Pit Bull ban in New Mexico

[klf1214]

ACTION ALERT: BSL IN N.M. & MORE

>LOVINGTON, LEA COUNTY, NEW MEXICO: Lovington (population 9,650) in
>southeastern New Mexico near the Texas border in Lea County (population
>56,200) will vote on a breed specific proposal at the December 11 meeting
>of its elected City Commissioners at City Hall, 214 South Love Street at
>5:30 P.M. A local newspaper, the News-Sun, reported, "The ordinance, which
>was drawn up after Municipal Judge Barbara Champman was attacked while out
>for a walk..." Local information indicates that the dogs involved were
>"Pit Bulls."
>
>As some of our readers will recall, some years ago the New Mexico courts
>upheld a BSL in Tijeras.
>The Lovington proposed ordinance is an outright prohibition that would
>"roundup and kill" rather than restrict or regulate with or without
>"grandfathering" as we sometimes see. Text follows:
>
>"POSSESSION OF AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIERS FORBIDDEN
>ORDINANCE NO. 430
>SECTION: 6.08.140----POSSESSION OF AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIES FORBIDDEN.
>Reads as follows;
> It is unlawful to own or possess in the City any dog of the breed known
>as American Pit Bull Terrier. Any such dog may be impounded by the Animal
>Control Officer to be destroyed as provided herein. It shall be held until
>the court of competent jurisdiction makes a determination that the animal
>is an American Pit Bull Terrier and accordingly orders that the dog be
>destroyed.
>ORDINANCE NO.430
>SECTION:6.08.620 DEFINITIONS, PART (h): Reads as follows
>Pit bull dog means and includes any of the following dogs:
> (1) The Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed of dogs.
> (2) The American Staffordshire Terrier breed of dogs.
> (3) the American Pit Bull terrier breed of dogs.
>ORDINANCE NO.431
>SECTION 608.690: PIT BULL DOGS PRESUMED DANGEROUS:
> There shall be an irrefutable presumption that any pit bull dog,
>whether registered with the Department of Animal Control or unregistered,
>is dangerous and therefore subject to the requirements of this Ordinance."
>
>Dog fancier Lee Neithercutt <leen@leaco.net> of Hobbs, New Mexico is
>leading the local opposition. Following is the contact information so our
>readers can help. It is always particularly important for organizations to
>send/fax letters on letterhead.
>
>CITY OF LOVINGTON:
>Bob G. Carter, City Manager/Economic Development Director
>Box 1269
>Lovington, New Mexico 88260
>Fax (505)396-6328
>Voice (505)396-2884
>
>For emailers, a page on the Lovington web site
><http://lovington.leaco.net./comm2.htm> lists the individual Commission
>members and staff with links where you can click and paste your message and
>send individually. Or, for less mouse-clicking, there is a single address
>for the commissioners
><(Commission-)lovington@leaconet.comlovington@leaconet.com>
>The City's home page is at <http://lovington.leaco.net./lovngton.htm>
>
>Commissioners are:
>Troy Harris, Mayor
>Bill Shipp, Mayor Pro-Tem
>Anna Trujillo
>Dixie Drummond
>Pat Wise
>
>We ask our New Mexico readers particularly to pass this information along
>to your local contacts who may have ties to the Lovington area that would
>be helpful.

[Caleb'sMom]

I sent an email talking about the BAD OWNER principle.

Good luck.

[amano the indian flautist]

As usual sigh......But I can say from alot of my travels that we all know just exactly the kinds of people that promote such vulgar and reprehensible legislation....I've also lived in new mexico,santa fe alburqueque(remember that dreadful song about alburqueque?)Nowadays I try to remind folks that pitbulls etc need to go to the same schools as rottweilers and gsd.And if only some of these chaps had the foresight like me to make it mandatory that all pitbull owners breedersetc.Must register with local animal control,and have to enrol throughout the dogs life in a dogschool,therby negating the need for these misspent drives,That's what I would do.If you didn't have a written contract to prove that you were taken the errant dog to a school then this would facilitate the need for confiscation of the dog dogs pending further investigation and whatnot.I'm all for the middle way....Amano

[Judi W]

It was voted not to have breed-specific ordinances but instead to redraft the dangerous dog ordiance. A good victory.

[winniecnm]

This is hitting alittle too close to home! I live about three hours away, in Clovis.

Am Staffs too??? They should start putting the bad owners in jail instead of putting the dogs down. Makes me sick.

Did I catch this too late??

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[This message has been edited by winniecnm (edited December 09, 2000).]

[Sassy]

OMG! I live in Hobbs, What can I do???