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] __._,_.___ . __,_._,___ ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2006. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - URL temporarily deleted due to AOL issues ============================================================================