If everyone contacts all of these people we can probably stop this before it gets started. Please remember to be respectful and polite. Please cross post and forward this to everyone you know. As most of you know once a city passes BSL others try to follow, then yours could be next.
Check this site out for writing tools and sample letters
www.freewebs.com/stoparmadnessIf anyone knows of any proposed Breed Specific Legislation please let us know.
v_s_b_a@yahoo.com
OHIO - State Wide
A BILL
To amend section 955.11 and to enact section 955.111 of the Revised Code to prohibit the owning, keeping, or harboring of pit bull dogs beginning ninety days after the effective date of the act and to require specified officers to seize all pit bull dogs after that date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That section 955.11 be amended and section 955.111 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 955.11. (A) As used in this section:
(1)(a) "Dangerous dog" means a dog that, without provocation, and subject to division (A)(1)(b) of this section, has chased or approached in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of attack, or has attempted to bite or otherwise endanger any person, while that dog is off the premises of its owner, keeper, or harborer and not under the reasonable control of its owner, keeper, harborer, or some other responsible person, or not physically restrained or confined in a locked pen which that has a top, locked fenced yard, or other locked enclosure which that has a top.
(b) "Dangerous dog" does not include a police dog that has chased or approached in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of attack, or has attempted to bite or otherwise endanger any person while the police dog is being used to assist one or more law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties.
(2) "Menacing fashion" means that a dog would cause any person being chased or approached to reasonably believe that the dog will cause physical injury to that person.
(3) "Police dog" means a dog that has been trained, and may be used, to assist one or more law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties.
(4)(a) "Vicious dog" means a dog that, without provocation and subject to division (A)(4)(b) of this section, meets any either of the following:
(i) Has killed or caused serious injury to any person;
(ii) Has caused injury, other than killing or serious injury, to any person, or has killed another dog.
(iii) Belongs to a breed that is commonly known as a pit bull dog. The ownership, keeping, or harboring of such a breed of dog shall be prima-facie evidence of the ownership, keeping, or harboring of a vicious dog. -crossed out on version you can see at the link.
(b) "Vicious dog" does not include either of the following:
(i) A police dog that has killed or caused serious injury to any person or that has caused injury, other than killing or serious injury, to any person while the police dog is being used to assist one or more law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties;
(ii) A dog that has killed or caused serious injury to any person while a person was committing or attempting to commit a trespass or other criminal offense on the property of the owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog.
(5) "Without provocation" means that a dog was not teased, tormented, or abused by a person, or that the dog was not coming to the aid or the defense of a person who was not engaged in illegal or criminal activity and who was not using the dog as a means of carrying out such activity.
(B) Upon the transfer of ownership of any dog, the seller of the dog shall give the buyer a transfer of ownership certificate that shall be signed by the seller. The certificate shall contain the registration number of the dog, the name of the seller, and a brief description of the dog. Blank forms of the certificate may be obtained from the county auditor. A transfer of ownership shall be recorded by the auditor upon presentation of a transfer of ownership certificate that is signed by the former owner of a dog and that is accompanied by a fee of twenty-five cents.
(C) Prior to the transfer of ownership or possession of any dog, upon the buyer's or other transferee's request, the seller or other transferor of the dog shall give to the person a written notice relative to the behavior and propensities of the dog.
(D) Within ten days after the transfer of ownership or possession of any dog, if the seller or other transferor of the dog has knowledge that the dog is a dangerous or vicious dog, he the seller or other transferor shall give to the buyer or other transferee, the board of health for the district in which the buyer or other transferee resides, and the dog warden of the county in which the buyer or other transferee resides, a completed copy of a written form on which the seller shall furnish the following information:
(1) The name and address of the buyer or other transferee of the dog;
(2) The age, sex, color, breed, and current registration number of the dog.
In addition, the seller shall answer the following questions, which shall be specifically stated on the form as follows:
"Has the dog ever chased or attempted to attack or bite a person? If yes, describe the incident(s) in which the behavior occurred."
"Has the dog ever bitten a person? If yes, describe the incident(s) in which the behavior occurred."
"Has the dog ever seriously injured or killed a person? If yes, describe the incident(s) in which the behavior occurred."
The dog warden of the county in which the seller resides shall furnish the form to the seller at no cost.
(E) No seller or other transferor of a dog shall fail to comply with the applicable requirements of divisions (B) to (D) of this section.
Sec. 955.111. (A) Beginning ninety days after the effective date of this section, no person shall own, keep, or harbor a dog that belongs to a breed that is commonly known as a pit bull dog.
(B) Not later than ninety days after the effective date of this section, a person who owns, keeps, or harbors a pit bull dog on the effective date of this section shall surrender the dog to the dog warden. Not later than ten days after receiving the dog, the dog warden shall euthanize the dog.
(C)(1) Beginning ninety days after the effective date of this section, if an officer has probable cause to believe that a dog is a pit bull dog, the officer may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for a search warrant. The court shall issue a search warrant for the purposes requested if there is probable cause to believe that a dog is a pit bull dog.
(2) After obtaining a search warrant, an officer shall seize the pit bull dog and surrender the dog to the dog warden. Not later than ten days after receiving the dog, the dog warden shall euthanize the dog.
(D) As used in this section, "officer" has the same meaning as in section 959.132 of the Revised Code.
Section 2. That existing section 955.11 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed.
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=127_HB_568.
__________________________________________________________
Tyrone K. Yates (D)
District 33
Address:
77 S. High St
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-1308
Fax : (614) 719-3587
Email Address:
Term in Office: 3rd
City: Cincinnati
Occupation: Attorney; Amateur Historian
Education: B.A., in History, University of Cincinnati; J.D., University of Toledo, College of Law
Standing Committees:
Memberships/Affiliations:
Life Member, Navy League of the United States; Life Member, American Angus Association; St. Andrew's Episcopal Church; Alpha Phi Alpha FraternityPast Accomplishments: 4 terms Cincinnati City Council (1990-1999); 2 terms Vice Mayor of Cincinnati (1993-1997)
Personal: Born 1954, Single
http://www.house.state.oh.us/jsps/MemberDetails.jsp?DISTRICT=33
Kinston, North Carolina
Vick-timized
City officials considering pit bull ordinance
May 12, 2008 - 12:10AM
Staff Writer
Kinston officials are drafting an ordinance from the mold of many communities around the nation that have passed laws restricting or banning pit bull ownership.
"Our research shows there is a wide range of policies out there dealing with pit bulls," Public Safety Director Greg Smith said.
Smith said a number of factors lead to the ordinance, which is still in draft form. Those factors include increasing citizen complaints to City Council members and the police regarding problem pit bulls, more frequent seizures of the dogs when police raid houses, and data showing that pit bulls are responsible for the majority of dog attacks on residents and police officers in recent years.
Also, the issue has seen increased visibility since former pro football star Michael Vick's arrest last year on charges of running a dogfighting ring.
"It's not that uncommon for other cities to have them disallowed," said City Manager Scott Stevens.
Kinston city and police staffers have looked into the policies of a number of cities and counties that have enacted pit bull ordinances. The Florida Legislature debated a statewide ban earlier this year; Miami-Dade County has had a pit bull ordinance since 1989.
Smith said there are "all types of options" available, and he stressed that any ordinance would consider pit bull owners' needs as well, since many families care for the dogs without incident.
"I don't want to paint the picture that every pit bull in this city is an aggressive dog," Smith said.
Problem pit bulls are becoming a larger issue, though. A series of drug raids in the city last month netted seven dogs along with narcotics, drug paraphernalia and a handgun.
Assistant Police Chief Annette Boyd said officers discover four to 10 dogs tied up around most of the houses they raid, and they usually bear signs of mistreatment.
Any dogs seized are given medical care if needed and housed at the local animal shelter. Police will charge owners with animal cruelty if there is solid evidence that the pit bulls have been mistreated. The dogs are returned if the owner is acquitted, though.
If the owner is convicted, shelter officials will work to find an adoptive family or euthanize the dog.
"We are actively working on the situation because it is becoming a problem," Boyd said.
Smith said suspected criminals place the dogs around their residences to impede officers, giving them enough time to get rid of evidence or escape.
Police have also received "intelligence" that some Kinston pit bull owners could be training the dogs for fights outside the city.
The ordinance, which Smith plans to present to council members during their May 19 work session, includes a number of measures, including restricting the number of pit bulls per house, requiring owners to register their existing pit bulls, and keeping any more of the breed out of Kinston.
"It's a decision that the council (members) will have to make on what they want to do," said Smith.
David Anderson can be reached at (252) 559-1077, or danderson@freedomenc.com
Greg Smith
Title: Director of Department of Public Safety
Scotty Hill
Title: Deputy Director of Department of Public Safety
205 E King St / Kinston, NC 28501
PO Drawer 339 / Kinston, NC 28502
M: 252-939-3139
F: 252-939-3141
.
R Van Braxton
Title: Council member
Terms Served: Currently serving 2nd Term (first elected in 1995)
Education: East Carolina University - Bachelor of Science Degree
Professional Information: General Electric Financial Advisors
Affiliations: Queen Street Methodist Church; Kinston Exchange Club
Personal Information: Wife, Sandra Braxton
Contact Information: Note: The Mayor and Members of the City Council can be reached through the Office of the City Clerk at (252) 939-3115
W - 252-568-7446
H - 252-522-2467
E-mail: van.braxton@ci.kinston.nc.us
Residence: 1512 Surry Street
Kinston, NC 28504
Jimmy D. Cousins
Title: Council member
Terms Served: Currently serving 1st Term (first elected in 2001)
Education: East Carolina University - Bachelor of Science Degree
Professional Information: Clean East Environmental
Affiliations: Rotary; Richard Caswell Masonic Lodge #705
Personal Information: Wife, Linda Cousins; Daughters: Dana Creech, Gina Raynor
Contact Information: Note: The Mayor and Members of the City Council can be reached through the Office of the City Clerk at (252) 939-3115
W - 252-522-0732
H - 252-939-1600
E-mail:
Alice Tingle
Title: Mayor Pro Tem
Terms Served: Currently serving 1st Term on the City Council (elected in 1999); Appointed Mayor Pro Tem in 2001
Education: East Carolina University - Bachelor of Science Degree
Professional Information: Director of the Small Business Center at Lenoir Community College
Affiliations: Lenoir County Committee of 100; NCCBI Small Business Advisory Board; E-Communities, Chairman; Executive Board and Board of Directors for Pride of Kinston; Microenterprise State Advisory Board; Board of Directors for Friends of the Homeless; Salvation Army Ladies Auxiliary; Grace Fellowship Church
Personal Information: Husband, Kelly Tingle; Sons, Kelly S. Tingle and Scott D. Tingle
Contact Information: Note: The Mayor and Members of the City Council can be reached through the Office of the City Clerk at (252) 939-3115
W - 252-527-6223
H - 252-527-6519
E-mail:
Joseph M. Tyson
Title: Council member
Terms Served: Currently serving 2nd Term (appointed in 1998 to fill the unexpired term of Johnnie Mosley, who’d been elected Mayor, then elected in 1999)
Education: East Carolina University - Bachelor of Science Degree
Professional Information: Senior Army Instructor for Kinston High School Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps; Retired from the military, rank of Lieutenant Colonel
Affiliations: Chairman, Kinston Convention and Visitors’ Bureau; Life Member and Past Commander of VFW Post 2771; Past commander of American Legion Post 4;3 Life Member of Disabled Veteran Chapter 32; Member of the La Societe des 40 Hommes et 8 Chavaux Voiture 1175; Member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Lambda Pi Chapter; Board of Directors, Lenoir County Arc; Board of Directors, OIC of Lenoir, Greene, and Jones Counties; Board of Directors, Lenoir County Young Scholars Program
Personal Information: Wife, Mildred Tyson; Sons: Joseph, Jr. And Jeffrey; Daughter: Tonya Nicole (deceased); Daughter-in-Law: Donna; Granddaughters: Danielle, Andrea and Jessica Morjan (deceased)
Contact Information: Note: The Mayor and Members of the City Council can be reached through the Office of the City Clerk at (252) 939-3115
W - 252-527-8676
H - 252-527-4206
E-mail:
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
New Details In Deadly Camp Lejeune Pit Bull Attack
Posted: 8:37 PM May 14, 2008
Last Updated: 9:55 PM May 15, 2008
Reporter: Dave Jordan / Bill Wilson
Camp Lejeune says a three-year-old was killed by a family friend's dog who came on base for a visit yesterday.
The Onslow County Medical Examiners Office says an autopsy this morning shows Julian Slack bled to death, due to the severity of the dog bites
The autopsy says the child was bitten on the face, neck, head and right arm.
This afternoon base officials say the toddler was being watched by a baby sitter yesterday when the family friend arrived. A short time after the arrival, someone let the Pit Bull inside the home.
Base public affairs officers say the investigation shows a short time later the Pit Bull became startled and excited by something the child was doing and the dog attacked him. The base says the dog was not provoked by the child.
The base says the child's parents pulled up to the home as the attack was happening, and that's when the father rushed his son to the hospital in his own vehicle.
Camp Lejeune does have pet restrictions on base. They are to be on leash or in a fenced in area at all times. The public affairs office says it's not sure what restrictions there are for people visiting the base with their pets.
Wednesday Night's Story
Base officials at Camp Lejeune say a three-year old boy was bitten by a Pit Bull on base and died.
Few details are available as the investigation is continuing. We're told the Pit Bull is currently being held at the Camp Lejeune Kennel.
A base spokesman says the incident happened at Tarawa Terrace. It's unclear what led to the attack.
Onslow County Memorial Hospital spokesman Tim Strickland says the father of the boy drove him to the hospital. Strickland says the boy did not have a pulse when he arrived.
http://www.witntv.com/home/headlines/18956729.html
City Council
Post Office Drawer 339
Kinston, NC 28502
Dillon, South Carolina
Tighter Pit Bull restrictions in Dillon
Some dog owners in Dillon face a new law. A law that has left some with no choice but to get rids of their pets.
As of Monday, anyone who lives in Dillon city limits and owns a Pit Bull breed or mix has to register the dog with the city and keep it confined.
Stephen Litwin has been raising Pit bulls for 11 years. They are like family to him, regardless of their dangerous reputation.
"Not all dogs are the same way as other dogs. It just depends on how you treat your dog and how well you take care of it," Litwin said.
He keeps one Pit Bull on a chain, one inside the house, and a mom and her puppies inside a fence. That will have to change.
Under a new law passed Monday night, any pit bull breed in the city must now be kept in a 6ft tall, 100 square ft fence.
City councilman Randolph Gurley spear-headed the effort. He said he's sick of hearing about people getting hurt.
"The most vicious one, and you have more people that have been attacked by pit bulls and killed by pit bulls than any other dog," Gurley said.
He said if people can't afford to build a fence, "Well then they only have one choice, get rid of the dog."
That's what Stephen Litwin plans to do. Send his pit bulls to live with family in the country where they can roam freely.
"I love all my dogs to death, but if that's what it's got to come down to, I will," he said.
Pit bull owners in Dillon must start putting up fences now, but will have six months before they have to register their dogs with the city.
Starting November 12th, pit bull owners should take their dogs and a photo ID to the Dillon City-County Complex to register.
Mayor & City Council : Mayor
Mayor J. Todd Davis
P.O. Box 1236
Dillon, SC 29536
tel: (843)774-2227
City Council : District 1
James Willis Washington
1207 Pine Street
Dillon, SC 29536
tel: (843)229-0025
City Council : District 2
Randolph Stephen Gurley
902 West Street
Dillon, SC 29536
tel/work: (843)774-0040
tel/home: (843)774-2341
tel/cellular: (843)309-0073
City Council : District 3
Kenneth H. Stephens
1106 N. 4th Ave
Dillon, SC 29536
tel: (843)774-2558
City Council : District 4
Douglas Jackson
1100 E. Main St
Dillon, SC 29536
tel: (843)774-6031
tel2: (843)774-3293
City Council : District 5
John R. Braddy
P.O. Box 968
West Harrison Street
Dillon, SC 29536
tel: (843)774-9061
City Council : District 6
Phil Wallace, M.D.
511 Johnson Drive
Dillon, SC 29536
tel: (843)774-2478
City Attourney: John D. McInnis
tel: (843)774-8236
Hardeman County, Tennessee Pit Bull Ban Alert! The Bulletin Times is reporting that Hardeman County has passed a resolution banning the ownership, harboring, or possession of Pit Bulls, including Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Bull Terriers and American Staffordshire Terriers. County Clerk Mr. Jerry Armstrong 100 N Main St Bolivar, TN 38008 731-658-3541
STATE WIDE BSL IN TENNESSEE!! We need your help, Senator Kilby of the Great State of TN has a new bill that is going to ban ALL pit bull type breeds and make it a crime for us to own this beautiful breed! So please post this where you can and let your voice be heard!
The resolution also bans ownership of "mixed breeds that have the same appearance and characteristics of the above-mentioned breeds."
Persons owning such dogs at the present time may retain possession, provided they comply with all provisions of the resolution within 30 days, which include:
1. Registering the dog with the Animal Control Office and providing 2 photos that clearly show its color and approximate size
2. Agree to keep the dog enclosed indoors or in a kennel at all times.
3. Provide $100,000 worth of liability insurance.
If the dog is out of its cage, it must be on a leash controlled by a responsible person and must also be muzzled.
Any offspring the dog might have must be removed from the county within 6 weeks. It is also illegal to sell the dog to anyone in the county unless they are living on the same property as the animal.
Animals and Animal Cruelty - Creates a new Class A misdemeanor of knowingly owning a pit bull dog in this state. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 14.
Read the PDF file here:
http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/SB2738.pdf
Prohibits the ownership of American Staffordshire Terriers. American Pit Bull Terriers, American Bulldogs, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, any mixed breed dog being identifiable as being 50% the above named breeds.
Tennessee Senate
TOMMY KILBY
D - Wartburg
District 12 - Campbell, Fentress, Morgan,
Rhea, Roane and Scott counties
District Address
118 Henry Heidel Lane
Wartburg, TN 37887
Nashville Address
10A Legislative Plaza
Nashville, TN 37243-0212
Phone (615) 741-1449
Fax (615) 253-0237
Staff Contact: Nadine Korby, Jeremy Davis, Research Analyst
Internet E-Mail Address
Sen. Tommy Kilby
sen.mae.beavers@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.andy.berke@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.diane.black@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.dewayne.bunch@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.tim.burchett@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.charlotte.burks@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.rusty.crowe@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.lowe.finney@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.raymond.finney@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.ophelia.ford@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.thelma.harper@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.joe.haynes@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.douglas.henry@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.roy.herron@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.doug.jackson@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.jack.johnson@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.bill.ketron@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.tommy.kilby@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.rosalind.kurita@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.jim.kyle@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.beverly.marrero@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.randy.mcnally@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.mark.norris@legislature.state.tn.us;
lt.gov.ron.ramsey@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.steve.roller@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.steve.southerland@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.paul.stanley@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.reginald.tate@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.jim.tracy@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.bo.watson@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.john.wilder@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.micheal.williams@legislature.state.tn.us;
sen.jamie.woodson@legislature.state.tn.us
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE
Tougher dog laws are urged
Officer backs special pit-bull license; senator calls for spaying, neutering
Brad Williams, williamsbr@knews.com
Friday, November 16, 2007
When Frankie Byrne heard a woman had been killed by two pit bulls at a Sam Lee Road trailer, she knew exactly which animals were involved.
The Knox County animal control officer got acquainted with Mafia Lee and Passion Maria on Aug. 28 after deputies in the area encountered the dogs "running loose and ... chasing a trash collector," then attacking the bumper of a patrol car that blocked their pursuit.
"I knew that something bad was going to happen with those dogs when the sheriff's deputies were telling me the story," said Byrne, who filled out "dangerous dog" paperwork but said she wants tougher laws addressing problem animals.
"The laws are so lenient. … I did everything legally I could do about them," she said. Tougher dog laws could be coming.
State Sen. Tim Burchett, R-Knoxville, released a letter Wednesday to Knox County Commission Chairman Scott Moore urging the commission to address pit bull ownership.
"I am calling on you to enact a countywide ordinance that says if they have a pit bull it will be spayed or neutered," Burchett wrote.
A working group of city and county officials has been meeting monthly to look at a uniform law for animal control inside and outside the city limits, according to the group's chairman, county Health Department Director Mark Jones. The group hasn't taken up the issue of dangerous dogs yet, but Jones said, "I think there are a lot of ways we could improve the animal ordinances in this county and city. We know for a fact that animals spayed or neutered are less aggressive. People who are responsible animal owners should have their animals spayed or neutered."
The animal control department is represented on Jones' committee, and officers such as Byrne have ideas for controlling dangerous dogs.
Byrne went to work in animal control in January after working at the Oakland Zoo in California.
She returned to the Sam Lee Road trailer Friday, three days before the woman's death, to make sure all was well.
"I stopped by, and (the owner) had the dogs loose in the front yard … which is a violation of the classification," she said. The dogs were required to be kept in a fully enclosed, inescapable pen, in the house or on a leash.
Byrne did not issue a citation, pointing out that it would have been a $50 fine at most.
Byrne said she believes pit bulls are inherently dangerous, because of the history of their breeding for aggressiveness.
"It's my own personal opinion," Byrne added. "Me personally, I would not want one in my house."
The difference between an attack by other breeds and a pit bull, she said, is like the difference between a collision with a Mini Cooper car or a sport utility vehicle.
She said she doesn't favor a countywide ban on the breed, however.
"If I were to make the law, you would have to have a special license to have a pit bull," Byrne said. She said owner screening would help, as would special insurance requirements for owners of pit bulls.
She said homeowners insurance policies could prohibit pit bulls or charge higher rates.
Currently in the county, a dog doesn't have to be fenced in so long as it remains on the owner's property.
But some owners are taking extra steps.
Byrne went Wednesday to follow up with an owner whose pit bull had escaped its enclosure.
The white purebred named Sam, about 14 months old, is now completely fenced in.
Owner Joyce Montgomery said she did it because "I didn't want somebody to be afraid of him or to shoot him, to lose him. … This dog sleeps with us." She said she wasn't always so keen on the breed.
"When my son said he wanted to get a pit, our response was, 'No way,' " she said. "He is the silliest dog, the most entertaining dog we have ever had."
Montgomery opposes a countywide ban.
"I think it's discrimination against a breed to outlaw pit bulls. I think it's the owners, not the dogs," she said. "People who get them need to be educated."
Director of Animal Control David Head said he wants "one concise set of laws that the whole county works with," rather than different rules inside and outside the city limits.
He'd like the city's liability insurance requirement for animals deemed dangerous to apply in the county, for instance.
"Most renters cannot afford $100,000 insurance. That means the dogs go away," Head said.
In the meantime, Byrne keeps a knife at her hip, using it for tasks such as slicing open bags of lime to cover decaying road kill.
But she said she's pulled it out ready to defend herself before.
"I've had pit bulls coming at me," she said. "I love animals, but I'm going to make sure that I go home at night."
Brad Williams may be reached at 865-342-6432.
© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/nov/16/tougher-dog-laws-are-urged/
Quick Email List
county.mayor@knoxcounty.org, mayor@cityofknoxville.org, mayor@cityofknoxville.org, jdbailey@cityofknoxville.org, chriswoodhull@bellsouth.net, mroddy@cityofknoxville.org, rpelot3@aol.com, InteriorFinishes@MSN.com, rfrost@adhknox.com, bob@bobbecker.org, browncity6thdist@aol.com
Knox County Mayor
Mike Ragsdale
county.mayor@knoxcounty.org
865-215-2005
Suite 615
City County Building
400 Main Street
Knoxville, TN 37902
Knox County Animal Control
865-215-6658
Knoxville City Animal Control
865-215-7457
Knoxville City Mayor
Bill Haslam
mayor@cityofknoxville.org
Phone: 865-215-2040
Fax: 865-215-2085
Council Member
Joe Bailey - at large
424 Hillvale Turn, West
Knoxville, TN 37919
865-637-4477
jdbailey@cityofknoxville.org
Council Member
Chris Woodhull - at large
223 Deadrick Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37921
865-661-4131
chriswoodhull@bellsouth.net
Council Member
Marilyn Roddy - at large
920 Iskagna Drive
Knoxville, TN 37919
865-637-0333
mroddy@cityofknoxville.org
Council Member
Barbara Pelot - Second District
8437 Corteland Drive
Knoxville, TN 37909
Home: 865-693-0454
Work: 865-671-1544
Fax: 865-693-0525
rpelot3@aol.com
Council Member
Steve Hall - Third District
5748 Acapulco Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37921
Home: 865-584-9567
Work: 865-522-1195 or
865-522-1414
InteriorFinishes@MSN.com
Council Member
Rob Frost - Fourth District
P.O. Box 300
Knoxville, TN 37901-0300
Home: 865-525-1303
Work: 865-546-7000
Fax: 865-546-0423
rfrost@adhknox.com
Council Member
Bob Becker - Fifth District
125 E. Columbia Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37917
Home: 865-524-1524
bob@bobbecker.org
Council Member
Mark Brown - Sixth District
305 Bona Road
Knoxville, TN 37914
865-637-7733
browncity6thdist@aol.com
BSL Alert Lorain, Ohio
Residents bark over city regulations for pit bulls
KATE GIAMMARISE, Morning Journal Writer
10/23/2007
LORAIN -- A council committee meeting last evening almost turned into a real dog fight. The topic -- legislation that could regulate pit bulls in the city of Lorain.
The city's Animal Control Officer, Michael Mattei, gave an impassioned presentation to council members at the Police and Fire Committee meeting on the need for regulation of the dogs.
'We need this ordinance to protect our citizens,'' Mattei said.
Disagreeing were about half a dozen audience members who spoke against what they termed ''breed-specific legislation'' that they said unfairly singled out pit bulls.
The legislation, while not an outright ban on the dogs, would:
-- label pit bulls ''vicious dogs''
-- limit ownership of pit bulls to one per household, though residents who already have more than one pit bull would be allowed to keep all their dogs under a grandfather clause
-- require the dogs to be spayed or neutered
-- mandate owners confine the dog while it is on their property and keep it on a leash when it is not on their property
Mattei and Lorain Director of Environmental Health Jack Kurowski helped Law Director Mark Provenza author the legislation, Mattei said.
Many in the audience said they were not convinced the legislation would work.
One dog owner said she was concerned if the law were passed and her dog were labeled as ''vicious,'' she could lose her homeowners' insurance.
Shana Klein, president and founder of Canine Advocates of Ohio and For the Love of Pits, said owners are ultimately the ones responsible for properly caring for their dogs.
''These (breed specific) laws are ineffective,'' Klein said.
Another man said not all pit bulls are dangerous.
''The only fighting issue I have with my dog is for the comforter at night,'' he said, and invited council members to come to the parking lot and meet his two pit bulls.
Still, many council members said even if the legislation were modified, some type of regulation would be needed, particularly in the wake of the mauling of a 7-year-old girl by a pit bull in May.
Council members voted unanimously to put the legislation on hold to review articles, studies and other information provided by both sides.
http://www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18945216&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46371&rfi=6
Lorain Council still working on pit bull law
Stephen Szucs | The Chronicle-Telegram
LORAIN — Lorain City Council’s Police and Fire Committee still wants to iron out some issues with a proposed pit bull ordinance before sending a recommendation to Council.
Mike Mattei, the city’s animal control officer, told the committee that pit bulls are becoming more of a problem every day and pulled out numbers to support the ordinance.
Of the 146 pit bulls he’s picked up since his first day on the job in January, he said, 85 percent were euthanized because no owner came forward to claim them.
Mattei said pit bulls were to blame for 60 of the 305 dog bites reported throughout the city last year, and went on to show the committee a picture of the injuries sustained by a 7-year-old girl after she was mauled in May.
“It’s a dog that’s inflicted bad damage and practically removed the face of a girl seven months ago,” he said.
The ordinance would establish the pit bull as a vicious breed and requires owners to properly confine pit bulls, in addition to limiting owners to one pit bull per household or residence.
Each pit bull will have to be registered with the city, according to the proposed ordinance, and proof that the dog has been spayed or neutered also will be required.
Should owners violate the restrictions, they will be fined between $25 and $100 for the first offense. Each subsequent offense will result in a fine of at least $75 and can grow to more than $250 and include a 30-day jail sentence.
Lorain Law Director Mark Provenza said the ordinance would allow owners with multiple pit bulls prior to the ordinance to be grandfathered in and be exempt from the new law.
Shana Klein, President of Canine Advocates of Ohio, told the committee that breed specific legislation doesn’t work, and whipped out her own facts about dog attacks.
“There hasn’t been a fatal pit bull attack in 15 years,” she said. “There are 40 breeds of dogs that have severely mauled people.”
The committee requested more time to review the ordinance, and will meet again on the topic next month.
Contact Stephen Szucs at (440) 336-4016 or online at sszucs@chroniclet.com
http://www.chroniclet.com/2007/10/23/lorain-council-still-working-on-pit-bull-law/
Ken Shawver
Council President
Kenneth_Shawver@cityofLorain.org
5220 Clovelly Dr. (44053)
(H) 282-9463
Kathy L. Tavenner
Council-At-Large
Kathy_Tavenner@CityofLorain.org
2712 W. 37 St. (44053)
(H) 282-7189
Daniel Given
Council-At-Large
dgiven@osterhomes.com
4865 Eagles Nest Drive (44053)
(H) 440-282-6200
Anthony Krasienko
Council-At-Large
Anthony_Krasienko@cityofLorain.org
1327 W. 25th St. (44052)
(H) 440-960-1989
David Wargo
1st Ward
David_Wargo@CityofLorain.org
1641 Root Rd. (44052)
(H) 440-288-8302
Philip J. Betleski
2nd Ward
Phillip_Betleski@cityoflorain.org
1723 E. Erie Ave. (44052)
(H) 440-288-9396
David Escobar
3rd Ward
David_Escobar@CityofLorain.org
930 W. 30th St. (44052)
(H) 440-653-6845
Bret Schuster
4th Ward
Bret_Schuster@cityofLorain.org
3847 Amherst Ave. (44052)
(H) 440-246-6852
Eddie C. Edwards
5th Ward
Eddie_Edwards@CityofLorain.org
3571 Clinton Ave. (44055)
(H) 440-233-5535
Greg Holcomb
6th Ward
Gregory_Holcomb@cityofLorain.org
3922 Yale Drive
(H) 440-277-6268
Myroslaw "Mickey" Silecky
7th Ward
Myroslaw_Silecky@CityofLorain.org
2215 W. Erie Ave.
(H) 440-244-4201
Craig Snodgrass
8th Ward
Craig_Snodgrass@CityofLorain.org
6323 Oak Point Estates (44053)
(H) 440-960-0229
Nancy Greer
Clerk
Nancy_Greer@CityofLorain.org
(W) 204-2050
Fax 246-2537
Lorain Animal Control
440-322-4321
Quick Email List
Kenneth_Shawver@cityofLorain.org, Kathy_Tavenner@CityofLorain.org, dgiven@osterhomes.com, Anthony_Krasienko@cityofLorain.org, David_Wargo@CityofLorain.org, Phillip_Betleski@cityoflorain.org, David_Escobar@CityofLorain.org, Bret_Schuster@cityofLorain.org, Eddie_Edwards@CityofLorain.org, Gregory_Holcomb@cityofLorain.org, Myroslaw_Silecky@CityofLorain.org, Craig_Snodgrass@CityofLorain.org, Nancy_Greer@CityofLorain.org
BSL ALERT: LINCOLN COUNTY, TN
Lincoln County Commissioners are discussing APBT restrictions and or bans. These politicians need to hear from their constituents.
County Commissioners Call for Tougher Dog Laws in Tennessee
The commission doesn't have any authority to implement new measures itself because it lacks the power of home rule. Commissioners are asking state legislators to pass a law forcing vicious dog owners to carry a minimum of $300,000 of liability insurance, and requiring those dogs to wear a microchip that will store information about the animal and its owner.
What breeds will actually be classified as vicious dogs under this proposal aren't known yet, but commissioners say that list will certainly include pit bulls. The resolution has been sent to the office of state Sen. Bill Ketron.
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________
Senator Bill Ketron
Campaign Address
12 Jefferson Square
805 South Church Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
Nashville Address
311 War Memorial Building
Nashville, TN 37243-0213
Phone (615) 741-6853
Fax (615) 253-0282
Staff Contact: Shirley Jacobs
Internet E-Mail Address
Campaign Address: senketron@yahoo.com
Legislative Address: sen.bill.ketron@legislature.state.tn.us
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________
Please write or call the following Mayor and Council members as it is THEY who will vote on any proposal.
LINCOLN COUNTY COMMISSION
c/o Lincoln County Executive
112 Main Avenue South, Room 101
Fayetteville, TN 37334
(931) 433-3045
Fax: (931) 433-9979
LINCOLN COUNTY COMMISSION
|
County Executive Peggy G. Bevels |
Commissioner R. Stephen Graham | ||
|
Commissioner Joyce McConnell |
Commissioner Joe Tommy Stevenson | ||
|
Commissioner Doug Cunningham |
Commissioner Mike Brown P.O. Box 10 | ||
|
Commissioner Clayton Wilson |
Commissioner Jack Atchley | ||
|
Commissioner Ray Moffett |
Commissioner Rebecca Strope | ||
|
Commissioner Randy Bradford |
Commissioner Anne Bankston | ||
|
Commissioner Shirley Dangerfield |
Commissioner Anthony Taylor | ||
|
Commissioner Wayne King |
Commissioner Harold Armstrong | ||
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Commissioner Ricky Bryant |
Commissioner Steve Guntherberg | ||
|
Commissioner Donny Ogle |
Commissioner Moody Bradley | ||
|
Commissioner Bill Shelton |
Commissioner Hugh Towry | ||
|
Commissioner Mark Monks |
Commissioner Grady Reavis | ||
|
Commissioner Bill Newman |
BSL in Tennessee
Confirmed Cites with BSL: Sparta ( No new Pit Bulls), South Pittsburgh ( Pit Bulls Banned), Fayetteville (Restrictions, 8ft fence, muzzles and 100k insurance), Halls, Jackson, Lynnville, Milan, Smyrna, Watertown.
Bedford County is discussing BSL and Somerville (Fayette County) is looking at this:
Friday, October 5, 2007 11:27 PM CDT
Ordinance prohibits pit bull ownership
The Somerville Board of Mayor and Aldermen has unanimously passed an ordinance on final reading that prohibits ownership of pit bull dogs within the city.
Board members took the action during their Sept. 10 regular monthly meeting on a motion offered by Alderman Alton Feathers and seconded by Alderman Ronnie Neill.
The ordinance states that the breeds of dogs known as "pit bulls" include any American pit bull terrier, Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier or any dog that predominantly has the appearance and characteristics of one or more of those breeds.
It notes that the characteristics "selectively bred into" or otherwise commonly found in those dogs include:
(a) a strong fighting instinct, along with a low level of fighting inhibitions that make pit bulls a hazard to humans, as well as other animals;
(b) a strong chase instinct that experts believe causes pit bulls to be a danger around running children;
(c) a tendency to attack even those who exhibit no provocative behavior;
(d) a diminished tendency to bark, growl or otherwise warn their prey of an intent to attack;
(e) a tendency to fight to the death and never quit a fight once engaged, which results in more severe injuries than those inflicted by other breeds;
(f) the ability to withstand great pain, which makes it difficult for a person or animal to fight off a pit bull attack;
(g) powerful jaws capable of hanging onto victims, even while the animal withstands infliction of injury or pain;
(h) a tendency to tear flesh, which has resulted in grotesque injuries to human victims; and
(i) a combination of agility, stamina and strength, along with a "genetic predisposition to aggressiveness" that makes pit bulls "uniquely dangerous," even to their owners, especially where improperly raised or trained.
Mayor Bob Morris said the board is "well aware" that there are "a lot of g ood pit bull dogs out there." He acknowledged that he does not know anything about them, except what he has read and heard.
"That leads me to believe that they could be a very dangerous animal," he said. "I won't say vicious, but like all dogs, there are a lot of dogs that could be made to be vicious."
While noting that Somerville has a vicious dog ordinance in place, Morris said it does not contain this much detail.
The new ordinance states that other cities consider pit bulls so dangerous to humans and other animals that special legislation restricting or prohibiting their ownership has been enacted. It notes that current methods of control by pit bull owners in Somerville have proved to be "insufficient in protecting the public."
Individuals owning pit bull dogs at the time the ordinance was adopted are allowed to keep them, if they comply with the following provisions within 30 days of the ordinance's effective date:
(a) Register the dog with the city administrator.
(b) Do not allow the dog to go outside its kennel, pen or other proper enclosure unless secured with a leash no longer than 4 feet.
(c) A 2-inch leather collar must be used when the dog is on a leash and must buckle, not snap, onto the dog.
(d) Do not keep the dog on a chain, rope or other type of leash outside its kennel or pen, unless a person of suitable age and discretion is in physical control of the leash. The dog cannot be leashed to inanimate objects, such as trees, posts, buildings or structures.
(e) When it is necessary for the dog to receive veterinary care, it must wear a properly fitted muzzle sufficient to prevent it from biting humans or other animals. The muzzle cannot interfere with the dog's breathing or vision.
At the request of Fayette County Animal Control Officer Thomas Petrowski, the board added a requirement that, while transported to any facility with veterinarians, the dog be enclosed in a portable kennel with a lock. Noting that the dogs are frequentl y transported in pickup trucks, Petrowski said they are not "tied in" or in cages and can easily come out of the trucks.
(f) Except when leashed and muzzled, the dog must be securely confined indoors or in a locked pen, kennel or other secure enclosure suitable to prevent the entry of children and designed to prevent the dog from escaping. The kennel must have a concrete floor, with its post set in concrete, be locked with a key or combination lock when the dog is inside, comply with the city's zoning and building ordinances and other regulations, include shelter and protection from the elements, adequate exercise room, lighting, ventilation and kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
(g) The dog cannot be kept on a porch, patio or in any part of a house or structure that would allow it to exit the building on its own volition, when the windows are open or when screen windows or doors are the only obstacles preventing it from exiting the structure.
Owners must:
(a) display on the kennel or pen and in a prominent place on their property a sign easily readable by the public containing the words, "Beware of Dog."
(b) provide the city administrator proof of public liability insurance in a single-incident amount of $100,000 for bodily injury to or death of any person or for damage to property owned by any person that may result from owning the dog.
(c) provide the city administrator two color photographs of the dog that clearly show its color and approximate size.
(d) report to the city administrator within 10 days after the removal from the city or death of the dog, the birth of offspring or the new address of the owner within the city limits.
No person can sell, barter or in any other way transfer possession of the dog to any person within the city who does not permanently reside in the same household and on the same premises.
All offspring born of the dog within the city must be removed from the corporate limits within six weeks of the birth.
Fa ilure to comply with the provisions of the ordinance will result in immediate seizure and impoundment of the dog. Violators will be subject to a fine prescribed in the general penalty clause of the Somerville Municipal Code.
Each day the violation continues will constitute a separate offense. Violators will pay all expenses, including sums for shelter, food, handling, veterinary care and expert testimony, that are necessitated by their failure to abide by the provisions of the ordinance.
Monterey, Tennessee -
Monterey explores pit bull ban
Liz Engel
Herald-Citizen Staff
MONTEREY -- The Town of Monterey could soon be joining an ever-
growing list of cities considering a ban on pit bulls.
Although the town is a long way from enforcing such a ban, the topic
was brought up during Monday night's regular board meeting by
alderman David Delk.
"I've had a few people call me and come by and see me and bring it
up," Delk told the Herald-Citizen. "I've noticed, and they've
noticed, that we're getting quite a few pit bulls in town."
The topic was discussed briefly on Monday, and Monterey Mayor Ken
Wiggins agreed to contact MTAS -- the Municiple Technical Advisory
Service -- to see how similar ordinances have been drawn up. MTAS
Municipal Management Consultant Warren Nevad said in an e-mail that
the key to a pit bull ordinance is a clear definition of dog breed
and type.
A similar ban on pit bulls has been brought up as recently as last
year by Cookeville city officials, but no such ban currently exists
in Putnam County.
Sparta has had an ordinance banning pit bulls since August of 2005.
That ordinance defines a pit bull as a bull terrier breed,
Staffordshire or American bull terrier breed, dogs of mixed breed or
of other breed, or any dog which has the appearance and
characteristics of being predominantly of the breeds of bull terrier.
It goes on to say that it is unlawful to keep or any way possess a
pit bull within the corporate limits of Sparta, but those owning pit
bulls before the ordinance passed must follow a strict set of
standards and requirements. For example, each owner must register a
pit bull with the city recorder and must provide proof of insurance
amounting to $50,000. In addition, all owners are required to post
a "Beware of Dog" sign on their premise, and any offspring of pit
bulls born in the City of Sparta must be removed within six weeks of
the birth.
In order for a ban to take effect, an ordinance must be drafted by or
for Monterey and approved on three readings by the town board.
And Delk says he believes he has enough support to get such an
ordinance passed.
"I'm a lover of dogs," Delk said, noting that he himself owns a
Labrador. "But if you read your paper and watch your TV, you'll
notice they (pit bulls) have more problems than anybody.
"I'm just trying to prevent something from happening in the future."
City Hall (931) 839-3770
Mayor
KEN WIGGINS 407 W. Commercial Ave.
Monterey, TN 38574
839-8404 (Home)
Alderman Ward 1
DAVID R. DELK 607 Elmore St
Monterey, TN 38574
839-3406 (Home)
ERNEST HODGE 517 N. Elm St.
Monterey, TN 38574
839-3426 (Home)
Alderman Ward 2
MARK E. FARLEY 1020 Farley Ave.
Monterey, TN 38574
839-3701 (Home)
RICHARD L. SMITH 206 Voln teer Way
Monterey, TN 38574
839-7402 (Home)
Alderman Ward 3
BILLY R. WHALEN, JR 112 E. Stratton Ave.
Monterey, TN 38574
839-7609 (Home)
JOHNNY RAY 109 W. Railroad Ave.
Monterey, TN 38574
839-3953 (Home)
Alderman Ward 4
VICKI HENLEY 101 Locust St.
Monterey, TN 38574
839-2787 (Home)
TED SHECKLER 103 E. Louis Ave.
Monterey, TN 38574
839-6092 (Home)
South Pittsburg - Tennessee
Pit Bulls Banned
Submitted by Bill Mitchell on July 6, 2007 - 6:27pm. NewsCity administrator Tom Landers says local leaders have heard enough about threats and actual attacks on people by pit bulls in South Pittsburg.
TOM LANDERS, CITY ADMINISTRATOR "Many of the animals we have in town run loose. There's a leash law, but they still run loose. We just got to the point where we're going to enforce the law."
And in this case, the focus is on pit bulls.
CHARLES HAGGARD, FORMERM PIT BULL BREEDER "They can turn on you if you don't treat them right. Keeping them chained up, penned up is a good idea."
SHAWN GRIFFIN, SOUTH PITTSBURG "A woman was dropping off her kids down here at Richard Hardy Memorial. They ran her. She had to climb in top of her vehicle to get away."
There are plenty of case histories of people maimed or killed by the steel-jawed animals, but owners say there are pit bulls and there are pit bulls.
Nathan Ellis runs an auto-repair shop just off Cedar street, and he has two normally friends dogs protecting cars. He says they can be dangerous to anyone who goes inside the fence at night, but Nathan says that's the whole point.
NATHAN ELLIS, PRO-TECH AUTOMOTIVE "I agree that they are aggressive dogs. They need to be restrained, but don't limit one breed. You can't say my dogs don't do anything. They do have a bad rep about them 'cause people make them that way."
So Nathan has started a petition campaign to force the city to change the law or at least include more breeds, not just the pits. In the meantime, he is has two small doberman's at the shop. City administrator Landers says the rule will stay, but a battle over pets and threats seems to be shaping up.
The city administrator says the new ordinance banning the pit bulls will be phased in over the next few weeks.
http://wdef.com/news/pit_bulls_banned/07/2007
Pit Bull Supporters Flood Website with Their Comments
Submitted by
WDEF on July 9, 2007 - 7:18pm. NewsAnd we have another follow up from a story we did last week that has gotten quite a response.
We told you how the town of South Pittsburg has banned roaming pit bull dogs.
Over the weekend.. We were swamped with hundreds of comments online about the story... Most supporting the dogs.
Check the old poll question and Bill Mitchell's story from Friday to read all about it.
We could quote the posts, But we'll let this one picture speak for many of you. (There are many more in the comments)The comment read "do these look like killers?"
And another common message for the leaders of South Pittsburg was "blame the deed, not the breed."
We'll have more local reaction to the issue tonight on W-D-E-F News 12 at eleven.
http://wdef.com/news/pit_bull_supporters_flood_website_with_their_comments/07/2007City Hall
204 W. 3rd St
423-837-5000
fax: 423-837-7303
Hours: Mon.- Fri. 8:00am- 4:00pm
City Meetings:
2nd Tuesday
6:00pm, City Hall
Mayor
Mike Killian
Ed Reynolds - Vice Mayor
Commissioner of District 1
204 W. 3rd St.
South Pittsburg, TN 37380
423-837-5000
Bob Hookey
Commissioner of District 2
Ronald Lancaster
Commissioner of District 3
204 W. 3rd St.
South Pittsburg, TN 37380
423-837-5000
Bill Stuart
Commissioner of District 4
Tom Landers
City Administrator
Indy Mayor Wants Pit Bull Ban
Peterson 'Sick To Death' Of Attacks On People
INDIANAPOLIS -- The city's mayor on Wednesday said he'll ask the City-County Council to ban pit bulls in Marion County, citing recent dog attacks on residents.
"More kids and more people in our community (are) getting torn up by pit bulls, and I'm just sick to death of it," Mayor Bart Peterson told 6News' Rick Hightower.
Several pit-bull attacks on people were reported in the city this month. One of the most recent incidents happened last week, when a pit bull injured the 7-year-old daughter of its owner's girlfriend.
"We're seeing people being mauled in our city and kids being mauled and disfigured for life. Undoubtedly there will be one killed before too long, at this rate," Peterson said.
Last year, the council passed an ordinance that defined dangerous animals and prescribed penalties for the owners of those that attack people.
Before the measure passed, council members considered focusing on pit bulls because one disfigured a 2-year-old girl in May 2006. Ultimately, however, the council decided the ordinance wouldn't single out any breed, but rather cover any animal that fit one of four descriptions, such as having chased a person in a menacing fashion.
Local pit bull owners with whom 6News talked Wednesday were not impressed with Peterson's call for a ban.
Nathan Hampton said his pit bull, Jasmine, has never bitten anyone. He said he Jasmine is a pet who offers him protection.
"There's a lot of people that have pit bulls, and most people don't use (their) dogs to fight," Hampton said. "They just use them for protection like everybody else."
Marcus Johnson, whom animal control officers cited this month on suspicion that one of his pit bulls attacked a man, said he would oppose a ban.
"I really don't agree with them trying to ban pit bulls because a pit bull is a dog. That means you should ban all dogs if that's the situation," Johnson said.
Peterson acknowledged he would face opposition over his idea, but he said a struggle would be worth it if a ban prevents attacks on children.
"I think these animals ought to be banned from Indianapolis. I don't want to see them in Marion County," he said.
A ban would not be without precedent. Denver and Miami have banned the breed, and the Massachusetts Legislature is considering a statewide ban.
Mayor Bart Peterson
http://www.indygov.org/eGov/Mayor/contact.htm
2501 City-County Building
200 East Washington Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
Fax: 317-327-3980
City/County Council
Monroe Gray, Jr.
4811 Seville Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46228
Phone: 317-297-1155Isaac Randolph
Phone: 216-9555
Republican Angela Mansfield
angelamansfield@aol.com
Phone: 872-3306
Democrat
Ryan Vaughn
Council to hear pit bull concerns
Batesville, Arkansas
By Andrea Bruner, Assistant Managing Editor
News | Published on Monday May 7, 2007Batesville has a bigger problem with pit bulls than any other breed of dog; in fact, Animal Control Officer Jeff Pender says 60 percent of his nuisance dog calls are about pit bulls.Tuesday night, the Batesville City Council is scheduled to hear from Pender, who will bring a proposed ordinance that would limit the number of pit bull terriers and pit bull mixes an owner may keep (and they must be spayed or neutered) and prevent others from moving in. This, he said, would eventually lead to no pit bulls in the city.
However, there may be some resistance on the city council, as some aldermen say the city already has a vicious animal ordinance.
Pender said the vicious animal ordinance defines such an animal as one that “has a known disposition or tendency to attack, to cause injury or to otherwise endanger the safety of human beings or domestic animals; however, the fact that an animal has bitten or attempted to bite some person that was teasing the animal shall not constitute the animal a vicious animal within the meaning of this ordinance.”
Batesville city code prohibits vicious animals.
Pender said the vicious animal ban is not enough; the current code targets those already “known,” not the ones that “could.”
Too many, he said, can get off their chains. The proposed ordinance would require a minimum of a 10-by-10-foot (per animal) chain link pen with a lock.
“I get calls from the post office and the public” about pit bulls, more than any other breed, Pender said.
“More of my neglect and abuse cases are pit bulls. More of my aggressive dog calls are pit bulls. More of my running at large cases are pit bulls,” he continued.
“When I get a call after hours or on weekends, it’s for pit bulls. Most of the common house dogs, people aren’t afraid of.”
He said there was a case recently on Rounds Road, outside the city limits, in which a 4-year-old girl was attacked by a pit bull and required multiple stitches on her face. There have been other instances of attacks in this county and others, Pender said.
Pender, who raised pit bulls himself for about 20 years, also said not all of Batesville’s pit bulls are bad, but they are a big concern. “I have folks that have good dogs, but they’re (owned by) good folks. And then I have dogs that are bad. ... It’s all in how they’re raised.”
He’s seen five or six dogs kept in a yard barely big enough for two, he added. There have also been instances of illegal dog fighting, he said, but he has yet to have enough evidence to prosecute. Still, he can tell by wounds, cuts and scars on some pit bulls’ faces.
Pit bulls have been a problem “since the day I took the job” in April 2002, he said.
For now, though, Pender stressed this is not a total ban; it would start out by limiting the number of pit bulls one owner or household can have to two.
“I’m trying to control the population,” he told the Guard. “I didn’t want to draw a line in the sand and say, ‘No more pit bulls,’ ... (but) I didn’t want them running rampant. ...
“I’m just trying to take better control of the animals I have. ... If I don’t take a stand now and somebody gets hurt in the city, that doesn’t say much for me.”
Furthermore, if the council passes the ordinance, no more pit bulls would be allowed to be brought into the city.
The council will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in city hall.
The agenda also includes utilities business, consideration of the city’s joining the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System, presentations from James Brazier regarding broadband wireless and Dustin Wish regarding Indco.net and a review of bills.
Any citizen may address the council with comments or concerns under the “Comments from Citizens” portion of the agenda.
Mayor
Rick Elumbaugh
#1 Lake Oak Drive
Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 612-7946
City Council
Paula Terrell
3245 Juniper
Batesville, AR 72501
(870)698-1208
City Council
R.L. Carpenter
3060 Shade Tree
Batesville, AR
870-793-5111
City Council
David Shetron
570 E. Boswell Street
Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 793-6061
w2p1@cityofbatesville.com
City Council
Douglas Matthews
P.O. Box 2216
Batesville, AR
(870) 793-3249
w2p2@cityofbatesville.com
City Council
Fred Krug
231 E. Charles Street
Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 793-4271
City Council
Jerry Pectol
2015 Sun Valley Drive
Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 698-1708
City Council
Stephen Smart
40 Mill Run Trail
Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 793-7978
City Council
Matt McDonald
3195 Debra Street
Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 698-1250
City Attorney
Scott Stalker
480 S. 23rd Street
Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 612-5569
City Clerk
Denise M. Johnston
1167 E. College Street
Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 698-2400
Animal Control
(870) 698-2424
Animal Control Officer
Jeff Pender
3890 Melton Dr
Batesville, AR 72501-2100
(870) 612-5530
Neighbors fearful after two attacks by pit bulls
Animal Control chief says his hands are tied
By HEATHER DONAHOE
Staff Writer
FRANKLIN TENNESSEE— The recent deaths of two family pets at the teeth of pit bulls in a Franklin neighborhood again raise the question of how much responsibility a pet owner must take for an animal's actions.
According to Williamson County Animal Control Director Tony Fortner, state laws leave his agency with limited options for dealing with vicious animals such as the ones that killed a mopey old bassett hound earlier this week and a beloved Rottweiler last month, both in the Cadet neighborhood near Roper's Knob
"About the only thing we can do is charge people with having their dogs at-large," Fortner said. "Unfortunately, there is no vicious- or dangerous-dog law in Tennessee."
The neighborhood where the attacks occurred, across the street from Liberty Elementary School, has seen a rise in the number of residents keeping pit bulls as pets, Fortner said.
"It's a problem that started picking up a few years ago, but we've always had issues out there with dangerous dogs," he said. "We do patrols daily through that neighborhood, looking for them."
Melissa Kidd's 10-year-old Rottweiler named Buzz was killed in April by a pit bull that lived one street over from her Arsenal Court home. Kidd said she sees people walking pit bulls in the neighborhood frequently and believes those owners should be required to adhere to special requirements.
"I feel that they should be able to own them, but if they do, they should have strict rules on these dogs, something like having certain strong fences or other restraints," Kidd said. "If they're not responsible enough to handle pit bulls, they shouldn't be allowed to have them."
The owner of the pit bull that killed Kidd's dog has agreed to pay for Buzz's emergency veterinary bills, burial and his value.Children may be at risk
Kidd's greater concern, however, is the danger that pit bulls pose to her children, ages 14, 8 and 16 months.
Cadet Lane neighbor Carolyn Marlin, whose bassett Elvis was killed by a pit bull on Monday, has the same worries.
"My 1-year-old grandbaby was in the front yard when it happened. What if that had been her instead of Elvis?" Marlin said. "This neighborhood is full of kids, and it's also getting to be known for pit bulls. That just scares me to death."
The pit bull that killed Elvis was picked up by Animal Control after the attack, and the owner has yet to come forward. Fortner said the animal likely will be euthanized.
"If we had an owner in this case, we could get him into court and charge him," Fortner said. "At that point, it would be up to a judge to assist in what we need to do. He or she could declare that the pet be euthanized or impose a fine. When we can have the option, the court system usually works really well for us."Tougher law sought
Animal Control's lack of recourse for handling the problem efficiently could be remedied if dog-related legislation sponsored by state Sen. Doug Jackson is passed. Three of Jackson's four bills, which would increase dog owners' accountability and responsibility, already have passed in the Senate. Jackson said he is optimistic of the same outcome in the House by the end of the legislative session.
"The current law in Tennessee goes all the way back to the 1600s," Jackson said. "It's actually England's first-bite rule, which prevents anything from being done to an owner unless their dog has previously bitten someone else."
Jackson's legislation would eliminate that first-bite requirement and carry amplified penalties for owners of certain breeds of dogs, dogs-at-large or facilitators of dog fights. He acknowledges that some people are resistant to the notion of enhanced dog laws.
"There are so many dog owners out there, and placing new responsibilities on people can create opposition," Jackson said. "But the fact is, making pet owners be more accountable and responsible are the only ways to keep people safe. Any one of us or our children could be a victim, and that's why this is so important."
Senator Doug Jackson
djack41@aol.com doug@rcenter.org sen.doug.jackson@legislature.state.tn.usWilliamson County Council Animal Control
138 Claude Yates Dr.
Franklin, TN 37064
Voice: 615.790.5590
Fax: 615.591.8517
Email:
Williamson County Mayor
Rogers Anderson
Admin Complex
Suite 125
Voice:615-790-5700
Email:
Williamson County Sheriff
Ricky Headley
408 Century Court
Franklin, TN 37064
Voice: 615-790-5560
Email:
Franklin City Mayor
Tom Miller
Phone: (615) 791-3217
Fax: (615) 790-0469
Email: mayor@franklin-gov.com
Franklin Vice-Mayor
Beverly Burger
1373 Liberty Pike
Franklin, TN 37067
Phone: (615) 599-1041
Email: beverly.burger@franklin-gov.com
Franklin City Council
Dana Mclendon
400 Cannonade Circle
Franklin, TN 37064
Phone: (615) 790-2441
Fax: (615) 794-7637
Email: danamclendon@bellsouth.net
Franklin City Council
Dodson Randolph
102 Battlefield Drive
Franklin, TN 37064
Phone: (615) 335-1172
Email: dodson@dodsonrandolph.net
Franklin City Council
Dan Klatt
114 Lewisburg Avenue
Franklin, TN 37064
Office: (615) 595-1601
Mobile: (615) 337-8071
Home: (615) 550-5050
Fax: (615) 595-1603
Email: dan@klattman.com
Website: http://www.klattman.com
Franklin City Council
Ernie Bacon
224 Fourth Avenue South
Franklin, TN 37064
Phone: (615) 791-8485
Fax: (615) 791-8452
Email: ebacon224@bellsouth.net
Franklin City Council
Robert Kriebel
1018 West Main Street
Franklin, TN 37064
Phone: (615) 550-6627
Email: robertkriebel@franklin-gov.com
Franklin City Council
Pam Lewis
4081 Columbia Avenue
Franklin, TN 37064
Office: (615) 327-0100
Cell: (615) 812-7634
Home: (615) 791-6170
Email: pam.lewis@plamedia.com
Recent Attacks Prompt Calls For New Pit Bull Laws
TOWSON, Maryland. A string of recent dog attacks in the Towson area has residents and at least one lawmaker calling for change.
As Derek Valcourt reports, the latest attacks happened to two young children at the jaws of one ferocious pit bull.
Nine-year-old Scottie Mason was attacked in an alley near his home last Saturday.
The dog responsible for the attack also recently injured 10-year-old Dominic Solesky, leaving him recovering at an area hospital.
"No child should have to endure that and the sight that I have seen I just hope I never have to see again," said Irene Solesky. "The memories are forever etched in my mind," she added.
Baltimore County Councilman Vince Gardina said current laws are not strong enough and that changes should be made to prevent rather than just react to a dog bite.
"When a child is attacked in such a vicious manner I think we have a responsibility to do whatever we can to prohibit that from happening again," said Gardina.
Anthony Solesky said his son was so severely hurt that it has been a highlight of his recovery that he can say "hi" and actually speak to loved ones.
Gardina has joined calls for tougher rules specifically aimed at pit bulls. One of his proposals would be to have a pit bull registry created similar to registries for sex offenders.
"If a sex offender, [is] in the neighborhood, you know he's there. If a person has a pit bull, the neighbors should know it," said Gardina.
Each year about 1,000 dog bites get recorded by county health officials.
Despite the repeated and recurring attacks, officials said a ban on pit bulls altogether would not be likely.
"There's no way to sort of justify a specific breed ban because I think that that ends up creating a lot of stereotyping around a particular type of dog that may not be warranted," said Baltimore County Health Commissioner Dr. Pierre Vigilance.
The recent attacks on the boys in the Towson area came just about a week after a family's small dog was killed by two neighborhood pit bulls.
One of the dogs was euthanized and the other was put in the custody of animal control.
James T. Smith Jr.
County Executive
Court House, Mezzanine
400 Washington Avenue
Towson, MD 21204
410-887-2450
jimsmith@baltimorecountymd.gov
County Council
Court House, Second Floor
400 Washington Avenue
Towson, Maryland 21204
410-887-3196
Fax: 410-887-5791
Web: www.baltimorecountycouncil.org
URGENT SC ALERT - PETA URGES DORCHESTER COUNTY TO BAN PIT BULLS IN WAKE OF FATAL ATTACK ON TODDLER
‘Brian’s Law’ Could Prevent Future Tragedies, Says Group
Dorchester County, S.C. — This morning, PETA sent an urgent letter to Dorchester County Council Chair Larry Hargett and other council members urging them to follow the lead of dozens of other jurisdictions across the country by banning or strictly regulating pit bull ownership. The appeal follows news reports of an April 23 incident in which a pit bull fatally attacked 1 ½-year-old Brian Palmer in his mother’s home. News sources state that the dog—who also killed a family cat just weeks earlier—was typically confined to a utility room in the home before she escaped on Monday.
PETA is asking the Dorchester County Council to ban the acquisition of pit bulls and strictly regulate grandfathered ownership of pit bulls currently living in homes. PETA—which has offered to assist the county in drafting the legislation—also suggests that the ordinance be named "Brian’s Law" in honor of the victim.
PETA points out that that its offices are inundated with calls about pit bulls who injure and sometimes kill people after being neglected, abused, or used for fighting. Usually, people who acquire pit bulls see them as living weapons and put the animals in heavy chains, taunt them into aggressive behavior, and leave them out in all weather extremes in order to "toughen" them.
Communities across the country—including Denver, Colo.; Dade County, Fla.; Kansas City, Kan.; and Boston, Mass.—have banned or regulated pit bull ownership. Because unsterilized dogs are almost three times more likely to attack than dogs who have been spayed or neutered, California recently passed a law allowing jurisdictions within the state to mandate the spaying and neutering of pit bulls. Continuous chaining is also a major cause of aggression in pit bulls and other breeds. Dogs are pack animals, and they become frustrated when they are chained or confined alone. This frustration often turns into aggression.
"More and more communities are realizing that the best way to prevent anothe