My Letter to the DC Council about Pit Bull Ban

[Miabella]

Please take a look at my draft of the letter I intend to send to the DC Council. I have also been in touch with the AKC, and they are sending a packet on Dangerous Dog Legislation to help. I also brought this up at my club meeting last night, and I have some contacts and people are willing to help. I am also networking in my neighborhood. I would appreciate it if people in the DC Metro area who can write letters would contact me via PM.

Dear Council Member ____,

I am writing in response to the Washington Post article of March 3 entitled, “Bill to Curb Pit Bulls May Get a Hearing.” I am a homeowner in Ward 6, and I would like to register my objection to this proposal.

While I do not own a Pit Bull, I do own a Rottweiler, which was another breed targeted by Council Member Barry in the article. I am a responsible owner who enjoys training my dogs, and my current Rottweiler, Ilsa, holds two advanced obedience titles from the American Kennel Club (AKC), has been recognized as a Canine Good Citizen by the AKC, and has passed therapy dog certification from Therapy Dogs International. I have owned other Rottweilers in the past, and they have held similar qualifications. They have all been good neighbors and family members.

My point in listing my dogs’ accomplishments is not to brag. A bill like the proposal will serve only to punish responsible owners such as myself. Owners who are allowing their untrained, unsocialized dogs to roam without supervision attacking people will not be the ones affected by this bill. Those types of owners do not care for the individual animal or the welfare of their neighbors. If their banned dog is seized, they will simply acquire another one because they consider their animals to be disposable possessions. Even if this law was somehow able to eliminate all Pit Bulls and Rottweilers in the District, these people will move onto the next trendy dog to bolster their images. Fila Brasilieros, Presa Canarios, and Cane Corsos are all waiting in the wings to take the spot of Pit Bulls and Rottweilers with these characters. And if you ban those breeds as well, they will go to the Boerboel, Tosa Inu, or the Caucasian Ovcharka. Or perhaps they will go back to Dobermans and German Shepherds.

Banning breeds does not work because it does not target the problem: irresponsible owners. Any of the breeds I mentioned make wonderful, safe family members. And any breed of dog can bite and cause serious damage. The largest determining factor in the reliability and safeness of any individual dog of any given breed is the owner. Banning dogs by breed does not address irresponsible owners who will make unsafe dogs out of any breed. All it does is punish responsible owners who put time and effort into making their dogs into safe family members.

I would suggest that a better way to improve public safety would be to increase penalties and enforcement of current statutes. The laws already exist to curb this problem, the fines for non-compliance are simply not stiff enough.

DC should make use of the AKC Canine Good Citizen program as a standard for responsible ownership and dog behavior. The Canine Good Citizen certification requires dogs to pass all elements of a 10 part test of good manners at home and in the community. The test stresses training and responsible dog ownership. I am attaching information on the Canine Good Citizen program from the AKC.

If the Council still insists on targeting certain breeds of dogs, using the Canine Good Citizen program as an incentive for responsible ownership could be a way to identify the types of owners who are causing the problem. All dogs of targeted breeds could be required to have passed the Canine Good Citizen test by one year of age, or, in the case of adult rescue dogs, after a specified period of ownership. In the meantime, owners could send proof of attendance of obedience classes. Owners who are willing to put effort into training and socializing their dogs should be allowed to continue to own these breeds.

I do support dangerous dog legislation based on the actions of the owner and the behavior of the dog, regardless of breed. Please do not punish responsible owners and good dogs by painting us with the same broad brush as those who are causing problems. In order for a piece of legislation to be useful, it must be effective, enforceable, economical, and reasonably fair. I do not see how the proposed bill meets those criteria.


Sincerely,

Laurie Falter

I welcome your comments and edits!

[onthedl74]

Laurie
I think your letter is impeccable. I think everyone should follow suit and send letters to their elected officials. My father is a state senator here and I get in his ear every chance I get about this subject.

[rottnkidd]

Laurie - Your letter is very well-written and thorough. I hope others in your area follow your lead and also write their objections to Council. Please keep us posted on the progress of this impending legislation.
kathy

[moondog]

Originally Posted by Miabella

I do support dangerous dog legislation based on the actions of the owner and the behavior of the dog, regardless of breed. Please do not punish responsible owners and good dogs by painting us with the same broad brush as those who are causing problems. In order for a piece of legislation to be useful, it must be effective, enforceable, economical, and reasonably fair. I do not see how the proposed bill meets those criteria.

You nailed it! The only thing I would do is the following..let your closing statement stand alone and don't wishy wash around it. You have plenty of backup to say "The bill FAILS to meet", rather than the softer "I do not see how". Go get 'em!

I do support dangerous dog legislation based on the actions of the owner and the behavior of the dog, regardless of breed. Please do not punish responsible owners and good dogs by painting us with the same broad brush as those who are causing problems.

In order for a piece of legislation to be useful, it must be effective, enforceable, economical, and reasonably fair. The proposed bill fails to meet those criteria.

[Miabella]

Thanks guys!

Moondog, I like your changes!

[lblax]

very nice letter..............

[szky]

Laurie-I feel your letter is excellant. During my career I've worked in Municipal law enforcment and for a few years, I assited in proposing ordinances on various topics. To give you an idea of how council people think, a bureaucrat could read (not that I read it this way) that you accept a form of breed bans, in the last few paragraphs, if CGC standards are not met. What happens to the dog after the time limit? My suggestion is not offer a compromise so early in the debate. In CA, we had an attempt to ban breed discrimination. The Insurance Industry(who is no doubt behind DC's Pit Bull Ban) stated that CGC certified dogs cannot be objectively shown to be less likely to attack someone as a non CGC dog. This bill died in committee.

Any form of a breed ban of dogs not shown to be dangerous is a foot in the door. Your factual, provable, statements that breed bans don't work in your last paragraph is excellant. Good luck with your work on this issue.

[Bucky's Mom]

Laurie you did a fantastic job and the edit that moondog suggested added emphasis as well.

I will be happy to contribute a letter/email in support.

Since I am in Maryland that legislation is too close geographically for my comfort level.

BTW - do you think letters from outside the area - written as potential TOURISTS to Washington DC - would have an impact?? - Something along the line of well we would LIKE to visit the Nations Capital but if my dog is not welcome we will spend our tourist dollars elsewhere??

Again - excellent letter

[Miabella]

Lisa, it certainly can't hurt!!! Please everyone, make your voice heard if you live in the Metro area. These laws are insidious, and once one community (I'm looking at you PG County) institutes one, others start to think they are a good idea.

[Bruce Lanthier]

That last I heard PG County had come to the conclusion that a breed ban wasn't working and they were going to repeal it. Also MD is trying to write a law that will prohibit bans of dogs by specific breed.

4/20/04 PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY BREED SPECIFIC LAW REMOVAL PROPOSED

After a long hard battle, Prince Georges finally has in front of it, a piece of proposed legislation that would implement the recommendations of the Vicious Animal Task Force. It would repeal the breed specific provisions pertaining to pit bull terriers and add additional regulations to address perceived problems associated with potentially dangerous dogs. Congratulations and thanks go to the Vicious Animal Tard Force for their hard work.

6/22/04 PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY NEEDS LETTERS AND FAXES

CB29 is before the Prince Georges County County Counil HEHS Committee. CB29 increases public safety by addressing problem behaviors before an animal actually hurts someone. The current law only applies to some dogs. CB29 applies to all dogs. CB29 makes irresponsible owners responsible for the behavior of their dogs and increses criminal and civil penalties. CB29 repeals the current breed ban which is a waste of taxpayers money and hurtful to innocent dog owners when beloved family pets are taken.

Prince George's County citizens need to flood the Heatlh, Education & Human Services Committee Members. They really want to hear from County residents. County residents should encourage their family, friends and neighbors to write or fax their County Legislators. A list of the Legislators and their contact information follows:

The HSHE Committee Members, their phone and fax numbers and email addresses are:

Camille A. Exum, Chairwoman (District 5) Phone 301-952-3690 Fax 301-952-3238 - No Email
Marilynn M. Bland, Vice -Chair (District 9) Phone 301-952-3820 Fax 301-952-3238 - No Email
Thomas E. Dernoga (District 1) Phone 301-952-3887 Fax 301-952-4801 Email- tedernoga@co.pg.md.us
Thomas R. Hendershot (District 3) Phone 301-952-3060 Fax 301-952-3238 Email- thendershot@co.pg.md.us
Douglas J.J. Peters (District 4) Phone 301-952-3094 Fax 301-952-4910 Email - pjpeters@co.pg.md.us
Samuel H. Dean (District 6) Phone 301-952-3426 Fax 301-952-4351 Email - shdean@co.pg.md.us

1/26/04 BREED SPECIFIC PROHIBITION PROPOSED

Delegate Impallaria has introduced a bill (HB 78)that states "The governing body of a county may not probide by local law or ordinance for the regulation of potentially dangerous or vicious dogs in a breed specific manner". While the wording is not the greatest that I have ever seen, this is certainly a big step forward in Maryland. This bill should be given all possible support.


1/14/04 BOUTIN CHANGES HIS TUNE

Late last year, Delegate Charles Boutin started making noises about muzzling pit bulls. He claimed that he wasn't trying to ban pit bulls. However, he was promoting breed specific legislation. The heat was put on him from all directions. ADOA Vice Presidents Adrianne Lefkowitz and Maureen Hauch were both in touch with him urging him to recind his proposal.

Well, it has happened.

V-P Maureen Hauch has received an e-mail from Delegate Boutin in which he states :I have decided to rewrite the Bill to create a Task Force to examine the current Dangerous Dog Laws in Maryland with an eye ttoward improving them. After the Task Force has completed its objective, I hope to put a dangerous dog bill in next year that will have the support of the Humane Society, Kennel Club, etc."

The above was taken from The American Dog Owners Assoc.

[Bruce Lanthier]

Perhaps you should direct the DC Council to speak with the PG county council. Although I think both groups are idiots maybe they will understand each other since they speak the same language, idiocy.

[Bucky's Mom]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lanthier

Perhaps you should direct the DC Council to speak with the PG county council. Although I think both groups are idiots maybe they will understand each other since they speak the same language, idiocy.

But I don't think I would word it EXACTLY like Bruce did

I am going to forward your letter to my e-mail list and ask that people write in as potential tourists in addition to the Metro area people.

[old girl]

Laurie, great letter! We have been fighting the same thing here in British Columbia