Leola, S.D. Passes BSL

[JonandMichelle]

May 25 2008 4:13PM
Associated Press

LEOLA, S.D. (AP) Leola voters have approved the city council's decision making it illegal to possess pit bulls, bull mastiffs, Rottweilers, Doberman pinchers and German shepherds.

The vote this past week was 103-27 to endorse the council's action.

Not only is it illegal to possess the breeds. It's also illegal to have crossbreeds of them.

The new city ordinance also limits to two the number of any breed of dogs anyone can possess.

It has an exception for people who raise and sell dogs. Also, the banned breeds are allowed if they help or are being trained to help people with disabilities.

Mayor Dean Schock says the ordinance was passed due to concerns from people who walk and bike or whose children bike around town.


Leola bans certain dog breeds | KXNet.com North Dakota News


Nothing like achieving a false sense of security at an animal and family's expense. How very sad

[JoJo]

And they say ignorance is bliss.........

[QuietDaze]

When these assinine laws are passed, what happens to the dogs that already live there? Maybe that's a naive question but do the people have to put them in rescue, move, or put them down?

[JonandMichelle]

Majority of BSL passed enacts a Grandfather Clause, which protects owners who already reside in the city, town, county, ect. However, it restricts the further purchase and ownership of such breeds by residents and newcomers.

Not all BSL are enacted in such a way though. Many cities and towns do require owners of such dogs deemed banned to be removed from the property, or face seizer by animal control for destruction. It is quite sad, and a very high price to pay for ignorance.

[Xena's Daddy]

This whole topic is just ridiculous!!

If there's such a concern for 'dangerous' dogs, and local governments want to relinquish some of our feedoms, then at least mandate a special permit for owners of such dogs. One that tests the potential owners knowledge of the breed and of proper training methods/techniques. Then, if that's not enough, require that the dogs pass a good citizen test at one year old. Still an invasion of our privacy, no doubt, but it would be better than banning entire breeds!!

And people get mad when we stero-type for terroists at airports!!
Jeez..........
MK

[fbkeays]

Originally Posted by Xena's Daddy

This whole topic is just ridiculous!!

If there's such a concern for 'dangerous' dogs, and local governments want to relinquish some of our feedoms, then at least mandate a special permit for owners of such dogs. One that tests the potential owners knowledge of the breed and of proper training methods/techniques. Then, if that's not enough, require that the dogs pass a good citizen test at one year old. Still an invasion of our privacy, no doubt, but it would be better than banning entire breeds!!

And people get mad when we stero-type for terroists at airports!!
Jeez..........
MK

Personally I think owners of goldens and labs should have to get a permit. In my neighborhood, it isn't the rotts, pits or chows that are the problem, it is the goldens and the labs. I take exception to your use of singling out certain breeds for special permitting. By doing so, you are swallowing, hook, line and sinker into the mentality that certain breeds are indeed dangerous.
If you want special permitting, then it should be for ALL breeds, ALL the time. See how fast those so called "friendly" breeds fail those tests. Then you have the question of who will be making up the test and administering it. There are plenty of wacked out card carrying PETA/AR members out in Animal Control that would love to deny permits for any reason, rational or not. Or make up a test that even a stuffed animal would fail.

[JonandMichelle]

My mother and father-in law live in a very posh neighborhood, and both of them (on separate occasions) have been attacked and suffered bite wounds from different labs while walking and biking. In neither case, did one person yell for breed bans My MIL even stated, that if it were have been a Rottweiler, or other common so-called dangerous dog, people would've been screaming from their roof-tops! This is in the panhandle of Florida.

[JoJo]

Is Leola S.D in America, the land of the FREE and home of the brave? This sounds like a Communist country or something.

More voices need to be heard and heard loudly. Education is the key.

[Xena's Daddy]

Originally Posted by fbkeays

I take exception to your use of singling out certain breeds for special permitting.

I couldn't agree more!! I suppose my real position was lost in the context of my post, but please understand that I am ADAMANTLY against any such discrimination! I think it's just absolutely ridiculous.................

All I was saying was that if the local Governments feel 'qualified' to determine that particular breeds are 'inherently dangerous', which apparently they do, then at least take a different action; don't ban entire breeds, ban irresponsible owners!!! Since quite frankly, that's where most of the problems originate from in the first place!!

And if such action were taken up by local Goverments, then in order to be fair, it should relate to all owners/prosepctive owners, regardless of breed.

But that would be taking freedoms away from FAR TOO MANY people, which is much harder to do, so I think it would likely be limited to us 'dangerous dog owners'. It is much easier to offend our relatively small percentage of the dog owning population then to offend everyone. And since most 'non-dangerous' (Yeah, O.K.!!) dog owners would also agree that our dogs are in fact 'dangerous', then the offending Government would have the backing of most of the dog owning population when they offend our small group.

Sad.......
MK

P.S. The whole concept of Rottweilers being 'dangerous' really gets me going. Some of the nicest, loyal, and most stable & intelligent dogs I've ever met have been Rotties. If only the public were so aware of these facts rather than the media 'gossip' they're so inclined to believe............

[Weily4Life]

This just makes me sick. Any dog can get excited and chase people walking or biking.

All that BSL does is make more people anxious and nervous of these specific breeds after hearing about them and learning what these breeds look like, resulting in the wrong posture of these people around these breeds to set off a reaction.

People need to educate themselves about how to behave around to reduce there risk of anything happening. Of course, I'm not excusing dog owners for their responsibility to have a well trained obedient dog. Just saying these scared people need a little training themselves.

[Xena's Daddy]

Originally Posted by Weily4Life

This just makes me sick. Any dog can get excited and chase people walking or biking.

All that BSL does is make more people anxious and nervous of these specific breeds after hearing about them and learning what these breeds look like, resulting in the wrong posture of these people around these breeds to set off a reaction.

People need to educate themselves about how to behave around to reduce there risk of anything happening. Of course, I'm not excusing dog owners for their responsibility to have a well trained obedient dog. Just saying these scared people need a little training themselves.

Interesting points.......I'd have would have to agree! I think you're absolutely right; if your local government says certain breeds are 'dangerous' (By passing these ridiculous laws) then the bulk of the population would likely be biased in that direction. After all, the passing of the BSL makes it 'offical', doesn't it???

Absurd..........
MK

P.S. I read somewhere today that in Germany it is required by law to attend obedience traing for ALL dogs/owners. Don't know if that's true or not....but interesting just the same.

[webangel2b]

Originally Posted by Xena's Daddy

One that tests the potential owners knowledge of the breed and of proper training methods/techniques. Then, if that's not enough, require that the dogs pass a good citizen test at one year old. Still an invasion of our privacy, no doubt, but it would be better than banning entire breeds!!

AMEN Mike!

Actually I think that would be the right thing to do. ANY breed of dog in the "wrong hands" are as good as a gun. Not mention the people who just chain them to tree and throw some food on the ground for them.

I would not protest banning BAD OWNERS, not one bit.

[Nishasmom]

This is horrible . I pray that this law gets turned around quick!

[Xena's Daddy]

Originally Posted by webangel2b

AMEN Mike!

Actually I think that would be the right thing to do. ANY breed of dog in the "wrong hands" are as good as a gun. Not mention the people who just chain them to tree and throw some food on the ground for them.

I would not protest banning BAD OWNERS, not one bit.

That's so true.........my future MIL has a Yorkie down in Florida. Wirey little guy, always yapping about something, sticking his nose where it doesn't belong. Xena used to look at him like, "What the HELL are you barking at?? There's nothing even out there!!" LOL...........

Anyway, several weeks ago now, while out on a walk, he actually bit an older woman on her ankle (Where else??) who was walking by!! I have no idea if there was any warning or posturing, but I DO know that he drew blood!! Not a lot, just reddened up to the surface where his tiny little teeth were, but it was enough for this poor woman to create quite a stink about it! (And rightly so) She went to the doctor for first aid & shots, presented my future MIL with the bills, and suggested she have the dog put down before he hurts someone else. Everyone thinks it's funny since he's such a cute little doggy.......just imagine if he'd been a Rottweiler??!! I wouldn't have needed to post this, as you all would've heard about it already on the news!!

Now, it's not that my future MIL is a bad person, but she hasn't trained this dog in any way, shape, or form, nor does she believe in it. She's of the old-school mindset 'just get a dog.......and feed it....what? Did I miss something??'

PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH A DOG BEFORE PROCEEDING OUT TO GET ONE!!! And not to mention that it's these same people who undoubtedly get their animals from pet stores & BYB!!!!

Education is the key..........but we've got to start them young!!
Elementary school works for me!!

MK

P.S. Her & I do not see eye to eye on a lot of things, so since I was pleasantly visiting, I couldn't say a word about it. I just kept my mouth shut & continued reading the book I brought down for the trip while everyone made jokes about the 'Killer Yorkie!! Ha, Ha, Ha!!"

I was reading 'The Other End of the Leash'
Kind of ironic...........