Breed Specific Legislation Breed specific legislation is exactly what sounds like...regulation of your right to own or, in many cases, not own a dog based solely on the breed or "type" of dog, not your responsibility as an owner. http://www.pbrc.net/breedspecific.html
Breed Specific BansA group of laws that bans particular breeds, usually pit bulls (a type of dog, not a breed) and sometimes Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Akitas, Dobermans, Chow Chows, and a few others. These laws are usually passed after several attacks by a particular breed so that city councils can assure citizens they are “doing something” about a voter concern. ******************************************************
Breed Specific Legislation or "BSL" is exactly what it sounds like...regulation of your right to own or, in many cases, not own, a dog based solely on the breed or "type" of dog - not your responsibility as an owner. BSL can also refer to regulations and/or requirements placed only on a specific breed of dog and their owners.
No matter how you define it, BSL targets all dogs of a breed -- the innocent as well as the guilty, and it removes the responsibility from the dog's owner and towards the dog itself. Simple common sense tells you that laws are created to punish or deter the actions of humans - not those of animals.
Happy New Year! Here are some of the stories and alerts StopBSL covered in 2011. It was a busy year. Many thanks to all of you who have participated in public dialogue, communicated with elected officials, spread the word about breed-specific proposals, and worked diligently to stop BSL! With your help and support, we’re looking forward to a successful 2012.
************************************************ Running Afoul of Aurelia, Iowa's Ordinance Banning Pit BullsPosted by Stephanie Ulmer, Guest Blogger on (feb. 1, 2012)
Jim Sak, a former Chicago police officer for over 30 years, recently relocated to Aurelia, Iowa, to help care for his wife’s 87-year-old mother. Shortly after arriving, the Saks learned that they had an unwelcome family member, Snickers, who is Jim’s service dog. Because Aurelia had a “breed specific” ordinance singling out pit bulls, the Saks were told Snickers could no longer live with them.
The Saks were summoned to a city council meeting on December 14th, where the council then voted 3 to 2 not to make an exception for the Saks to allow them to keep Snickers. This occurred even though the Saks argued that Snickers “was the sweetest, most good-natured dog you’d ever want to meet.” And that Jim heavily relies upon Snickers after “suffering a debilitating stroke that left him with no feeling on the right side of his body.” The council subsequently ordered the Saks to remove Snickers by the following day. (read on)http://aldf.org/article.php?id=1943
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LENNOX Hi I’m now a 6 year old American Bull dog Labrador cross and Belfast City Council want to put me to death because of how I look, I have never done any wrong. Please can you help me? I want to go home!
On the 19th May 2010, Lennox, a five year old American Bull dog Labrador cross was wrongfully seized by Belfast City Council Dog Wardens from his loving family home where he lives with his owners and his kennel mates. Lennox committed no crime nor did any member of the public complain about him. Three Belfast City Council Dog Wardens came with http://www.weeac.com/save-lennox.html
NITRO Nitro Foundation Our mission is to help make animal cruelty a felony in Ohio!
Ohio is one of the only 50 states left to not have a first offense felony provision for animal cruelty, leaving only misdemeanor provisions regardless of the severity of the crimes.
NITRO'S LAW is the legacy and testament in honor of a family's Rottweiler, Nitro, who was 1 of 8 dogs starved to death in a horrific crime at a K9 training facility in Youngstown, Ohio. Nitro's Law was created as a felony provision and proactive legislative measure to increase the outdated misdemeanor-only penalties currently in place for violent animal crimes in the state of Ohio.
In February ...2009 HB 70 'Nitro's Law' was introduced and passed the Ohio House of Representatives and was assigned to the Ohio Senate's Criminal Justice Commitee for consideration and for nearly 1 year this landmark Bill was grossly ignored by the Ohio Senate and on December 31, 2010, Nitro's Law legislative window of opportunity ran out. House Bill 108 has been reintroduced as of 02/22/11 by the original Ohio Representatives Gerberry & Hagan and round 2 has now begun.
House passes Nitro's Law bill, increasing penalties against kennel owners that abuse pets Marc Kovac Capital BureauPublished:
COLUMBUS -- The Ohio House has signed off on legislation allowing increased criminal penalties against kennel owners who abuse pets in their care. The final vote on House Bill 108, titled Nitro's Law in memory of a dog that starved to death while in the care of Youngstown-area business, was 78-9, and the legislation heads to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.
It's the second time in recent years that the bill has made it out of the House. There's no guarantee that the Ohio Senate will act on it. "It's been a long way for Nitro," said Rep. Ronald Gerberry, a Democrat from Austintown. He added, "I know that people across this country and in particular the owners of Nitro who live in Manhattan, would be very pleased if we passed this." Nitro was a Rottweiler that was among more than a dozen dogs that were found dead or dying from extreme neglect in 2008 at the High Caliber K-9 kennel on Coitsville-Hubbard Road. The owner of the business faced only four misdemeanor convictions as a result of the incident and subsequently filed for bankruptcy, avoiding additional civil penalties.
"If you are a kennel owner or you work for a licensed kennel in the state of Ohio and you ... knowingly torture, kill, starve, maim, beat, poison [a companion animal], then the prosecutor of the city or the prosecutor of the county will have the opportunity to then prosecute at a fifth-degree felony," Gerberry said.
Marc Kovac is the Dix Capital Bureau Chief. Email him at mkovac@dixcom.com or on Twitter at OhioCapitalBlog ******************************************************
‘Oreo’s Law’ Would Give Dogs a Second Chance at Life
MANHATTAN -- A bill to allow animal welfare organizations the right to request animals be given to their care when a shelter is planning to euthanize them will be introduced in the State Legislature this week by Assembly Member Micah Z. Kellner and State Senator Thomas K. Duane.
The bill is named Oreo’s Law in memory of a pit bull mix who became well-known after she survived abuse at the hands of her former owner, including a fall from a six-story building, but was eventually euthanized after the ASPCA determined she was untreatably aggressive. Pets Alive Animal Sanctuary, a no-kill animal shelter located in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, specializing in the rehabilitation and care of abused animals, offered to take Oreo, but the ASPCA refused the request.
“As a dog owner and a foster parent for an animal rescue group, I was heartbroken to learn that Oreo was euthanized. When a humane organization volunteers their expertise in difficult cases, a shelter should work with them to the fullest extent possible.” said Assembly Member Micah Z. Kellner. “I am hopeful that Oreo’s Law will ensure that no animal is ever put to death if there is a responsible alternative.”
"The humane treatment of animals in the care of shelters is an issue about which I feel very strongly," said Senator Thomas K. Duane, who will introduce Oreo's Law legislation in the New York State Senate. "No animal should be put down by a shelter if a reputable humane or rescue organization is willing to assume responsibility for its well being.
Oreo's Law would make sure that in instances where animals aren't rabid or physically suffering, such organizations have the authority to take possession with the payment of the normal adoption fee, and that Oreo’s sad plight will not be repeated." “We are deeply moved that Assembly Member Kellner and Senator Duane have taken up Oreo’s cause. We all need to be the voice for these innocent animals,” said Kerry Clair and Matt DeAngelis, Executive Co-Directors of Pets Alive Animal Sanctuary. “We have asked our local legislators to support the bill and we hope that Oreo’s tragic and unnecessary death will offer life to thousands of others.”
Oreo’s Law is modeled after a provision in California state law, adopted there in 1998 as part of a general animal welfare reform package known as the Hayden Law (named after the Senator who authored it).
"Oreo's Law" would prevent shelters like the ASPCA from killing dogs that legitimate rescue groups are willing to save. It is named after the dog Oreo who was killed by the ASPCA despite a No Kill shelter/sanctuary's offer to provide her lifetime
Animal Rights Activists Split Over Bill to Save 'Oreos'
by Jillian Jonas
Feb 2010
The sad story of Oreo the dog made headlines last year. Now her unfortunate death may spur a change in state law that could, supporters believe, ultimately lead to saving more animals from being put to sleep.
Oreo, a one-year-old pit bull mix, was thrown off the sixth floor roof of a Brooklyn public housing project. After surviving the fall, she was rescued by the ASPCA, which operated on her broken ribs and legs, nursing her back to "health" over the next several months. However, ASPCA professionals ultimately deemed Oreo to be too aggressive, the result of so much trauma, and decided she had to be euthanized. http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/socialservices/20100226/15/3196
Oscar’s law is a very simple campaign: it enables everyone to make a stand and tell the Government that "We do not want companion animals factory farmed anymore” and "We no longer want the pet industry to mislead us about what is acceptable for our animals”.
You can help fight the genocide in Australia's pounds, promote rescue organisations and shelters as the first option to adopting, and change the way Australians gets their pets. Adoption is the intelligent alternative to impulse buying. No puppy factory whether it is 'clean', 'model', 'state of the art' or otherwise is the answer for mans best friend. http://oscarslaw.org/index.php
Patrick's Law is an animal advocacy movement founded in March 2011. It aims to raise awareness for an end to animal abuse; pursue stronger animal welfare legislation at the State and Federal levels; create a National Animal Abuser Registry; and expose animal abuse worldwide.
The handsome boy to the right is Patrick. A human starved him to near death, put his emaciated body in a plastic garbage bag, then threw him down the garbage chute in a Newark (NJ) apartment building. On March 16, 2011, against all odds, a maintenance man saw the bag moving and discovered Patrick was alive... barely. If Patrick hadn’t moved, even a little, he would’ve ended up in a pile of garbage. No one would have known that he lived or died. And his abuser would never have been caught. Patrick couldn’t bark, cry or whimper, but he MOVED!
Did the man who found Patrick simply take him to the local shelter or a vet to be euthanised? No! He brought him to Associated Humane Societies (AHS) in Newark. Did that Vet look at Patrick and give up? No! They rushed him 40 miles South to the Garden State Veterinary Specialists in Tinton Falls, NJ. Did the next Vet and Staff look at Patrick and give up on him? No! They immediately began extraordinary measures to save this brave dog’s life. Morning came, and he made it through the night. It was St. Patrick’s Day, so they named him Patrick.
Since then, Patrick captured millions of hearts around the world, making him our “Poster Puppy” for stronger animal abuse legislation. No animal deserves to be abused, abandoned or neglected. It’s time to encourage and pressure your elected officials to support Patrick’s Law, so all animal abuse will be treated as a felony with lengthy prison terms and hefty fines imposed as punishment.
No one should rest until all animal abusers are in prison for their heinous and inexcusable crimes against all animal companions. Will you volunteer to help with this historic grassroots movement?
Patrick, 'miracle' pit bull who survived fall down garbage chute, is on the road to recovery (Apr. 6, 2011)
A New Jersey pit bull named Patrick, starved and subjected to horrific abuse before his rescue last month, is being called a "miracle dog" after he survived being placed in a trash bag and thrown down the garbage chute of a Newark apartment building.
A maintenance worker removing the garbage to put it in a trash compactor noticed a bag moving slightly, opened it and discovered the emaciated dog inside. Patrick -- so named when he survived through the night into St. Patrick's Day after being found in the garbage chute March 16 -- was rushed to the local Associated Humane Societies shelter, where "veterinary staff immediately put him on intravenous fluid," according to a post on the society's website. https://www.facebook.com/ThePatrickMiracle
THE PATRICK MOVEMENT SOUTH AFRICA
Just one day before St. Patrick’s Day, a dog that should not technically be alive was discovered in the trash.
The dog, a red Pit bull, had been starved to the brink of death. Someone, perhaps assuming that he had finally died, put his body in a trash bag and threw him down a chute inside of a 22 story apartment complex.
Nashville- As the fight for Prada’s life continues in Nashville, TN, a new hurdle has been thrown in the way of her supporters, i.e., hard cash.
Legal costs required for Prada’s case need a huge sum of $15000 in advance for filing an appeal against the court’s earlier decision to euthanize Prada. Supporters of the pit bull, who are hosting a facebook page to help gather support for her, believe that thisdemand of excessively high fee for appealing the court’s decision is a move on behalf of the authorities to kill Prada.
There is reason to believe that Prada’s execution has become a matter of saving names for the authorities and the court as well.
National Animal Interest Alliance The Global Stray Dog Population Crisis and Humane Relocation By NAIA founder and chairwoman, Patti Strand
The scope of the stray dog problem in many parts of the world is unimaginable by American standards. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are more than 200 million stray dogs worldwide and that every year, 55,000 people die from rabies, while another 15 million receive post exposure treatment to avert the deadly disease. 95% of these cases occur in Asia and Africa, and 99% of the fatalities are caused by dogs. http://www.naiaonline.org/Library/understanding_animals/global_stray_dog_population_crisis.html STREET DOGS---THAILAND June 8, 2009—Thailand's capital city of Bangkok is struggling to cope with a growing population of stray dogs. It's estimated as many as 300,000 strays wander the streets.
SOUNDBITE: (Thai) Bang-On Kingsak, Carer for Street Dogs: "I feel sorry, I feel really sorry for them. When I see stray dogs I look at them and I want to bring them in if I have the money because I love dogs, and so does my husband, but sometimes they cause so much trouble." Unwanted dogs are often rounded up and dumped at the local Buddhist temples where monks won't turn them away. But one temple has literally 'gone to the dogs'. The temple's dog condominium houses 700 of the animals and spends 1,500 US dollars a week feeding them. It's a heavy burden on the temple's small staff.
SOUNDBITE: (Thai) Phra Phayom Kalayano, Abbot of Wat Suan Kaew: "They run on the street causing car accidents. People can get hurt and their dead bodies on the streets create an ugly scene. So we have to solve this problem." One non-government organization is running an animal birth control project. First, packs of dogs contained to one neighborhood are identified. Then, one-by-one a group is captured, taken to be sterilized and vaccinated before being returned to where they came from.
SOUNDBITE: (English) Annelize Booysen, General Manager of Soi Cats and Dogs (SCAD): "These animals will now have a very healthy and happy co-existence with the humans in this specific community, because they won't be able to have unwanted litters anymore, plus they've had their vaccinations which means they are a stable population now which should be able to live out their lives quite happily here and that is what we are aiming at." Veterinary services are limited and this private organization can only sterilize a very few animals at a given time. Not enough, they say, to effectively break the birth cycle of the dogs. And Bangkok's street dog population will continue to grow until more people are willing to take more action. *********************************************************
Offering Thailand's Street dogs a Second Chance Through Immunzation, Neutering and Adoption Program
Hundreds of thousands of dogs are living on the streets [Bangkok alone has a conservative estimate of 150,000 strays] but it is the condition in which they are forced to live. Frightened, riddled with parasites , hairless with mange, most are hungry, many are starving, and hundreds live with fractured bones or are paralyzed because of car accidents. It is a national tragedy, and adding to Thailand's disgrace is the fact there are no humane shelters, no effective SPCA-type organizations as yet where animals can be taken or abuse reported, no well-run Government adoption facilities, no animal rights, no sensible laws governing pet ownership and certainly no animal law enforcement, no educational programmed or Government campaigns, and sadly euthanasia is practiced only rarely due to religious beliefs.
Shamefully, Thailand numbers among those countries labeled internationally as 'cruel to animals'. This label may have stuck due to Thailand's lack of action, funding and know how in tackling animal issues rather than by active abuse, but it is nevertheless harmful to the country's image. Gratefully though, in2001 Thailand's dog-lovers received a large bone from Bangkok's new Governor, Mr.Samak Suntornavej: there were to be no more mass exterminations [Cruelly administered by strychnine poisoning].Instead mass neutering was proposed with an initial target of 100,000 sterilizations per year in Bangkok alone. The policy is well meaning, but in program is rather barbaric. Meeting targets is often the drive behind the daily sterilizations at the Bangkok Metropolitan's Din Daeng Dog Pound, not the welfare and well-being of the dogs. http://www.dogchance.com/en_intro.htm ************************************************************
STRAY DOGS in Buddhist Bangkok Municipal authorities used to euthanize more than 200 dogs a day. But six years ago, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals set up shop in Bangkok and ran a campaign arguing the practice violated Buddhist principles. The city adopted a pro-life dog policy to quell public outcry. Bangkok spent $825,000 caring for street dogs last year, neutering -- then releasing -- some 42,000 strays. http://www.mongabay.com/external/stray_dogs_thailand.htm **************************************************************************************
Gemma Ashford: Singlehandedly Saving Thailand’s Street Dogs (Video)
Lucky was one of seven puppies born outside a bakery in North West Thailand near the Burmese border. Gemma Ashford, a teacher who came to Thailand from the UK to teach refugees began feeding them each morning. Unfortunately, four of the puppies were killed on the road; another died after boiling water was tossed on him and one puppy was kicked to death.
Lucky, Jack and Billy all survived and ended up at the Baan Unrak Sanctuary founded and run by Gemma Ashford and a few volunteers. After seeing how street dogs were mistreated in Thailand, Ashford knew she had to help.
Romania declares war on stray dogs - report (April 2011) Stray dogs are an issue across the Balkan Peninsula and not just in Bulgaria. They can be seen in large numbers in Athens, in Belgrade, and in Sofia, but the problem in Bucharest, Romania, appears to have spun out of control.
And with up to 250 000 stray dogs in the capital of Bucharest (there are about 9500 strays in Sofia by comparison), the Romanian authorities have decided to take the ultimate measure in order to solve the problem – put them to death, Bulgarian media reported, citing Deutsche Welle on April 7 2011.
Packs of strays have been attacking the residents of Bucharest for decades, with several fatalities accounted for. The latest case was a woman, mauled to death on the streets in January 2011, which caused a public outrage, the report said.
Romanian politicians have acted swiftly following the latest attack, authorising the culling of animals within 14 days of capture if unclaimed by anyone. Reportedly, "many municipalities have stocked massive quantities of poison with which to kill the animals".
According to conflicting estimates, the number of stray dogs in Bucharest is anywhere between 40 000 and 250 000. There are no exact criteria outlined by the Romanian government dictating when and how an animal can be killed, with the decision residing entirely with the respective municipality, the report said.
The decision has naturally caused concern among animal rights movements. Marlene Wartenberg, from Four Paws, has demanded that "Romania adheres to the norms outlined by the World Health Organisation, which dictate that stray dogs are to be castrated and released".http://sofiaecho.com/2011/04/07/1071730_romania-declares-war-on-stray-dogs-report *******************************************************************
Majority of pets in Malta were once strays( October 5, 2008) 1,500 cats and dogs neutered so far.The majority of pets owned by the Maltese were once roaming the streets, underlining the problem of stray cats and dogs, according to the preliminary results of a questionnaire released yesterday. http://www.timesofmlta.com/articles/view/20081005/local/majority-of-pets-in-malta-were-once-strays.227531 ******************************************************************* Sri Lanka to allow killing of 3 million stray dogs Updated January 07, 2012 22:06:10 Sri Lanka has lifted a moratorium on killing stray dogs as it tries to reduce the more than 2,000 cases of hospitalisation due to dog bites every month. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-07/sri-lanka-targets-3-million-dogs-for-mass-kill/3762474?section=world *****************************************************************
Pennsylvania, USA PA Police Propose To Shoot Strays
January 6, 2012 Joseph Turner, Global Animal (ANIMAL NEWS) PENNSYLVANIA— In the midst of financial woe, Pennsylvania’s capital city Harrisburg is considering allowing police officers to shoot stray dogs. As a cost-cutting measure, city officials reduced their yearly financial contribution to the local Humane Society by $50,000. Instead of directing strays toward shelters, the city of Harrisburg contemplates an inhumane alternative straight from China as a way to get strays off the streets. http://www.globalanimal.org/2012/01/06/pa-police-propose-to-shoot-strays-take-action/62484/
GREECE Local shelter is overwhelmed. Read full article.
Trikala, Greece – Many people have not heard of the small city of Trikala, Greece. Located in the Thessaly region, it boasts the beautiful Litheos River. Tourists love to visit to get a taste of both a modern and historical city. Besides the beautiful scenery and tourism, there is an underlying problem, which might be noticeable to those passing through. In this small town, hundreds of animals run rampant. They are starving, without shelter, and are susceptible to abuse. Citizens of the city either turn a blind eye to the issue, or lash out. Often, stray animals are shot, clubbed, hanged, poisoned and even fed glass. To many, the animals are a nuisancehttp://news.petpardons.com/volunteer-rescue-shelter-in-greece-under-attack-by-city-mayor/
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