philly BSL update

[abraxas]

hello,

spoke to naomi williams (legislative aid to donna reed miller) this morning and this is what she said.......

as of now, budget hearings and wage tax issues are taking precedence over BSL hearings and they have not yet been held. that state has not had the hearing to lift the ban against BSL, so philadelphia can do nothing until this happens.

also, ms. williams has discussed amending existing legislation to encompass all breeds with council members. i am keeping my fingers crossed on that. i will call ms. williams on a weekly basis and do my best to keep you guys informed.

as of now, there is no hearing scheduled.

[Leader]

If I'm jumping to conclusions, forgive me....I'm a Philly born and bred rott lover. So sorry to hear they've started legislating against our wonderful breed.:( :o I wish they'd legislate against bad masters and mistresses . T6hat would REALLY make my life :D

[beth gordon]

This is the best I've heard in a while. Has anyone presented the info from Dog World to Mrs. Miller on what was done in Chicago? Not breed specific ...created by a committee of vets, animal control, etc... first offense put consequences in motion...onus on OWNERS of dogs, not the breed.

[abraxas]

Has anyone presented the info from Dog World to Mrs. Miller on what was done in Chicago?

i did not present any info. from chicago however, i did present an all-breed ordinance from arkansas along with a study from JAVMA that found BSL to be ineffective. ms. williams said that the ordidnance from arkansas has had a great influence (MANY thanks to dena for sending that info...twice...hehehehe:D) .

do you have access to that ordinance from chicago? i am trying to gather more material...i will go to dog world and check there.

[SarasMom]

That's great news Renee. :D Awesome job taking this in hand. :)

A friend told me that Pennsylvania has a no BSL law, but I guess Philadelphia is/was trying to get an exception? This was what I was thinking anyway.

I believe almost all BSL is born out of ignorance. People want to do something to solve a vicious dog problem and bring all their prejudices with them. When given sensible non breed specific alternatives, and information, many will listen. Hopefully, thanks to your efforts, Donna Reed Miller will drop the crusade for BSL and get behind a real solution. :D

[beth gordon]

Hi Abraxas,

I don't have access to the Chicago ordinance, but I will do some research. Were you able to get the Dog World? I can't find one near me. Maybe there is a link or contact person in the article. Also. the ASPCA was involved on the committee in Chicago as well as the HSUS, so maybe they have a copy of it?

[abraxas]

A friend told me that Pennsylvania has a no BSL law, but I guess Philadelphia is/was trying to get an exception? This was what I was thinking anyway.

hi sarasmom.....

pennsylvania now has legislation that restricts BSL. philadelphia is waiting for PA to have a hearing regarding that issue...this is all i know about BSL in regard to state law (from what ms. williams told me on wednesday). doesn't matter though...city hall needs to know that there are many of us who strongly oppose this type of legislation for many reasons in addition to protecting our beloved breed(s).

When given sensible non breed specific alternatives, and information, many will listen.

i am REALLY keeping my fingers crossed that council members listen long and hard...toes and eyes too:) !!!! there are many underlying issues that helped to stimulate this proposed legislation, but in the long run, none of them could ever be resolved by placing restrictions on one or two breeds.
thank you for your encouragement:D :) :D :) :D :) :D :)

I don't have access to the Chicago ordinance, but I will do some research. Were you able to get the Dog World? I can't find one near me. Maybe there is a link or contact person in the article. Also. the ASPCA was involved on the committee in Chicago as well as the HSUS, so maybe they have a copy of it?

hi beth........

i went to dogworld or dogwatch.com...i thought you were referring to a website i think i was referred to this site by someone here...it listed all towns and cities involved in BSL...it was a great site and i really need to find it again so i can check for that ordinance and to look for other material. do you have a contact name for ASPCA in chicago? i will try to call there tomorrow...great suggestion to ask them for a copy:D. i'll work on it and get back to you with what i find...thank you sooo much for your help!!!

[LORHEL]

I'm not sure what you are looking for, but I have several issues now, of Dog World, and also a few other monthly publications, please let me know if there is anything specific, and I would be glad to check and if I do I can mail you a copy!! I will check back Friday or you can PM me...:)

[Judy Chrusch]

Thanks Renee for the info:D. Our club has been doing all we can as well especially Dave and Khalid, President and vice president which brings me to the next thing, have you heard back from them? P.M me on that situation bc you are working alot harder on this matter therefore should be recognized as such. Anyway, thanks for all your help and support on this matter, it's much appreciated.

Judy

[beth gordon]

Hi again,

I went online and read all the Chicago ordinances written since early 2000 with no luck. Not a word about the non-BSL. The legislation I was talking about is written up in the April 2002 issue of Dog World. I haven't been able to get a copy, but someone on this forum brought it to everyone's attention. I also have an uncle who lives in Chicago and have asked him to see if he can get me info. I guess if the ASPCA branch there was contacted they could point us in the right direction for a copy.

[beth gordon]

OK, I went on the akc.org website and ordered a Dangerous Dog Legislation Packet which gives samples of what the AKC has helped implement across the country to protect their Breeds. In addition, on the part of the website that gave local contacts regarding this, the name below was given. I would bet that this individual would have a copy or knowledge of where to get it.

I will be glad to call, but it may be better if someone more experienced did. Please let me know.

Illinois Dog Clubs and Breeders Association
DiAnn Plaza
773-763-5773

[beth gordon]

Look at this:

Copyright © 2002 American Veterinary Medical Association
[JAVMA Online News]
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association January 1, 2002
[any breed of dog]
In October, a Chicago ordinance passed recognizing that any breed of dog has
the potential to bite, not just the usual suspects of pit bull-type terriers
and Rottweilers.
Chicago ordinance passes: "It's the deed, not the breed"

On Oct. 31, 2001, welcome news came for residents of the Windy City who were
frustrated by recent dog attacks. An ordinance passed, after being in the
works for several months, which penalizes irresponsible owners of "dangerous
dogs." The ordinance does not distinguish specific breeds or weights of
dogs.

Effective Nov. 30, 2001, the city of Chicago may fine irresponsible pet
owners up to $300 if a dog is allowed to run unsecured, and $10,000, with
the possibility of jail time, if it attacks someone. Owners of a dog
involved in an attack and subsequently deemed dangerous by Chicago Animal
Care and Control would have up to 10 days after the declaration to purchase
no less than $100,000 in liability insurance. Also, the dog would be
required to be neutered and have an identifying microchip implanted at the
expense of the owner.

Alderman Shirley A. Coleman of the 16th Ward had had enough of violent dog
attacks, sometimes fatal, on children in her south-side neighborhood. She
was frustrated, desperate, and getting pressure to do something about it
from residents and constituents.

In the spring of 2001, Alderman Coleman held a press conference saying that
if she could legislate against pit bull terrier-type dogs and Rottweilers,
the dogs most often involved in the attacks in her neighborhood, she would.
She wanted to mandate that owners of these breeds must carry extensive
liability insurance on them, but she knew that the insurance companies and
the city would not be receptive to the idea.

Tribune Media Service syndicated pet columnist and radio personality Steve
Dale was one of several people who saw Alderman Coleman's statements as red
flags, and he invited her to appear on his talk show "Pet Central" on
Chicago's WGN Radio 720. She agreed and listened.

"There was real frustration in her voice," Dale said. "She only had
information about what her community had done in the past, and what her
constituents had been telling her. She didn't know that what she proposed
hadn't worked in other communities." She didn't know that groups such as the
AVMA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Humane Society
of the United States had taken a hard look at other solutions with more
potential to be effective.

After the show, Alderman Coleman requested a gathering of local experts, and
at the end of October, leaders from a local office of the Humane Society of
the United States, Chicago Animal Care and Control, the Chicago VMA, and The
International Kennel Club of Chicago, a dog trainer, and Alderman Coleman
sat down to draft a new Chicago animal control act. The experts in the room
knew what they would and would not support.

Dr. Susan Ferraro is the president of the Chicago VMA. Back when the spring
press conference was held, she took the AVMA's "A community approach to dog
bite prevention" report and brought it to city hall. When the Chicago VMA
testified before the city council to strengthen the animal control act, they
used AVMA's model again, stressing that, on the basis of their knowledge and
the model, they would not support breed- or weight-specific legislation. The
Chicago VMA was unyielding in their position: this was about the deed, not
the breed.

"We didn't feel that they could go ahead and single out one particular breed
or one particular weight category of dogs," Dr. Ferraro said. "Rottweilers
and pit bull terrier-type dogs may be popular right now; in 10 years, it may
be Briards, or some other breed of dog. What we wanted to do was make this
ordinance more generic and get people to understand that all dogs have the
potential to bite, and that all biting dogs are not fighting dogs ... this
is really where our expertise [as veterinarians] comes in."

Another aspect the participants wanted to support was public education, and
to make it very clear that responsibility should be placed on the owners of
dangerous dogs.

"The city is looking for dangerous dog owners, not dangerous dogs," Dale
said. "If you were to read through the ordinance yourself, you would see
that in several places, it does say that. Even though it's just semantics,
that's huge."

But, what insurance company is going to insure a dog that has attacked and
possibly killed someone?

"This is the only part of the animal control act that I personally don't
care for," Dale said. "I told the alderman that no insurance company is
going to do this ... Animal Control sees that as a tool they can use; if
[the dangerous dog owner] can't show proof of insurance [Animal Control] can
impound the dog."

John Zipay, a Chicago agent for State Farm Insurance, said, "If [the
ordinance] is written that way, that they have to go and get insurance,
you're going to have to create a new segment of the industry to provide
coverage." His company will refuse liability insurance to an owner of a dog
investigated and deemed dangerous by the city.

"I think that is the point," said Patricia Montgomery, executive
administrator for the Chicago VMA. "This ordinance is not supposed to target
responsible pet owners."

Sandra Alfred, deputy director of Chicago Animal Care and Control, agrees.
"You're trying to get the message across to be responsible," she said. "If
you are a responsible pet owner, then you may never have to resort to
acquiring the extra insurance because your dog may never be involved in a
bite or an attack on a citizen or another dog."

Will this legislation cure all dangerous dog problems and prevent all dog
attacks?

"No," Dale said. "Gun laws don't stop people from having guns when they
shouldn't. Drug laws don't stop the drug trade. That's why education is so
important. Animal Care and Control has already begun a campaign concerning
dog fighting."

Alfred said, "I'm not sure this will lessen dangerous dog problems in
Chicago. I think it will put more responsibility on pet owners."

At press time, the Chicago City Council was in the middle of annual
budgetary meetings and Alderman Coleman was unavailable for an interview.
Lee J. DiVita
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[LORHEL]

Just an FYI, I have mailed Abraxas the copy of the article in Dog World about Chicago, along with a couple of other similar ones in the veterinary publications I get every month... and one that was in February Dog World also..... Hope they help...:)

[abraxas]

thank you lori...i received the article wednesday:D. i think it will be a great help. also, from the article, i got the name of the AC in chicago. i contacted her office and they are sending me a hard copy of the ordinance itself.

thank you so much for sending that info. from it, i have found many other ppl and organizations to contact concerning BSL. i am still gathering info. for city hall, but as soon as i present it, i will let you know how things went:D. thanks again!!!!!!!

[LORHEL]

Great, and no problem at all, glad it helped. If you need any more articles, I've got Dog World and a few others, be glad to send you anything you need. Just let me know. :) :)