Interesting banned breeds on NYC Housing Authority list

[Shane]

I'm hoping this wakes up some of those who are in denial that their breeds would ever be banned. Check out the interesting list of breeds on page 11 of the newsletter. http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycha/downloads/pdf/j09apre.pdf I'm a bit of a dog geek and hadn't even heard of some of them.

Boston terrier is among breeds in Housing Authority’s doghouse

Boston terrier is among breeds in Housing Authority’s doghouse

By Rita Wu

Boston terriers, but possibly not rottweilers, will be banned from New York City public housing projects under a new policy on dogs set to go into effect May 1.

The New York City Housing Authority first instituted dog regulations seven years ago. At that time, fully grown dogs weighing more than 40 pounds were prohibited. However, service dogs and dogs that had been in NYCHA housing prior to the implementation date were exempt. The new policy forbids grown dogs weighing more than 25 pounds, and includes a list of breeds deemed dangerous by NYCHA, among them the diminutive Boston terrier.

According to Howard Marder, an authority spokesperson, the pet policy had to be revised because of “too many incidents of people’s dogs doing what they aren’t supposed to.” He wouldn’t go into detail as to what these incidents were, but said NYCHA hopes this new policy will “keep people from being bitten or threatened.”

The first thing the agency considered in revising the policy was weight limitation. According to Marder, NYCHA “realized that 40 pounds was too much.” Next, the agency looked into popular breeds used for dog fighting. The result was a list of about 30 types of dogs that will be prohibited from being registered in public housing after May 1.
NYCHA’s pet policy overview consists of an odd mix of large and small dogs believed to be aggressive, and rare breeds.

Public-housing residents who own Boston terriers, for one, are surprised to hear that their beloved breed is on the outlawed-dogs list, while breeds with a reputation for being more aggressive, like rottweilers, have been left off. The average weight of Boston terriers, considered small dogs, ranges between 10 and 25 pounds.

But Marder said the list was still being tweaked, and would include Dobermans, German shepherds, boxers and other aggressive dogs, along with the breeds NYCHA already has listed, by the time the regulations kick in on May 1.

Another challenge is keeping a handle on who has a registered dog and who doesn’t. Marder said, in cases of reports of unregistered dogs or complaints, the owners would be “brought in for discussion with the housing manager,” which can “lead to actions against the tenant.”

The spokesperson said if tenants haven’t registered their dogs with the housing agency, they can still do so before May 1, so that their soon-to-be-banned breeds would be grandfathered in under the new regulations. But no new dogs from these breeds will be allowed in under the new regulations.

Margo Troche, a tenant at the Baruch Houses and the owner of a Boston terrier, called the list of prohibited dogs “hilarious.”

“Instead of enforcing the current pet policy, they waste taxpayers’ money, time and effort — and who knows what else — on a ‘revised pet policy,’” she scoffed.

Troche wants the Housing Authority to enforce its existing policy because, she said, there are already many aggressive dogs living there. She accused Baruch’s housing manager of not even enforcing the policy prohibiting dogs of more than 40 pounds.

“There are dangerous dogs here,” Troche said. “Housing does nothing about them.”

She said she knows of tenants with unregistered pets, yet has never heard of anyone getting reprimanded for it. On a regular basis, she sees pit bulls, rottweilers and Great Danes that are clearly over the weight limit.

Even if she was to file a complaint, she noted, “Don’t know what apartment they’re in. Who are you going to tell?”

According to Wikipedia, Boston terriers “have strong, friendly personalities. ... While originally bred for fighting, they were later down bred for companionship. ... Having been bred as a companion dog, they enjoy being around people, and, if properly socialized, get along well with children, the elderly, other canines and noncanine pets. Some Boston terriers are very cuddly, while others are more independent.”

[jakesfostermom]

Whomever Rita Wu is, that wrote about Boston Terriers, but possibly not Rottweilers being excluded, didn't fully read the 'restrictions' - since it clearly reads that dogs with a projected adult weight over 25# (previously 40#) will NOT be allowed..........that gets the rottweiler hands down........the fact they didn't have to put the name in print, likely was exactly how they wanted it and it fit nicely in their scripted restrictions.

Boston Terriers - now there's a twist.......having "Terrier" in the breed name likely caused this........and the Bedlington Terrier as well....again "Terrier".......

Someday - I bet we see that housing authority will adopt "no pets" as a rule........

We were interviewed yesterday by our local ABC affiliate - on this very topic for our area.....and I hope they include the part where I cautioned that if Golden Retriever owners think they are 'okay' in all this - they better think again........guess I should have included Boston Terrier owners too

[Shane]

That's one of the weird things about the list. They put several Mastiff breeds on there but not Rotties. Both are generally over 25 pounds by 3 months of age.

The rule is a great example of how illogical BSL really is. "Bull and Terrier"? What the heck is that?

I hope your quote gets on the news. Please post that one when it airs.

[4dogs]

why do they bother to list any breeds over 25lbs to begin with. Honestly as a dog groomer some of the more aggressive dogs are the ones under 25lbs. Lhasa is tops on my list as well as Chihuahua. Laugh you may but both these breeds are very 1 person oriented & often bite their owners as well. I guess there will be a bunch more designer breeds to meet the needs of the 25lbs & under. The mini lab otherwise known as the Labbe or the mini golden or other such non sense.

[OnyxGold1]

oh my....I thought I was fairly knowledgeable on some of the exotic dog breeds but this list even baffles me with some of the names.

very interesting that bedlington terriers of all things got added....weird. I wonder what the rationale behind most of these is......the most I've seen a bedlington do at a dog show is shiver ringside with it tail tucked. Definitely not a threatening type breed.

[4dogs]

Yes, but the Bedlington is not to be all shivering at ringside. In their description they are groomed to look like a lamb but they can be very aggressive. Same with the Pumi a cute curly coated dog but is actually a little aggressor. Some of the breeds they listed are so far out there that it is even silly to list them. I am sure some are even extinct breeds. Again, they should just put in a rule (if they have too) of no dogs over 25lbs & then list the little dogs as well that they want off. The boston I wouldn't even consider to restrict. I think soon they will just ban dogs period since little dogs bite as well.

[freakygoldfish]

I agree that the list seems poorly assembled, but I've heard that anytime there's a breed ban, the number of large exotic breeds goes up. I remember and episode of NGE several years ago. The ACO that was interviewed said he'd never even heard of a Presa Canario or Cane Corso, before they banned pits in Baltimore.

I'm also shocked that Chihuahuas and Dachshunds didn't make the list. They are afterall the number 1 and 2 breeds most likely to bite.
The Most Aggressive Dog Breeds; Dachshund #1?? :For the Love of the Dog

[Weily4Life]

I can't believe they have Boston Terriers and Bedlington Terriers on that list. Makes me wonder if those breeds are owned by someone in the housing unit and they had a runin/bit another resident/s, resulting in the breeds addition to the list. I am not for banning of any breed. It seems as though this housing authority is heading down the path of banning all breeds. With the 25 pound weight limit it cuts out a good majority of breeds without specifically putting them on that list.