[ SHOWGSD-L ] La Junta Protestors say 'breed-specific' laws should not be enacted

  • From: "Ginger Cleary" <cleary1414@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: "Showgsd-L@Freelists. Org" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sun, 8 Oct 2006 13:04:18 -0400

It is still spreading....
Ginger Cleary, Rome, GA
Never underestimate the ability of the hypocritical to hoodwink the
sanctimonious. www.rihadin.com
  -----Original Message-----


  http://www.chieftain.com/metro/1160287637/3
  Protestors say 'breed-specific' laws should not be enacted.
  By ANTHONY A. MESTAS
  THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN
  LA JUNTA - Despite protests from dog enthusiasts, a divided City Council
voted last
  week to ban pit bulls within city limits.

  Council banned pit bulls in all their varieties by a 4-3 vote.

  Council members Billie Johnson, Don Martin, Don Rizzuto and Ardeth Sneath
voted in
  favor of the ordinance while council members Bob Freidenberger, Eugene
Mestas and
  Michael Moreno voted against it.

  The ordinance will take effect depending on when it is published in local
newspapers.

  Council member Billie Johnson proposed the ordinance last month.

  "I am just trying to protect the people - I felt like I had to do this for
the safety
  of the people in La Junta especially small children and elderly people,"
Johnson
  said.

  The ordinance applies to American pit bull terriers, American
Staffordshire terrier,
  Staffordshire bull terrier or any dog displaying the majority of physical
traits of
  any one or more of the above breeds. It also includes any dog exhibiting
those
  distinguishing characteristics which substantially conform to the
standards
  established by the American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club for any of
those
  breeds.

  Pit bull owners who are least 21 years old can keep their pets if they
register the
  dogs with the city, provide proof of liability insurance, have the pet
spayed or
  neutered, post a sign that says a pit bull is on the property and confine
the pit
  bull on the owner's property, among other regulations. The registration
deadline is
  Dec. 1.

  The ordinance states that if these regulations aren't met, the animals can
be
  immediately impounded. If the animal's owner disputes the classification
of the dog
  as a pit bull, a written petition must be filed with the city's Municipal
Court and a
  hearing will be scheduled. The court will make a final determination
whether the dog
  is a pit bull as defined in the ordinance.

  The ordinance states that if the dog is found to be a pit bull, it will be
  immediately destroyed unless the owner produces evidence deemed sufficient
by the
  city manager that the pit bull is to be permanently taken out of the city
and the
  owner pays the cost of impoundment. If the dog is not a pit bull, it will
be released
  to the owner.

  If no written petition is given to the court, the animal will be
destroyed.

  Most of those in the audience were against the proposed ban.

  Several people said the current vicious animal ordinance takes care of
problem dogs
  and that should be enforced instead of making breed-specific legislation.

  Johnson noted that vicious attacks by pit bulls have happened in Pueblo,
Denver and
  Colorado Springs and said it could happen anywhere.

  Some citizens were outraged by council's decision.

  Heather Maes, who presented the council with 271 signatures of people
against
  breed-specific legislation, said she is against any ban that targets
specific kinds
  of dogs.

  "I am a dog activist - banning breeds is just simply not the best
solution," Maes
  said. "I am disgusted that this ban has passed."

  Maes aid she doesn't think all of the council members read the facts she
presented
  them at a meeting last month. "There are proven statistics out there that
show it is
  not a dog breed that is vicious - it's all how you raise and train a dog,"
she said.

  Maes, who has addressed the council previously about the proposed ban,
blames the
  owners of dogs.

  "You can have somebody out there that can take a Labrador and beat the
crap out of it
  and it's going to be vicious," Maes said. "But if you take that lab and
you love it,
  it will be a good dog. That's the same with pit bulls."

  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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