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!! :)

Council delays decision on dog-chaining law

By Chris Paschenko
The Daily News

Published January 10, 2008
DICKINSON — Saying law-abiding residents shouldn’t be made criminals, the Dickinson City Council decided to postpone enacting an ordinance banning the chaining of dogs, so it could review the language of the law.

Councilmen Mark Townsend and Kerry Neves said Wednesday they’ve had some dogs they’ve had to restrain during loud thunderstorms and temporary restraints were the only way to ensure the canines remained in their backyard fences.

Both councilmen said they would be against a total ban on chaining dogs.

“I had a black lab, and the dog would go nuts,” Townsend said. “He ate up the fence, the wood on the back door. When it thunders, that’s the end.”

Neves agreed, saying his dogs couldn’t be kept in his fence during thunderstorms.

“They go absolutely crazy during thunderstorms and loud noises,” Neves said. “One digs out, and one climbs over. When I’m not home, I restrain them on the porch. They have beds and everything. If I don’t, I’m afraid they’ll become grease spots on FM 517.”

A concerned citizen went to a council meeting last year, asking for members to pass a similar measure adopted in Texas City that prevents the continuous chaining of dogs.

“I understand her point of view,” Townsend said. “But then you’ve got people like Kerry, but if it lightnings, he ain’t the only one going to be in that boat.” If the council passes a total ban, Townsend said, “I think we’ll be making criminals out of law-abiding citizens.”

Neves said the council would likely discuss the matter during a work session as soon as late February or March.

“I guess I agree with it in principle,” Neves said. “It’s just got to be handled in a better fashion. I hate to pass an ordinance that criminalizes good folks trying to do the right thing.”

Neves said paying careful attention to the wording of the ordinance would be key.

“We need verbiage to the effect that it doesn’t apply when restraint is done for the health and safety of the animal, so we don’t criminalize somebody like me,” he said.

Neves said the chaining of dogs could be banned, but animal abuse laws would better serve the public when residents report neglected animals, such as those permanently chained without food, water or shelter.

Copyright © 2008 The Galveston County Daily News

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Neves said. “It’s just got to be handled in a better fashion. I hate to pass an ordinance that criminalizes good folks trying to do the right thing.”

I believe this quote to be completely ridiculous! How can someone be so ignorant? "folks trying to do the right thing." Chaining a dog is not the right thing for anyone to do. Who cares so little about their dog that they allow them to be chained outside during a thunderstorm? There needs to be some serious education in this town. It is so sad when these lawmakers consider the people first and the happiness and welfare of the dogs, who actually have to live outside.