Tag Archives: shelter

Webinar: The Calgary Model for Success

Posted on August 17, 2011 by | Comments Off on Webinar: The Calgary Model for Success

Today (Aug 17) and Friday (Aug 19), Petsmart Charities Webinars will feature “The Calgary Model for Success,” a presentation by Bill Bruce about Calgary’s effective, breed-neutral animal control bylaw.

Anyone may attend and benefit from these webinars. To find out more about what has worked in Calgary, and what can make your community safer and more humane, visit https://petsmartcharities.webex.com/ (Click the Training Center tab if necessary, then view the Upcoming tab.)

Summary of the Webinar, from Petsmart Charities:

The animal control bylaw in Calgary, Alberta, Canada has been hailed by many as a HUGE success. While other cities and provinces in Canada are banning breeds, Calgary is choosing education program and stronger enforcement. Pet owners in Calgary have a support system that addresses their needs before they become a problem. They have a mandatory licensing program for both cats and dogs which has provided the funds to help even more animals. The program has also lowered the number of impounded animals, increased owner return rates, lowered the euthanasia rates and lowered the number of fines for bylaw infractions! In this webinar, Bill Bruce of The City of Calgary Animal Services will share with you the steps he and his organization took to bring his community such a successful program, and the impact it had on animals’ lives in that community.

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Posted in Canada, Community Initiatives, Non-BSL

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Topeka, KS to consider removal of BSL

Posted on June 25, 2010 by | Comments Off on Topeka, KS to consider removal of BSL

Topeka’s animal control has been overbudget by $27,000 annually, primarily because of the dogs they catch and confine under their “pit bull” legislation. These suspected “pit bulls” aren’t aggressive, as the city attorney notes; so the public isn’t really being made safer. To make matters worse, the dogs involved in court cases (due to owners disputing breed ID) clog the local shelter, causing the shelter to euthanize dogs that are not suspected “pit bulls” due to lack of space.

This does not appear to be on the agenda for the next city council meeting. However, locals may wish to contact city councilmembers to voice their support for the repeal of BSL and the institution of non-breed-specific dog laws.

City Council Contact Info:
Karen Hiller, khiller@topeka.org
John Alcala, jalcala@topeka.org
Sylvia Ortiz, sortiz@topeka.org
Jack Woelfel, jwoelfel@topeka.org
Larry Wolgast, lwolgast@topeka.org
Deputy Mayor Deborah Swank, djswank@cox.net
Bob Archer, barcher@topeka.org
Jeff Preisner, jpreisner@topeka.org
Richard Harmon, rharmon@topeka.org

City may scrap pit bull rules

Pit bull confinement regs contribute to overrun in animal control budget

By Tim Hrenchir
June 25, 2010 – 4:56pm

Assistant city attorney Kyle Smith told the council this past week that the committee, which is working with Councilwoman Karen Hiller, is suggesting moves that include doing away with the city’s breed-specific rules regulating ownership of pit bulls.

Read the whole story here: 

http://cjonline.com/news/local/2010-06-25/city_may_scrap_pit_bull_rules

DOCUMENTS

Read assistant city attorney Kyle Smith’s memorandum describing suggested revisions to Topeka animal ordinances and view what the Topeka Police Department has paid to confine dogs suspected of being pit bulls.

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Posted in Kansas, Proposal to Repeal

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Virginia: HB 281 amended to prohibit breed-based shelter euthanasia

Posted on April 15, 2010 by | 2 comments

HB 281 is almost ready for the governor’s signature. HB 281 summary and tracking page: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=101&typ=bil&val=hb281&Submit2=Go

McDonnell amends bill on breed-based euthanasia in shelters

Edited by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
April 14, 2010 by afp

Gov. Bob McDonnell has amended a bill passed by the General Assembly to insert a prohibition banning breed-based killing of dogs in the Commonwealth.[…]

The Governor’s amendment will add the following language: “No pound may euthanize, or prohibit the adoption of, any dog based solely on breed…”

Article retrieved 4/15/10 from http://augustafreepress.com/2010/04/14/mcdonnell-amends-bill-on-breed-based-euthanasia-in-shelters/

2 Comments

Posted in Non-BSL Proposed, Virginia

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Ohio: Ohio’s ‘pit bull’ law sticks despite tries for change

Posted on December 6, 2009 by | Comments Off on Ohio: Ohio’s ‘pit bull’ law sticks despite tries for change

The full article explains how the breed-specific language was adopted by the Ohio legislature decades ago, and is recommended reading.

Ohio’s ‘pit bull’ law sticks despite tries for change

By JIM PROVANCE
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF
Article published December 06, 2009

COLUMBUS – […] The law has firmly stuck despite multiple attempts to repeal the language. Rep. Barbara Sears (R., Sylvania) has launched the latest offensive. Her bill would simply pull references to the “pit bull” from the definition of vicious dog. It has received its obligatory first hearing, but there’s been no action since.[…]

Full article retrieved 12/06/09 from http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091206/NEWS24/912060323

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Posted in Breed Identification, BSL, Community Initiatives, Court Cases, Ohio

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Erie, PA: Incidents renew calls for regulation of pit bulls, other vicious dogs

Posted on November 24, 2009 by | Comments Off on Erie, PA: Incidents renew calls for regulation of pit bulls, other vicious dogs

Article writer Kara Murphy needs education about how to interpret dog bite statistics and how to identify credible scientific sources (see “Journalist Resources: Scientific Studies” to understand why Animal People/Merritt Clifton’s so-called “study” is not legitimate scientific research): kara.murphy@timesnews.com

City shelter manager Kris Watkins needs education about no-kill initiatives, how to decrease the kill rate, and how to save more “pit bulls” (first step: stop talking about “pit bulls” in a way that feeds the vicious stereotype): staff@theannashelter.com or 814-451-0230.

Erie can’t pass BSL due to state law, but City Councilmembers need information about effective non-breed-specific dangerous dog laws, preferably from locals who understand why the current dog laws are failing.

Send correspondence to the entire City Council by sending to the city clerk:

City Clerk Jim Klemm
Email: jeklemm@erie.pa.us
Phone: (814) 870-1291
Fax: (814) 870-1296

Dept. City Clerk Gloria Criscione
Email: gloriac@erie.pa.us
Phone: (814) 870-1292
Fax: (814) 870-1296

Incidents renew calls for regulation of pit bulls, other vicious dogs

By KARA MURPHY
kara.murphy@timesnews.com
Published: November 23. 2009 1:15AM

[…] The recent attacks have raised questions of whether regulations on pit bull owners should be tightened, an idea that Erie police last raised in 2007 after a series of attacks involving the breed, including two incidents in which Erie police officers shot and killed attacking pit bulls.

But City Councilman Jim Thompson said state law prohibits local governing bodies from putting in place breed-specific laws. He pursued the idea of tightening regulations against pit bull owners several years ago.[…]

Full article retrieved 11/24/09 from http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091123/NEWS02/311239975

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Posted in Media Negligence, Pennsylvania, Whispers of BSL

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Lucas County, OH: Dog warden Tom Skeldon resigns

Posted on November 20, 2009 by | Comments Off on Lucas County, OH: Dog warden Tom Skeldon resigns

Lucas County dog warden Tom Skeldon, who has pushed for and supported BSL not only in Ohio but across the U.S., and whose policies were very anti-animal and pro-killing, has resigned, effective January 31.

A lengthy article on Skeldon’s resignation and the next steps to fill the vacant position can be found here: http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091119/NEWS16/911199999/-1/NEWS

Lucas County commissioner Ben Konop was the only county commissioner that wanted Skeldon out.

Please thank Commissioner Konop for standing up for the animals of Lucas County, and please encourage all of the commissioners to hire a new dog warden who is progressive, proactive, life-affirming, safety-conscious, and logical.

Commissioners’ Contact Info:
One Government Center, Suite 800, Toledo, OH 43604

Ben Konop
bkonop@co.lucas.oh.us
(419) 213-2155

Tina Skeldon Wozniak
(419) 213-4817
twozniak@co.lucas.oh.us

Pete Gerken
(419) 213-4084
pgerken@co.lucas.oh.us

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Posted in Community Initiatives, Ohio

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Charlotte, NC: Pit Bulls Taken To Charlotte Shelter Costing Taxpayers

Posted on November 15, 2009 by | Comments Off on Charlotte, NC: Pit Bulls Taken To Charlotte Shelter Costing Taxpayers

Breed-specific no-adopt policy in the Charlotte shelter results in a lot of innocent dead dogs at a high expense to taxpayers.

Animal Care and Control would like to hear opinions from the public about their breed-specific no-adopt policy:
8315 Byrum Drive
Charlotte, NC 28217
Phone-Local……………..311
Out of County- 704-336-7600

City Council would need to vote to change the shelter’s policy. Contact them through this handy online form:
http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/City+Council/Forms/home.htm

Charlotte itself does not have breed-specific legislation.

9 Investigates: Pit Bulls Taken To Charlotte Shelter Costing Taxpayers

Posted: 3:50 pm EST November 13, 2009
Updated: 6:34 pm EST November 13, 2009

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — About 2,500 pit bulls come through pit bull row at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control each year.

[… Shelter spokeswoman Melissa Knicely] said that poses a special challenge at Charlotte’s facility because pit bulls can’t be adopted out.[…]

To change the policy about not adopting out pit bulls, the department would need city council approval and extra staff. But before it even got that far, they’d want to hear from the public because they realize some people might be very opposed.

Full article retrieved 11/15/09 from http://www.wsoctv.com/news/21608988/detail.html

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Posted in Community Initiatives, North Carolina, Results of BSL

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