Posted on 02/24/2010 11:27:07 PM PST by Chet 99
Pit bull crackdown 'like racism against dogs'
Elgin council advances tough restrictions on pit bulls
February 25, 2010
By MIKE DANAHEY mdanahey@stmedianetwork.com
By a 4-3 vote, the Elgin City Council Wednesday night approved moving along an amended animal control ordinance that puts tough restrictions on owners of pit bulls, which would be labeled "dangerous dogs."
At a committee of the whole session held at The Centre to accommodate an audience of more than 100 people, Councilmen Dave Kaptain, John Steffen and Rich Dunne had wanted to table the item, asking staff to look into several issues. But Mayor Ed Schock and Councilmen Robert Gilliam, Mike Warren and John Prigge brought the matter to a vote to move the matter along to an upcoming city council agenda. The same four voted for the changes as written -- with Prigge calling the issue a proactive measure and a safety issue for the city -- while the other three men voted against them.
The amended ordinance would put strict requirements on pit bull owners, and those not following the new rules would face fines of $1,000 or more. It calls for the owners to:
• buy three-year licenses for their dogs at a cost of $100;
• put an identifying microchip in the dogs;
• and have homeowner's or renter's liability insurance coverage.
Pit bulls would have to be spayed or neutered and would be required to undergo obedience classes.
The dogs also would have to be kept in fenced-in yards when outside -- with the fence at least 6 feet high and the gate locked -- and on non-retractable leads and muzzled when taken for walks. Only people age 18 or older would be allowed to take pit bulls for strolls.
The same rules would apply to any dog that a hearing officer or court deemed to be dangerous (pit bulls automatically would be classified as such) or vicious (a dog that attacks unprovoked). Vicious dogs would not be allowed to be taken for walks on Elgin streets. Owners of dangerous and/or vicious dogs would have to put signs up by their residences warning others about their pets.
And people bringing their pit bulls through town would need a transportation certificate from Elgin's Police Department to do so.
Kaptain, Dunne and Steffen wanted more information from staff about how the sign and fence rules would work in light of neighborhood covenants and zoning laws. They also wanted to reconsider muzzling dangerous dogs and the transporting aspect. And they asked for more about the cost of compliance.
To that end, after the vote Laurie Faith Gibson-Aiello, a northeast-side resident and pit bull owner, said she had researched the "dangerous" label and found that it might mean she would no longer be able to get homeowners insurance. However, Corporate Counsel William Cogley claimed his research indicated the label would not disallow coverage.
Cogley gave an overview of the amended ordinance prior to the council allowing 30 minutes of comment from the public. The consensus among those speaking was that while they agreed with most of its language, most speaking objected to how it singles out pit bulls.
"This is like racism against dogs," east side resident Ray Slover said.
"Gangs and drug dealers who mistreat the dogs -- those are the ones you should be going after, but we the responsible owners are the ones who will be paying the price," Dianne Ziegler said.
On Tuesday, Anderson Animal Shelter Executive Sandy Shelby said the nonprofit "understands the need to control and protect, but the breed-specific requirement claiming that all pit bulls are dangerous is a false statement." Shelby said that such labeling will scare some people and could lead to more relinquishing and abandoning of dogs.
Oh yeah? Well rejection of conservatives is like sexism against cats who are hated by bigots against gays.
And so it begins...
Nuke the Gay Unborn Whales!
..Although “Mauled to death toddlers” is a form of population control.
that ordinance sounds like a good model for one for muzzies..especially the spay and neuter part.
GOOD. 'Bout freakin' time (Could not have said it better myself so I repeated your most excellent post!
Solidarity Brother !
Ping.
This is the funniest thing I have seen in forever!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for my morning laugh.
Interesting response coming from an individual with your particular screen name. You know that many people consider guns to be as dangerous as American Pit Bull Terriers. In fact, some guns, i.e. a semi auto knock off of an AK47, look so dangerous that you may not possess one under any circumstances in some localities.
There are many, many people that you would NOT want to be able to walk around with a gun. Same with a large, aggressive canine. If one is unprepared to train, handle, and properly care for such an animal, stick with a cocker spaniel, the worst you will you have to worry about is stains on your carpet.
Whether it is your gun that goes off and causes someone injury or your dog that does the same, you were the one responsible, not the gun or the dog.
We always had dogs on the farm when I was a kid, some were Bulldogs. The one that I have now is 3 years old and she is loved by everyone who comes in contact with her. The one before that was with me for almost 15 years, same thing. I had my right ear ripped off when I was 6 years old, by a Dalmatian owned by a neighbor, not my Bulldog.
Dogs are a whole lot like kids, you get what you raise.
I don’t see any pits in that picture, but there sure is a lot of bull.
Most of this ordinance seems reasonable. The only part I have a real problem with is the transportation certificate. Is that something a dog owner must obtain each time he transports the dog through town? If so, it is excessive.
Problem could be solved by having everyone just own coonhounds... my black and tan is the most loyal and trustworthy dog I’ve ever seen in my life.
That aside, I don’t think passing laws is going to fix anything. The people that breed/create mean dogs aren’t going to follow any laws same as the criminals aren’t going to buy their guns legally. It’s just another form of control.
I bet with some good ole’ German efficiency you could pack literally thousands of APBT’s on each cattle car.
And APBT love taking showers.
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