Specific Dog Breed Legislation

[dab_20]

Hello PTers! Just thought maybe you guys could help me with something.

I have to do a position/proposal paper on a social issue for an english class, so I chose to do specific dog breed legislation. We were supposed to pick an issue that we were passionate about and could relate to. With my boyfriends pitbull, and my boxer Springen, I've gotten a few comments about their breeds I thought were uncalled for. The other day Springen and I were walking in the park and a lady sees us coming and picks up her yorkie and absolutely screams at her children to run away as Springen walks up, tail wagging. Anyways, thats how I can relate. I also thought I'd add the "trend" that certain dog breeds are bad, such as clothes going in and out of style. When my parents were young, it was the German Shepherd and the Rottweiler. Now it's the pitbull.

I certainly know my position on the issue, and I wondered if you guys could help me with certain laws made against specific dog breeds. If you know of any laws in your area against a dog breed (doesn't necessarily have to be against pit bulls), please post the law and your area (if you feel comfortable doing so).

I also have to write a proposal on how to solve the situation. One of my ideas was having greater punishment for animal abuse (specifically dog fighting), hopefully stopping the pit bulls rep as a "mean" animal. Any other ideas you guys may have?

Just thought I'd ask my fellow PTers whom many, I'm sure, are as passionate about the subject as I am. Thanks for the help guys.

[Alysser]

I wrote a whole paper on it with really good statistics for a class too. It got deleted when my laptop crashed. I would've sent it to you otherwise, maybe I can search for it through my e-mail or something. I'll see what I can do.

[Freedom]

I live in East Providence, RI. Several cities in this state have breed specific legislation.

Breed specific legislation: Pawtucket, RI.
[Added 12-11-2003 by Ch. No. 2708]
A.

It shall be unlawful for any person to own, possess, keep, exercise control over, maintain, harbor, transport, or sell within the City any pit bull dog.
B.

Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

KEEPER
Any person who possesses, keeps, exercises control over, maintains, harbors, transports or sells a pit bull, whether or not that person is the owner.

OWNER
Any person who owns, possesses, keeps, exercises control over, maintains, harbors, transports or sells a pit bull.

PIT BULL
Any dog that is an American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier; or any dog of mixed breed displaying the majority of physical traits of any one or more of the above breeds, or any dog exhibiting those distinguishing characteristics which substantially conform to the standards established by the American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club for any of the above breeds, the characteristics being identifiable even if there are technical deficiencies in any particular dog's conformance thereto; or any dog identifiable by a licensed veterinarian, animal control officer or any other knowledgeable person whose identification is deemed credible by the Public Safety Director or the Animal Control Officer, as having any American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier as any element of its breeding.

SECURE TEMPORARY ENCLOSURE
A ecure enclosure used for purposes of transporting a pit bull and which includes a top and bottom permanently attached to the sides except for a "door" for removal of the pit bull. Such enclosure must be of such material, and such door closed and secured in such a manner, that the pit bull cannot exit the enclosure on its own.

C.

Exceptions. The prohibition of this section shall not apply in the following enumerated circumstances.
(1)

The owner or keeper of a pit bull that is registered and licensed with the City Clerk on the date of passage of the ordinance enacting § 116-37.1 may apply for a pit bull license, to be renewed annually. After this date no pit bull licenses will be issued. Any owner or keeper, who has applied for and received a pit bull license in accordance with Subsection D of this section, and who maintains the pit bull at all times in compliance with the pit bull license requirements of Subsection D of this section and all other applicable requirements of this section, may keep a pit bull within the City. Notwithstanding the prohibition of Subsection A, in the event of the death of a licensed pit bull that was registered and licensed with the City Clerk on the date of the passage of this section, the owner or keeper may own another pit bull and must apply for an annual pit bull license, provided that the owner or keeper has not at any time violated any provision of this section.
(2)

The City's municipal animal shelter may temporarily harbor and transport any pit bull for purposes of enforcing the provisions of this section.
(3)

Any humane society operating an animal shelter which is registered and licensed by the City may temporarily hold any pit bull that it has received or otherwise recovered, but only for so long as it takes to contact the City's municipal animal shelter and either turn the pit bull over to the municipal animal shelter employees or receive permission to destroy or have destroyed the pit bull pursuant to the provisions of Subsection E.
(4)

A person may temporarily transport into and hold in the City a pit bull only for the purpose of showing such pit bull in a place of public exhibition, contest or show sponsored by a dog club association or similar organization. However, the sponsor of the exhibition, contest, or show must receive written permission from the City Council, must obtain any other permits or licenses required by City ordinance, and must provide protective measures adequate to prevent pit bulls from escaping or injuring the public. The person who transports and holds a pit bull for showing shall, at all times when the pit bull is being transported within the City to and from the place of exhibition, contest, or show, keep the pit bull confined in a "secure temporary enclosure," as defined in Subsection B.
(5)

(Reserved)
Editor's Note: Former Subsection C(5), which provided for a temporary transport permit, was repealed 9-8-2004 by Ch. No. 2740.
(6)

Failure by the owner or keeper to comply and remain in compliance with all of the terms of any applicable exception shall subject the pit bull to immediate impoundment and/or disposal pursuant to Subsection E of this section and shall operate to prevent the owner or keeper from asserting such exception as a defense in any prosecution under Subsection A.

Section 116-37.1
[Added 12-11-2003 by Ch. No. 2708]
A.

It shall be unlawful for any person to own, possess, keep, exercise control over, maintain, harbor, transport, or sell within the City any pit bull dog.
B.

Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

KEEPER
Any person who possesses, keeps, exercises control over, maintains, harbors, transports or sells a pit bull, whether or not that person is the owner.

OWNER
Any person who owns, possesses, keeps, exercises control over, maintains, harbors, transports or sells a pit bull.

PIT BULL
Any dog that is an American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier; or any dog of mixed breed displaying the majority of physical traits of any one or more of the above breeds, or any dog exhibiting those distinguishing characteristics which substantially conform to the standards established by the American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club for any of the above breeds, the characteristics being identifiable even if there are technical deficiencies in any particular dog's conformance thereto; or any dog identifiable by a licensed veterinarian, animal control officer or any other knowledgeable person whose identification is deemed credible by the Public Safety Director or the Animal Control Officer, as having any American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier as any element of its breeding.

SECURE TEMPORARY ENCLOSURE
A ecure enclosure used for purposes of transporting a pit bull and which includes a top and bottom permanently attached to the sides except for a "door" for removal of the pit bull. Such enclosure must be of such material, and such door closed and secured in such a manner, that the pit bull cannot exit the enclosure on its own.

C.

Exceptions. The prohibition of this section shall not apply in the following enumerated circumstances.
(1)

The owner or keeper of a pit bull that is registered and licensed with the City Clerk on the date of passage of the ordinance enacting § 116-37.1 may apply for a pit bull license, to be renewed annually. After this date no pit bull licenses will be issued. Any owner or keeper, who has applied for and received a pit bull license in accordance with Subsection D of this section, and who maintains the pit bull at all times in compliance with the pit bull license requirements of Subsection D of this section and all other applicable requirements of this section, may keep a pit bull within the City. Notwithstanding the prohibition of Subsection A, in the event of the death of a licensed pit bull that was registered and licensed with the City Clerk on the date of the passage of this section, the owner or keeper may own another pit bull and must apply for an annual pit bull license, provided that the owner or keeper has not at any time violated any provision of this section.
(2)

The City's municipal animal shelter may temporarily harbor and transport any pit bull for purposes of enforcing the provisions of this section.
(3)

Any humane society operating an animal shelter which is registered and licensed by the City may temporarily hold any pit bull that it has received or otherwise recovered, but only for so long as it takes to contact the City's municipal animal shelter and either turn the pit bull over to the municipal animal shelter employees or receive permission to destroy or have destroyed the pit bull pursuant to the provisions of Subsection E.
(4)

A person may temporarily transport into and hold in the City a pit bull only for the purpose of showing such pit bull in a place of public exhibition, contest or show sponsored by a dog club association or similar organization. However, the sponsor of the exhibition, contest, or show must receive written permission from the City Council, must obtain any other permits or licenses required by City ordinance, and must provide protective measures adequate to prevent pit bulls from escaping or injuring the public. The person who transports and holds a pit bull for showing shall, at all times when the pit bull is being transported within the City to and from the place of exhibition, contest, or show, keep the pit bull confined in a "secure temporary enclosure," as defined in Subsection B.
(5)

(Reserved)
Editor's Note: Former Subsection C(5), which provided for a temporary transport permit, was repealed 9-8-2004 by Ch. No. 2740.
(6)

Failure by the owner or keeper to comply and remain in compliance with all of the terms of any applicable exception shall subject the pit bull to immediate impoundment and/or disposal pursuant to Subsection E of this section and shall operate to prevent the owner or keeper from asserting such exception as a defense in any prosecution under Subsection A.

[Freedom]

The next section of that law above explains what happens for folks who already lived in the city and had a pitbull at the time the law was enacted.

Here is the link I used to find the Pawtucket law. This is set for RI, so it shows other links in my state. You can change the state for the search, to find more laws.
http://www.dogsbite.org/legislating-...ode-island.htm

[dab_20]

Thanks, Alyssa. Don't go out of your way to find it. lol

Freedom, thanks that helps! BTW I couldn't believe some of the stuff they have in their website! Sounds uneducated to me. Anyways, it helps to look up the laws, so thank you!

[dab_20]

Sooo... I am supposed to find 5 articles for an against BSL. I've found PLENTY against BSL, but I can't find any reliable websites that are pro BSL! I mean, you can't make a good argument unless you know both sides of it. The few websites I've found sound like a thirteen year old wrote it.

Anyone know of any good website or even books that are pro BSL?