New Llano, Louisiana..URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED

[JonandMichelle]

**CROSS POST**
Please send your POLITE and RESPECTFUL opposition to breed specific legislation to the below city council members. The public hearing is tomorrow, Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 6:45 p.m. Residents wishing to speak during the town council meeting should complete a Public Comment Form at least 30 minutes before the pre-council meeting begins.

Fate of pets in hands of town council
By KELLY MOORE/Staff Writer
Published: Monday, September 24, 2007 9:23 AM CDT
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NEW LLANO - The Town of New Llano has introduced two ordinances that have spawned discussion, debate and anger...

The second will require additional insurance and registration of specific breeds of dogs living with owners in the town's limits.

Public hearings on both of these ordinances will be held at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25.

Both of these ordinances were introduced during the town's regularly scheduled August Town Council meeting.

New Llano Mayor Freddie Boswell said the reason they introduced the ordinance is because the town is being victimized by vandals. “It is mostly the skateboarders who are tearing things up,” Boswell said.

The Breed Selective Legislation ordinance introduced during the same meeting lists Pit Bulls, any for of Pit or Pit Bull mix, German Shepherd or German Shepherd mix, Rottweiler or Rottweiler mix, Doberman or Doberman mix and Chow or Chow Mix as vicious dogs.

If the ordinance passes residents owning any of these dogs will have until Jan. 1, 2008 to comply with new regulations.

Any dog deemed a vicious dog by New Llano must be in a fenced yard at least six feet in height at all times, to prevent a nuisance or danger to the public.

If chained or otherwise tethered within that fence, the minimum tether length shall be a 15 foot radius providing a 30 foot diameter exercise area. Dog collars for tethered animals shall be leather or nylon.

€Dogs, not listed by New Llano as vicious, weighing 35 pounds or over and which have committed at least one unprovoked attack on human(s), or other animals must be confined behind a fence no less than six feet in height. The enclosure must provide a minimum of 36 feet for each animal to be enclosed.

New Llano residents who own defined vicious breeds will be required to secure and provide proof to the New Llano Police Department liability insurance in the amount of at least $200,000 covering any damages or injury which may be caused by vicious dog and proof of insurance shall be provided to the police department annually, no later than the Jan. 15 of each year.

All such policies of insurance shall contain a provision providing that the Town of New Llano is named as an additional insured or such other provisions as will be required that the insurer notify the town in writing no less than 10 days prior to any cancellation, termination or expiration of coverage.

Owners will also be required to display in a prominent place on the premises on which the dog is kept a sign readable by members of the general public and intelligible to young children standing without the boundaries of those premises warning that there is a vicious dog on the premises. A similar sign shall also be posted on the pen, kennel or other structure or enclosure in which the dog is housed or confined.

The Town of New Llano will charge a dangerous dog fee for the increased costs of maintaining the records of the dog as permitted by the State of Louisiana. The charge will be $20 per dog.

If the ordinance is passed any person owning a dog of a vicious breed must comply with this ordinance as of Jan. 1, 2008.

If owner of possessor of such animal does not comply then they will be fined $50 for the first offense and/or 30 days in jail.

Owners may be fined every 30 days for which they are in violation of this ordinance. For every offense the fine shall increase $50 and not ot exceed $500 for any one offense.

No persons shall have or maintain possession of control of a dog which makes unprovoked attacks on humans. Any unprovoked attack by a dog constitutes a public nuisance.

Residents wishing to speak during the during the town council meeting should complete a Public Comment Form at least 30 minutes before the pre-council meeting begins. Public Comment Forms may be obtained in the Mayor's Office.

Leesville Daily Leader - News

New Llano, Louisiana Contact Info

Mayor Freddie Boswell
City Hall
211 Stanton St
New Llano, LA 71461

(337) 239-3670

Charlie Balthrop
104 Franklin Street
New Llano, LA 71461
(337) 238-1216

Charlotte M. Cooper
414 Vernon St.
New Llano, La. 71461
(337) 238-5347

Danny Hunt
503 Magnolia St.
New Llano, La. 71461
(337) 392-6045

Carolyn H. Todd
129 Raymond Drive
New Llano, La. 71461
(337) 238-4477

Ervin Wilson
100 Bullock Drive
New Llano, La. 71461
(337) 238-4340