[ SHOWGSD-L ] ALERT!! WI Action Alert: Cudahy BSL, Racine MSN clause & increased lic...
- From: RihadinK9@xxxxxxx
- To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, sheltieoldlines@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, SheltieBreeders@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2005 12:27:25 EST
****** Permission to crosspost where appropriate ******
2/28/05
Cudahy Breed Specific Legislation - URGENT
The Common Council of the City of Cudahy meets Tuesday, March 1st at
7:00pm to discuss a ban on pit bulls. The public is invited to give
input. As Cudahy already has a vicious dog ordinance in place,
there is simply no need for the ban but instead, a need to strictly
enforce current law. We strongly urge local fanciers to attend this
meeting to ensure that this measure does not proceed. If unable to
attend the meeting, please email Cudahy's Aldermen with a short,
polite, but firm note OPPOSING breed specific legislation.
The City of Cudahy's website contains a contact form from which you
may send your note of opposition.
http://www.ci.cudahy.wi.us/ContactUs.html
Some reasons why BSL doesn't work (from Pit Bull Rescue Central):
1. Dog problems are generally problems with owner responsibility and
are not limited to breeds. When breeds are singled out as dangerous
or vicious, responsibility is removed from the dog owner which is
where it belongs. Irresponsible people are also less likely to
follow the law - and as a result, everyone has to suffer.
2. By limiting the ability of citizens to own certain breeds,
responsible law abiding citizens will shy away from those breeds.
These are the types of owners that communities need to encourage,
not drive away.
3. Communities that have instituted such bans often find that the
irresponsible owners and the criminals who use dogs for illegal
purposes simply switch to another breed.
4. Breeds and mixes are hard to identify and often dogs are
mislabeled and destroyed based on paranoia and prejudice and also
punishes those that are good canine citizens. Many breeds function
as assistance dogs for handicapped owners, search and rescue dogs,
drug-sniffing dogs, police dogs, etc. and drives them out of the
community.
The American Veterinary Medical Association and several state
veterinary medical associations oppose breed-specific legislation
for just this reason.
5. The dog most restricted is the "pit bull." A pit bull is a type
of dog, not a recognized breed.
6. Passage of laws that are only enforced through complaints cause
two problems:
1) they create disrespect for the law if authorities require
compliance only upon complaint, and
2) they provide ammunition for neighborhood feuds.
***************************************
Racine Removes Breeder Licensing, but Tacks on Mandatory Spay Neuter
Clause, and Increased Licensing Fees
At the February 24th meeting of the City of Racine's Ad Hoc Animal
Task Force, breeder licensing was removed from the proposed
revisions to their animal control ordinance. At the last minute
however, the Task Force decided to add three measures as a final
touch before sending the proposal on the the Board of Health with
their recommendation for adoption.
These measures are:
1. Any dog or cat found running loose in the city the first time
will be microchipped.
2. Any dog or cat found running loose in the city a second time
will be spayed/neutered.
3. The annual license fee for non-spay/neutered cat or dog will be
$35.00.
The Dog Federation of Wisconsin considers these measures to be ill-
advised. Previously, we had recommended to the task force
differential licensing that cut a break for microchipped pets. We
do not believe that the ramifications of increased license fees, or
a "2 strikes and it's fixed" clause have been fully considered by
the Task Force.
While we are grateful for having had the opportunity to previously
provide input, and for the Task Force's wise decisions to
eliminate "guardianship" and breeder licensing; we have serious
concerns that these new measures will increase owner surrenders to
Countryside Humane Shelter, and may create a liability problem for
the City of Racine.
First, increased licensing fees tend to reduce an already low
compliance rate. As licensing is a checkpoint for the currency of
rabies vaccinations, this could potentially become a public health
issue.
Secondly, mandating sterilization of pets that may have an economic
value attached to their reproductive capability could present due
process concerns. We also question whether the City of Cudahy is
prepared to take responsibility for the quality of vet care provided
in forced sterilization, or in the instance of death of the animal
while under anesthesia. Additionally, without owner consent, and
likely facing veterinary bills on top of impound fines, it's
conceivable the City will be left with sterilized animals
unclaimed. The simple act of having the pet microchipped upon the
first impound does not guarantee that the owner's personal
information stored by the microchip registry is kept up to date.
Unable to recoup what has been spent in this instance, total animal
control costs increase without any significant benefit to the
community.
We urge you to contact members of the Board of Health OPPOSING the
mandatory spay neuter clause and increased license fees.
The Board of Health next meets Tuesday, March 8th, with the Ad Hoc
Animal Task Force likely to present their recommendation. Contact
information is given below.
City of Racine Board of Health
Alderman Cherri Cape
1530 Main Street
Racine WI 53403-1951
(262) 637-7162
cherri.cape@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Alderman Pete Karas
821 Baine Ave.
Racine WI 53403
(262) 633-2540
pete.karas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Dr. William J. Little
444 Dena Circle
Racine WI 53402-3806
John Berge
1529 Crabapple Dr.
Racine WI 53405-1705
Sarah Fouse
1900 Twenty First St.
Racine WI 53403-2425
Dr. Mohammed Rafiullah
3001 Michigan Blvd.
Racine WI 53402-4026
Mary Sollman
1901 Neptune Avenue
Racine WI 53404-2240
Ginger Cleary, Dallas, GA_ http://www.rihadin.com _
(http://www.rihadin.com/) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pet-law/) You can't
dance if you don't go
to the party.
_http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GA-pet-law/_
(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pet-law/)
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