[ SHOWGSD-L ] OPPOSE:New Mexico HB400..
- From: RihadinK9@xxxxxxx
- To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, sheltieoldlines@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, SheltieBreeders@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2005 11:02:34 EST
PERMISSION TO CROSS POST
On Wednesday, New Mexico House Bill 400, Dangerous Dog Act, was tabled in
the House Judiciary Committee. Then, unannounced, on Friday a committee
substitute bill for HB400 was heard by the Judiciary Committee. The
substitute
bill was given a â??Do Passâ?? and is on the House Temporary Calendar for
Sunday,
March 6. On Monday, March 7, the bill will be placed on the House Calendar
for a floor vote.
Members of the New Mexico House of Representatives need to be contacted
IMMEDIATELY to OPPOSE THIS LEGISLATION (HB400). The SUBSTITUTE BILL DOES NOT
resolve key issues previously raised. It remains a poorly written law.
The provisions in HB400 for a â??potentially dangerous dogâ?? are vague and
could be used to target responsible owners. If your dog runs to a fence (that
appears too low) and barks menacingly at a stranger, the dog could be declared
â??potentially dangerousâ?? and seized. If a â??potentially dangerous dogâ??
attacks a chicken, the owner could be sentenced to 18 months in the state
penitentiary. If the owner fails to report the death of a â??potentially
dangerous
dogâ?? in 5 business days, the penalty is one year in the county jail and
could
be 18 months in the state penitentiary.
The definition of â??dangerous dogâ?? SHOULD be based on an UNPROVOKED attack
on a PERSON. However, this law DEFINES â??dangerous dogâ?? as a dog that
causes
serious injury to a person OR domestic animal â?? REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCES.
To add to the confusion, a dog can be DEFINED as dangerous, but may not be
DECLARED to be dangerous. Provisions in HB400 about attacks on domestic
animals conflict with existing state statues regarding attacks on livestock.
Furthermore, this law does NOT ban breed specific laws.
State statues currently impose a penalty of one year confinement and a $1000
fine for any person who keeps any animal known to be vicious and liable to
attack or injure a human being (unless the animal is securely kept to prevent
injury to a person). Dogs that attack or kill livestock are to be killed and
the owner held responsible for all damages. These, as well as other,
existing provisions of state statutes and administrative code,
provide a good starting point for dangerous dog legislation. Simple
amendments to existing state statutes would be more effective than HB400.
Your help is needed to OPPOSE this legislation. Express your concerns to
members of the House. Time is very short. Contact information is provided
below.
Ron Gustafson
505-864-3513
Link to the New Mexico State Legislature:
_http://legis.state.nm.us/lcs/default.asp_
(http://legis.state.nm.us/lcs/default.asp)
Ginger Cleary, Dallas, GA_ http://www.rihadin.com _
(http://www.rihadin.com/) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pet-law/) "When your
response to everything
that is wrong with the world is to say, 'there ought to be a law,' you are
saying that you hold freedom very cheap." Dr Thomas Sowell
_http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GA-pet-law/_
(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pet-law/)
============================================================================
POST is Copyrighted 2005. 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 - http://www.showgsd.org
============================================================================
Other related posts:
- » [ SHOWGSD-L ] OPPOSE:New Mexico HB400..
