City Council Not Quick to Ban Pit Bulls

There was no movement Monday night by the Joplin City Council to ban any particular breeds of dogs to try to reduce aggressive-dog behavior and bites.

Instead, council members informally agreed to look at making changes to the city’s animal-ownership ordinances that would forbid tethering or chaining as a means of securing dogs, require mandatory neutering and spaying, and strictly cite owners for violations of the ordinances.

Members of the Joplin Health Department’s advisory board are to make specific recommendations for council authorization.

The topic of changing the city’s dangerous-dog ordinances drew representatives of several groups: postal workers, the Joplin Humane Society, the Tri-State Kennel Club, veterinarian and health-board member Ben Leavens, and police Chief Lane Roberts.

Read more here...

Support Massachusetts’ Anti-Breed-Specific Legislation!

Breed-specific legislation (BSL) generally refers to any type of regulation, legislation or municipal ordinance that designates certain dog breed types as dangerous or illegal. Breed-specific legislation is designed to restrict or regulate the ownership of certain breeds of dogs.

Many states, counties and municipal governments look to BSL as an answer to reduce dog attacks. Some states, such as Ohio, classify certain breeds as inherently dangerous in their state codes. The statutes often place severe restrictions on dog owners of a particular breed or ban the breed outright.

However, studies have shown that it is not the breeds themselves that are dangerous, but situations that are creating dangerous dogs. Dogs that have attacked or bitten humans generally are:

• Dogs that have been obtained for negative functions, such as fighting or guarding
• Dogs that owners have failed to humanely care for, control and properly train
• Dogs that are left unsupervised with children
• Dogs that have not been spayed/neutered

Instead of unfairly penalizing a specific breed, this bill:

• Affirmatively states that any dog, regardless of breed or type, may be classified as a dangerous dog
• Establishes clear guidelines for when dogs are classified as “dangerous” based on quantifiable past actions
• Creates clear exemptions for dogs who attack a person in response to a willful trespass or other injury, have been teased, tormented or abused by a person, or have responded to a person committing or attempting to commit a crime
• Provides a system for a potentially dangerous dog to have the designation removed

Please join American Humane in supporting this important bill by contacting your representative and senators!

This action alert is for residents of the following states only: Massachusetts

Ban Unfair Insurance Practices Targeting Certain Dog Breeds in Illinois

Insurance companies have been re-evaluating their coverage for homeowners who have dogs such as “pit bulls,” rottweilers, German shepherds, Doberman pinschers, Akitas and chow chows.

One-third of all liability claims against homeowners are dog-bite-related, and insurers claim dog bites cost them $351.4 million in 2006. Consequently, some insurance companies are declining, terminating or limiting the amount or type of insurance coverage a property owner can have, as well as imposing increased premiums under a homeowner’s insurance policy based on the type or specific breed of dog living at the residence.

Insurance discrimination is another form of breed-specific legislation (BSL). BSL generally refers to legislation, regulations or municipal ordinances that restrict the ownership of certain dog breeds, sometimes designating certain breeds as dangerous or illegal.

However, studies have shown that it is not the breeds themselves that are dangerous, but unfavorable situations that are creating dangerous dogs. Dogs that have attacked or bitten humans generally are:

• Dogs that have been obtained for negative functions such as fighting or guarding.
• Dogs that the owners have failed to humanely care for, control and properly train.
• Dogs that are left unsupervised with children.
• Dogs that have not been spayed or neutered.

The consequences of insurance discrimination are wide-ranging. Penalizing certain dog owners not only causes financial challenges for them, but also results in a greater number of dogs surrendered to shelters.

Assembly Bill 1279 would prevent insurance companies from unfairly discriminating against consumers based on the breed of dog at their residences. It stops insurance companies from declining, terminating or limiting the amount or type of insurance coverage a property owner can have if a certain breed lives on the property. The bill also prevents companies from imposing higher premiums under a homeowner’s insurance policy on the basis of the type or specific breed of dog living at the residence.

Please support this important bill along with American Humane by contacting your legislators!

Gladstone, Missouri keeps bull terriers on list of dangerous animals

By MIKE RICE

The Kansas City Star

Bull terrier dogs will remain classified as dangerous animals in Gladstone.

For several months, a Gladstone couple — Kirk and Kim Forslund — have raised objections to the city’s inclusion of the breed in its legal definition of pit bulls.

That legal definition was established a year ago when the City Council approved a revised animal control ordinance that classified pit bull breeds as dangerous animals. It also established regulations for new owners of pit bull breeds.

Council members agreed to have city staff review the ordinance last month after Kirk Forslund presented letters from area veterinarians that stated bull terriers are not dangerous.

But on Monday, city staff maintained that bull terriers should not be removed from the dangerous animal classification.

“I’m sure there are some bull terriers that have been socialized and trained,” said City Attorney David Ramsay, “but our animal control officer did not feel there was enough evidence to exclude them from the city’s ordinance.”

The Forslunds, who have spoken at several council meetings, have said they are active members of the Bull Terrier Club of America and Bull Terrier Club of St. Louis.

They have said that the council members who approved the breed-specific ordinance ignored numerous findings that bull terriers are safe.

In a memo to the city, Sgt. Jeff Self, supervisor of the Public Safety Department’s animal control unit, wrote that, through his research, he found that bull terriers were originally bred for bull baiting and ring fighting. And they can be aggressive toward dogs, cats and fleeing animals.

Self added that bull terriers also are included in pit bull ordinances in Liberty and Grandview.

Under the city’s ordinance, pit bull breeds also include Staffordshire bull terrier, American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, or a mix or combination of any of those breeds.

Owners of a dangerous dog are required to have a $300,000 homeowner’s liability insurance policy. The ordinance contains a grandfather clause that exempted owners of pit bull breeds that were licensed with the city when the ordinance was passed.

Councilwoman Carol Rudi, who voted against the breed-specific ordinance last year, said Monday that she still does not support such legislation but would stand by the council’s decision not to amend the ordinance.

To reach Mike Rice, call 816-234-5903 or send e-mail to mrice@kcstar.com.

Action Alert: Bill that will prevent BSL is scheduled for hearing in Missouri! Contact your state Senator today, as them to support this bill!!

SB886, a bill to prevent ordinances to restrict any specific breed, regardless of temperament of each specific dog within the breed, is set for a hearing in the Senate Economic Development, Tourism and Local Government committee.

The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, February 20 at 2:00 pm. The committee chairperson is Senator Griesheimer.

The Alliance supports this bill for the following reasons:

· Criminology studies show that it is the inhuman acts of human dog owners, as opposed to canine genetics, that are generally to blame for dog attacks. Almost any dog can be trained to be mean and aggressive. Almost any dog may be raised to be a gentle family pet.

· 84.4% of Pit Bull breeds pass a temperament test, compared to an average of 81.5% for all breeds of dog.

· Although the media currently hypes any story about "pit bulls" (even when another breed is actually involved), while ignoring the fact that most attacks are not by pit bulls.

· Throughout history, one breed after another has been unfairly scapegoated by popular myth. In the 19^th Century, it was the Bloodhound. During the 20^th Century, the Doberman, the German Shepherd, and the Rottweiler each had its turn as the focus of media hysteria.

· Denver, Colorado's BSL ordinance has lead to considerable hardship and sorrow for families who owned a dog that was believed to be from a banned breed. However, the ordinance has not protected the public from dog attacks. Identifying the lineage of certain mixed breed dogs has proven difficult and controversial. Protracted litigation has followed this issue for years.

· A more positive response to dog attacks is to develop a system of procedures for identifying and controlling individual dogs that have shown dangerous or aggressive tendencies. Cities and counties should be encouraged to focus on ways to protect the public from individual dogs that exhibit specific behaviors.

Support Insurance Policies That Do Not Discriminate Against Certain Dog Breed Owners in Illinois

Insurance companies have been re-evaluating their coverage for homeowners who have dogs such as “pit bulls,” rottweilers, German shepherds, Doberman pinschers, Akitas and chow chows.

One-third of all liability claims against homeowners are dog-bite-related, and insurers claim dog bites cost them $351.4 million in 2006. Consequently, some insurance companies are declining, terminating or limiting the amount or type of insurance coverage a property owner can have, as well as imposing increased premiums under a homeowner’s insurance policy based on the type or specific breed of dog living at the residence.

Insurance discrimination is another form of breed-specific legislation (BSL). BSL generally refers to legislation, regulations or municipal ordinances that restrict the ownership of certain dog breeds, sometimes designating certain breeds as dangerous or illegal.

However, studies have shown that it is not the breeds themselves that are dangerous, but unfavorable situations that are creating dangerous dogs. Dogs that have attacked or bitten humans generally are:

• Dogs that have been obtained for negative functions such as fighting or guarding.
• Dogs that the owners have failed to humanely care for, control and properly train.
• Dogs that are left unsupervised with children.
• Dogs that have not been spayed or neutered.

The consequences of insurance discrimination are wide-ranging. Penalizing certain dog owners not only causes financial challenges for them, but also results in a greater number of dogs surrendered to shelters.

Assembly Bill 1279 would prevent insurance companies from unfairly discriminating against consumers based on the breed of dog at their residences. It stops insurance companies from declining, terminating or limiting the amount or type of insurance coverage a property owner can have if a certain breed lives on the property. The bill also prevents companies from imposing higher premiums under a homeowner’s insurance policy on the basis of the type or specific breed of dog living at the residence.

Please support this important bill along with American Humane by contacting your legislators!

This action alert is for residents of the following states only: Illinois

Support bill that prevents communities from discriminating against any breed of dog in Missouri! No breed specific legislation!

From KC Dog Advocates:
URGENT! A vote may be coming soon! Please contact the members of the Senate Economic Development, Tourism and Local Government committee and urge them to support SB 886 in its ORIGINAL form! SB 886 prohibits laws that target dogs based on looks alone and will force cities to target only truly dangerous dogs. Phone calls are best! Don't worry about making a speech, all you need to do is call and say, "I support SB 886 in it's original form." Then, follow up with a fax or email with more information if you choose - please include your address. Missouri residents' opinions carry the most weight but BSL effects people traveling to the state as well. Please be courteous, succinct and truthful.

John Griesheimer, 26th, Chair
State Capitol Building
Room 227
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
(573) 751-3678
FAX: (573) 526-2609

Tom Dempsey, 23rd, Vice Chair
State Capitol Building
Room 433
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
(573) 751-1141
FAX: (573) 522-3383
E-Mail: tom.dempsey@senate.mo.gov

Jason Crowell, 27th
State Capitol Building
Room 323
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
(573) 751-2459
FAX: (573) 522-9289

Kevin Engler, 3rd
State Capitol Building
Room 428
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
(573) 751-3455
FAX: (573) 522-9318

Jack Goodman, 29th
State Capitol Building
Room 331A
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
(573) 751-2234
Fax: (573) 526-9808

Carl Vogel, 6th
State Capitol Building
Room 321
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
(573) 751-2076
FAX: (573) 751-2582

Victor Callahan, 11th
State Capitol Building
Room 334
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
(573) 751-3074
FAX: (573) 751-4551

Harry Kennedy, 1st
State Capitol Building
Room 226
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
(573) 751-2126
FAX: (573) 522-2465

Chris Koster, 31st
State Capitol Building
Room 225
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
(573) 751-1430
FAX: (573) 751-9751

Ryan McKenna, 22nd
State Capitol Building
Room 421
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
(573) 751-1492

Wes Shoemyer, 18th
State Capitol Building
Room 434
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
(573) 751-7852















Missouri: SB 886 Regulates the Dog, Not the Breed
Sponsor(s): Senator Jolie Justus
ASPCA Position: Support
Action Needed: Please email our letter to your state senator and members of the Missouri State Senate Economic Development, Tourism and Local Government Committee to express your support for this bill.

Sponsored by Senator Jolie Justus, SB 886 would allow any Missouri village, town or city to adopt regulations to control vicious or dangerous dogs—but importantly, the bill prevents communities from discriminating against any breed of dog.

Dogs are individuals: any dog can bite. Citizens should be protected from vicious and dangerous dogs of all breeds or mixes. Discriminating against certain breeds of dogs fails to protect the public and penalizes responsible dog owners.

Your letter will be sent to:

* Senator John E. Griesheimer
* Senator Jason G. Crowell
* Senator Kevin Engler
* Senator Wes Shoemyer
* Senator Victor Callahan
* Senator Carl M. Vogel
* Senator Michael R. Gibbons
* Senator Jack Goodman
* Senator Ryan Glennon McKenna
* Senator Harry Kennedy
* Senator Luann Ridgeway

To read the full text of the bill click here.

Go to the ASPCA site to send email and letter you can copy and paste to send a snail mail letter.

This is sooo important for us to respond to! This is our chance to end this terrible legislation for our dogs in Missouri!

Please send a snail mail letter. Actual, physical letters sitting on a desk or in a basket can pile up and show the amount of people who care. Emails are erased and even if they "pile up", who would notice? Letters cannot be ignored as much as an email!

The dogs all over the state will thank you!! :)