Prince George, British Columbia

[TrishB]

Permission given to crosspost:

<Please be advised that on Monday, December 15, 2003 City of Prince George Bylaw Services Manager, Ken Craig, presented the Mayor and City Council with a proposed amendment to the Animal Control Bylaw with respect to the definition of a "dangerous dog". Based on a survey posted on the City of Prince George website Spring 2003, and statistics provided by Animal Control Officers over the past two years, Craig proposed that the definition of a "dangerous dog" be amended to include the following breeds:

PIT BULL, ROTTWEILER, GERMAN SHEPHERD,

LABRADOR RETRIEVER and COCKER SPANIEL

Discussion quickly focused on one breed, the Pit Bull. Mayor and City Council endorsed a proposed amendment to the Animal Control Bylaw to designate Pit Bulls in the definition of "dangerous dog". Despite all the information that is available about the Pit Bull breeds, these dogs are still a target of discrimination and abuse thanks to media sensationalism.

RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS

City Council are seeking public input on this and other proposed amendments to the Animal Control Bylaw. An Animal Control Survey has been posted to the City of Prince George Website, www.city.pg.bc.ca/, or, are available at all locations where City Dog Licenses are sold. Survey must be submitted via internet or returned to City Hall, Bylaw Services Division, no later than March 15, 2004.

A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER IS SET FOR 7:00 pm

MARCH 23, 2004, IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

Please let your voice be heard. Negative incidents involving dogs are the fault of IRRESPONSIBLE OWNERS. Untrained, unsocialized, OFF LEASH dogs left in situations that invite trouble are at the root of the majority of dog bite incidents. Lobby for harsher penalties for owners, not discrimination of breeds.

---------------

Trish here. What we need to also realize in this case is that although 4 of the 5 breeds were dropped from the possible ban - they could have just as easily NOT been. Due to one survey, one take on statistics (without a set criteria of how they were to be collected) all 5 breeds could have been banned!!!!

Pitbulls are still at risk here. They need our support. Our lack of action to protect them is the same as giving permission for them to ban OUR dogs down the line. :(

It's time to step up and have our voices heard. It's not a breed issue - it's a dog ownership issue. It shouldn't matter if you own a toy poodle or a Rottweiler - defend your rights to own your dogs - or you may find yourself losing them.

Please join the fight at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RCCBSL
Our dogs need you!

[jas'smom]

Filled out the survey. Hope it helps :(

[Shawna M.]

Hello all, I just completed the survey and I was wondering... Does the CKC ever get involved in any of these cases? I mean do they try to help people keep their dogs? I just don't think it's fair that my well trained Rotties are pinpointed without cause while the neighbour's Rott-Lab-Husky-Shepherd mix roams ( and destroys) freely.

[TrishB]

Originally Posted by Shawna M.

Hello all, I just completed the survey and I was wondering... Does the CKC ever get involved in any of these cases? I mean do they try to help people keep their dogs? I just don't think it's fair that my well trained Rotties are pinpointed without cause while the neighbour's Rott-Lab-Husky-Shepherd mix roams ( and destroys) freely.

Nope. The CKC will offer you information - that's it - but not support or representation.

Those being affected by BSL must ask for help from groups and hope that a lawyer will aid them in their time of need.

[Shawna M.]

So if say the council who was coming up with these Head in the Sand decisions actually went to the CKC for help, would they get it?

[Brooke&Ryan]

Filled out the survery as well, Trish...

:)
Brooke

[TrishB]

Originally Posted by Shawna M.

So if say the council who was coming up with these Head in the Sand decisions actually went to the CKC for help, would they get it?

Sadly - not that I've seen. I've only received 'informative' emails from them with references to various websites. There have been no offers for aid, support or otherwise, beyond the emails.

I guess a CKC Member is going to have to lose their dog before they'll respond. :( At which time, it will be too late.

Shawna - you're a Canadian! Why don't you join our Anti-BSL Group? We'd love to have you with us:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RCCBSL

[Ilovemypuppy]

Filled out the form and sent it in.....


proud member of the RCCBSL group..:o))

[tempest]

thank you for posting this! Prince George is my home but Im not currently living there this year as Im away for schooling. I work for the local spca part-time there and I know that there have been alot more then just a few incidents. Alot of them over the last 3years i worked there involved pitbulls and rotties. a huge part of the problem is that there is a extreamly large group of "breeders" in town of these breeds. Im a rottie owner myself so I am completely against any breed ban whether for pits or any breed. but the problem is that the city council and bylaw officers are looking at the huge number of problem dogs in this city and seeing a trend in breeds. its been my experience with city council that they rarely pay much attention to petitions unless they support the side that they have already decided on. I dont know how much i can do from hear. ive had my father fill out my written form as im still a resident and e-mail all my friends this makes me so sad. i wish i was home now so i could do more to fight this. it will be so much harder to fight after its passed. and as i told councilman glen scott last christmas when i went home to visit i will fight it when i get back if it gets passed.

[TrishB]

Originally Posted by tempest

thank you for posting this! Prince George is my home but Im not currently living there this year as Im away for schooling. I work for the local spca part-time there and I know that there have been alot more then just a few incidents. Alot of them over the last 3years i worked there involved pitbulls and rotties. a huge part of the problem is that there is a extreamly large group of "breeders" in town of these breeds. Im a rottie owner myself so I am completely against any breed ban whether for pits or any breed. but the problem is that the city council and bylaw officers are looking at the huge number of problem dogs in this city and seeing a trend in breeds. its been my experience with city council that they rarely pay much attention to petitions unless they support the side that they have already decided on. I dont know how much i can do from hear. ive had my father fill out my written form as im still a resident and e-mail all my friends this makes me so sad. i wish i was home now so i could do more to fight this. it will be so much harder to fight after its passed. and as i told councilman glen scott last christmas when i went home to visit i will fight it when i get back if it gets passed.

Well tempest, you can join our group to help us fight BSL at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RCCBSL

Since you're a junior member, I can't Private Message you. I'd like to talk to you one on one - so you joining the group would be a good way to achieve that. What I'd like to hear from you is some names / contacts at the local SPCA that you may have that we could contact. Also to help to give us some insight as to what the problem is in this area (you mentioned some breeders I'd like to hear about).

Membership to the group is free and it sounds like you could give us some insight that we could really use. I hope you join us!

-----

On a side note: Everyone, if you know of anyone who owns a Lab, German Shepherd or Cocker Spaniel - please tell them about this threat!

When councils are passing such legislation, they are only taking one piece of information (In this case, a stats report without any criteria as to how the information was collected) and writing bylaws! These breeds could have just as easily been left ON the list!

It's time to get these other breed owners imobilized - before it's too late. Turning over a bylaw is 200 times more difficult than stopping it in the first place. And stopping it isn't all that easy to begin with.... :(

[Lefty]

Filled out the survey. Go after irresponsible owners.

[K-9Girl]

Filled out the survery too.....

Sara

[macho rottie]

Another British Columbia person here. I filled out the survey.

[tempest]

hi trish.
i did join the group today and my membership is currently pending:) i dont have reg. internet access right now as school is out for spring holidays till next month and i rely on the uni. computers for e-mail and internet. so i cant say when i will be online next. i will try to check back this week and see if im a member yet. I would love to talk to you about this and give you a bit of insight into my town.

[Lookie]

I've filled out the form as well.