix, including pit bulls. Lt. Brenda Boulware of Animal Control sets the record straight.

“We want to strengthen Animal Control ordinances, making owners more responsible.”