READ FIRST!!!

Educating not Discriminating
Dog Legislation Education (DLE) is for anyone on either side of the Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) fence. I wanted to provide a place where you can ask questions that otherwise might spark debate. This is not meant to be a place to argue the issues, but to help people understand why dogs bite, who's really responsible, and what types of legislation have proven successful in protecting the public and punishing human offenders. Anyone commenting on the blog will be removed from the group for being insensitive. My main focus will be for citizens of Springfield, Mo as the Animal Issues Task Force (AITF) has proposed new legislation, policies, programs to City Council. Because these proposals could help improve the safety of citizens anywhere, the blog is open to anyone.
The Root of Fear is Ignorance.
The one thing I have learned over the years, is that most people who have a problem with a specific breed of dog either had one bad experience or heard bad stuff on the news. Humans are allowed to be afraid...I'm afraid of spiders, hopefully no one faults me for that! What I hope to accomplish with this blog is to help Pit Bull and other Power Breed owners to understand that some people don't know any better than to be afraid. As dog owners we have to take our time and show the public that no one breed stands alone with behavioral issues. I hope to not only educate people who don't know the blessings our dogs bring, but also help educate people who may not know what is appropriate behavior for them and their dog. Though I don't believe Breed Specific Legislation is effective in educating the public, I do believe Potentially Dangerous Dog, Dangerous Dog, and Irresponsible Owner Legislation can not only educate, but improve public safety as well.
Please enjoy the blog, sign up for email updates, keep your filters on when commenting, and hopefully learn something new today.
To ask questions anonymously email at 417pitgirl@gmail.com

Saturday, August 31, 2013

What happens in Springfield, Mo now?

     

      There was a AITF meeting this past Monday that finalized all of the recommendations being sent to the City Council. As I understand it, the research and findings from the Task Force will be presented to a committee the second week in September. There will be a few of the City Council members there along with other key city officials. The AITF will do a short presentation that will sum up all of the work they have done and what they believe will be the best approach for our city to overcome pet overpopulation, a need for a new shelter, the safety of citizens, and other animal related issues. There will be a chance for questions, from the Committee, directed toward the citizens and professionals on the Task Force.
     
  Yes, the pit bull ordinance will probably be discussed.
Has everyone read what the Task Force is proposing? 

For those of you who still haven't read it, here is the new non-breed specific legislation being proposed by the AITF... 


Potentially Dangerous Dog:
a) Any dog which, when unprovoked on two separate occasions within 
the prior 36-month period, engages in any behavior that requires a 
defensive action by any person to prevent bodily injury to a human 
when the person and the dog are off the property of the owner or 
keeper of the dog.
b) Any dog which, when unprovoked, bites a person causing a less 
severe injury than as defined under the dangerous dog provisions 
below.
c) Any dog which, when unprovoked, on two separate occasions 
within the prior 36-month period, has killed, seriously bitten, 
inflicted injury, or otherwise caused injury attacking a domestic 
animal off the property of the owner or keeper of the dog.

Owners of potentially dangerous dogs will be subject to the 
following provisions.
o Never allow the dog to be off their property unless 
on a 6 ft leash, under the control of a person over 
18 years of age.
o Spay or neuter the dog within 30-days of the 
declaration.3
o Micro-chip the dog within 30-days of the 
declaration
o Obtain a potentially dangerous dog license (price to 
be determined). The license must be on the dog at 
all times and will be color differentiated from 
regular license tags.

In addition, these provisions may be added depending on 
the situation:
o Muzzle the dog whenever outside the home or 
securely fenced yard.
o Attend a responsible pet owner class approved by 
Animal Control staff within 90-days of the 
declaration.
o Attend, with dog, a dog behavior class approved by 
Animal Control staff within 90-days of the 
declaration.
o Carry $100,000 liability insurance.
o Owners who are convicted of one or more 
violations of the ordinance on three separate 
occasions in a 24 month period, or who fail to 
follow the requirements of owning a Potentially 
Dangerous Dog/Vicious Dog can be declared a 
reckless owner.
After 12 months of appropriate behavior, the PDD 
declaration drops off.


Dangerous Dog:
a) Any dog which, when unprovoked, in an aggressive manner, inflicts 
severe injury on or kills a human being.
b) Any dog previously determined to be and currently listed as a 
potentially dangerous dog which, after its owner or keeper has been 
notified of this determination, continues the behavior described in 
the potentially dangerous dog definition or is maintained in 
violation of not following the provisions for maintaining a 
potentially dangerous dog.4

Owners of dogs deemed to be vicious will be subject to the 
following provisions. Such provisions are a requirement for 
the life of the animal:
o Never allow the dog to be off their property unless 
on a 6 ft leash, under the control of a person over 
18 years of age.
o Spay or neuter the dog within 30-days of the 
declaration.
o Micro-chip the dog within 30-days of the 
declaration
o Obtain a vicious dog license (price to be 
determined). The license must be on the dog at all 
times and will be color differentiated from regular 
license tags.

In addition, these provisions may be added depending on 
the situation:
o Muzzle the dog whenever outside the home or 
securely fenced yard
o Attend a responsible pet owner class approved by 
Animal Control staff within 90-days of the 
declaration.
o Attend ,with dog, a dog behavior class approved by 
Animal Control staff within 90-days of the 
declaration.
o Carry $100,000 liability insurance.
o Owners who are convicted of one or more 
violations of the ordinance on three separate 
occasions in a 24 month period, or who fails to 
follow the requirements of owning a PDD/vicious 
dog can be declared a reckless owner.
o Once a dog is declared vicious, they retain that 
classification for life.
o Any dog declared vicious by the hearing examiner 
may be ordered humanely euthanized upon the 
expiration of the appeal period.


Reckless Owner:
a) Reckless owner designation is applied to repeat offenders of animal 
control ordinances such as a dog repeatedly running at large, not 
adhering to the requirement of maintaining a dangerous dog, or not 
providing adequate food/water/shelter for an animal.
b) Owners deemed to be “reckless” could forfeit their privilege to have 
a pet for up to 4 years. 5
c) This designation would be applied to repeat offenders.
d) The designation is applied to the address where the owner resides 
to prevent transfer of animals to family members.

Stop!!! Please Read This!!!

This is what is being proposed to help the city transition from breed specific legislation to the new non-breed specific legislation...

"As a transition to expanding the Potentially Dangerous 
Dog/Vicious Dog legislation to all breeds, the task force 
recommends placing all dogs currently registered in BSL to 
follow the requirements of PDD on the effective date of this 
ordinance. Those dogs who comply with the requirements 
of PDD and have no violations with animal control will have 
the PDD requirements drop off after one year"

      I would really like to hear your thoughts on any of this. It will help me better understand how the public really feels about transitioning to the new legislation. Remember all questions will be answered to the best of my knowledge as a citizen, parent, professional, and Pit Bull owner. 

***If you would like to read all of the proposals in full they are on the left column of this page.

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