[HKgnnr]

Hello all - I'm the owner of two beautiful dogs, a pure bred Rottie and a Rottie/Blue Tick Hound mix

I've been a responsible owner for over two years of these fine dogs, have continued to train them properly and have a secure location behind a 6' high stockade fence in which they play.

But thats not 'enough' according to the Schenectady County Legislature which has passed a law which is outlined as follows per the news report:

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County passes law on dangerous dogs
Municipalities under pressure to put restrictions on pit bulls, other breeds
By ANDREA BAKER
Gazette Reporter

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SCHENECTADY - County legislators Tuesday passed a law requiring municipalities to have an ordinance protecting people from dangerous dogs.
The law requires the county's towns to adopt rules mandating that dog owners take out a $5,000 bond on hazardous dogs, keep them confined and agree to put them down if they injure anyone.

Hazardous can be defined by the municipality, but it must include the terrier breed known as pit bulls, said Robert Farley, R-Glenville, who proposed the legislation.

Several children and adults have been injured by dogs of that breed over the past year in the city, and there have been arrests of individuals who either train such dogs to fight or let them run loose.

If the localities do not pass the ordinance, the county will not re-distribute any dog licensing fees it receives, according to the ordinance.

"We cannot have these dogs roaming the streets and having access to children," Farley said.

Municipalities are required to give a certain percent of their projected revenue from dog-license sales as an insurance, said George Davidson, county finance director. If the county does not use the money, officials refund the municipalities a portion of their shares at the end of the year. This year that amount was $6,439.

Nine legislators voted in favor of the law while five voted against it. One legislator was absent.

Those who voted against the law, including Kent Gray, D-Rotterdam and Michael Kirvin, D-Rotterdam, said they preferred to discuss the law with town supervisors before requiring them to do anything. Both legislators stressed, however, that they were concerned about children being bitten and felt something should be done about it.

Karen Johnson, D-Schenectady, said she was not sure municipalities had the authority to single out a breed of dogs. She also voted against the proposal.

The Schenectady City Council is considering passing a law requiring stricter control of vicious dogs but was told they could not legally single out breeds. To get around the issue, the city's corporation counsel suggested they place requirements on the dogs by weight.

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My dogs do not 'run free' nor do they 'scare' my 12 year old daughter and her friends. My family and I do not even live within the City of Schenectady, but in a small community well outside of the city proper but within the County. But as a result of irresponsible ownership within the worse sections of the City of Schenectady, I will have to be subjected to this.

I am so livid right now - there was no 'public discussion' on the matter, and after a Rottie was attacked by two pitbulls earlier this week in the City, this draconian push was underway and quietly passed by the County Legislature.

We have reached a whole new level of stupidity - "Both legislators stressed, however, that they were concerned about children being bitten and felt something should be done about it."

Suffice to say, another attempt at a 'knee jerk' reaction to a problem that WONT happen with my dogs.