From Northwest Arkansas News:
“Little Rock officials hope to regulate pit bulls and classify them as a dangerous breed…
…Under the proposed ordinance, Little Rock residents still will be allowed to have pit bulls, and new residents can move with their dogs into the city after the ordinance passes. But they will have to register them with Animal Services, pose for a photograph with the dog, sterilize the animal and pay an additional fee to have a dangerous breed permit.
Owners would have 90 days to comply with the new regulations if the ordinance passes. The proposed legislation also would require homeowners to post a city-issued sticker every year on a window visible from the street notifying onlookers of a pit bulls presence and microchip the animal with identifying information.
The dog would have to be kept indoors or in an outside enclosure. If outside the enclosure, the animal would have to wear a muzzle. If a registered dog were to bite someone, the owners dangerous breed license could be revoked.
The ordinance, which limits owners to two dogs per household, would apply to American pit bull terriers, Staffordshire terriers, American Staffordshire terriers and any mix of those breeds.”
Read this article in its entirety here.
Please send your letters to the Little Rock Mayor and Board of Directors at the addresses below and politely inform them that breed-specific legislation in any form is ineffective and unenforceable. An enforced leash law and a non-breed-specific dog law are more than adequate to police irresponsible dog owners of any breed:
Mayor Mark Stodola
500 West Markham, Room 203
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
(501) 371-4510
Fax: (501) 371-4498
mayor@littlerock.org
Board of Directors:
Erma Hendrix – Ward 1
Board@littlerock.org
City Hall, Room 203
500 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 371-4510
Ken Richardson – Ward 2
Board@littlerock.org
City Hall, Room 203
500 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 371-4510
Stacy Hurst – Ward 3
shurst@littlerock.org
Little Rock City Hall
500 West Markham, Room 203
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 371-4510
Brad Cazort – Ward 4
board@littlerock.org
Little Rock City Hall
500 West Markham, Room 203
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 371-4510
Michael Keck – Ward 5
mkeck@littlerock.org
Little Rock City Hall
500 West Markham, Room 203
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 371-4510
Doris Wright – Ward 6
board@littlerock.org
City Hall, Room 203
500 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 371-4510
B.J. (Brenda) Wyrick – Ward 7
board@littlerock.org
Little Rock City Hall
500 West Markham, Room 203
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 371-4510
Dr. Dean Kumpuris – Position 8
board@littlerock.org
Little Rock City Hall
500 West Markham, Room 203
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 371-4510
Gene Fortson – Position 9
board@littlerock.org
Little Rock City Hall
500 West Markham, Room 203
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 371-4510
Joan Adcock – Position 10
board@littlerock.org
Little Rock City Hall
500 West Markham, Room 203
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 371-4510
7 responses to “Little Rock, Arkansas Considers Ordinance Restricting “Pit Bulls””
My name is Ted and i live in little rock. I am only 17 but i plan to get a staffy in may. And i really believe that it is wrong to ban them. I know these dogs can be sweet if treated right. I am going to do everything in my power to fight it. My dad is friends with a lot of these people above on the board. I am going to ask for his help. If yall have anything that could help me please let me know.
If you are interested in fighting this then I suggest you get in touch with the following folks:
RESPONSIBLE OWNERS OF ARKANSAS DOGS, Inc.
Roger Schnyer, Chairman
P.O. Box 18
Lonoke Arkansas, 72086
phone (501) 676-7582
e-mail: cajun9@sbcglobal.net
Website: http://www.roadsinc.org
Roger Schnyer is heading up the lawsuit against several other surrounding cities that have passed breed bans. I’m sure he’d love to have you and others join him in the fight. I believe he is also going to be at the upcoming meeting in Little Rock.
Good luck to you!
Ted: I congratulate you on being intelligent enough to realize that these breeds are not a danger because of the breed but because of the way they are treated. I rescued a small female pit from a gas station about 5 months ago near the interstate (530-south) where (according to the attendant’s story) someone had thrown her out with the intention of killing her. We took her in, had her spayed and vaccinated and given a clean bill of health. She started in our house as a scared little dog and wouldn’t eat or move from under the coffee table, but as she has come out of her shell she has turned into one of the sweetest, most loving and playful animals I’ve ever been a “parent” to. She has NEVER shown aggression toward anyone or anything since we’ve had her. I love her to death and could never stand to see her abused any more than she’s already been. I want to fight for her and all the dogs that would be affected by this because it would be nothing short of ABUSE to microchip, muzzle, etc a dog that has done absolutely nothing in her (or his) life to deserve it.
I hope I’m not too late, but a google search turned up nothing in the news since this last article. Please feel free to contact me (ask for info if it doesn’t show up/have a link here). I am very busy with work and school, but I’d be more than willing to help as much as time allows.
If they want to mess with my my baby girl (named Harley), they’ll have to go through me first…
I would like to know how I am going to socialize and give my dog the exercise he needs if he is going to be forced to be inside. Dogs are not “inside pets” and anyone that does keep their dog inside all of the time doesn’t need to own one. My puppy loves the dog park. No dog should be refused the right to go outside and play! I refuse to put a muzzle on my puppy–he doesn’t need it.
I think this is rediculous to ban the first pure breed of dog this breed was with our souldiers during WWI. You dont need to ban this breed just because the idiot owners made them mean or faught them its not their faults how would u like it if someone tried to ban you out of the united states or your state you live in because you got into a fight with someone just something to think abiout to all the pitbull haters out there
Hi:
I don’t want to fight but address this situation. Whatever happened to our 14th Amendment?, the right to pursue happiness and be free from unreasonable restrictions on life, liberty and happiness? Apparently the board doesn’t want to follow this; if they vote to restrict pit bulls. A pit bull is an animal; however, by voting to restrict pit bulls; essentially what you are doing is restricting the happiness of the said owner. By implementing all these restrictions; a muzzle; getting microchipped, etc…, it is you who is aggravating that animal to unleash his hostility towards an individual; therefore, it is you who should be held accountable; afterall, we have heard countless times that it is how the owner acts that determines the animals behavior. As far as being dangerous; there are countless objects in our society that are a danger, we just happen to exercise care. On another note, my fiance and I are moving to Little Rock, Arkansas, and our Pit Bull is a registered service animal; what I’m saying is: “put restrictions on my fiances pit bull” just think what could pursue.
If a pit bull can be a service animal; and we all know, there are people in society who are of no service. I work in law enforcement and would take a pit’s loyalty and trustworthyness anytime. With this said, shouldn’t pit bulls be recognized as a positive to our society, and not a negative? I believe this should help you in your decision.
I work for h.s.g.c (humane society of Garland Co.) and I recently adopted a pitbull from work . She was thin and pegnant and left tied to our gate . She is the most wonderful dog ever ! Obedient, smart, good with my children and they love her like none other .I am currently starting a project Bully rescue for all temperament Bullies , to help stabilize behavior and foster out or adopt out Great Dogs to good responsible dog owners who know what an APBT or AST can bring to his/her family and home .I currently have two females who are in foster care who want a family ! As for banning mine and my dogs rights, to live peaceably in our community ILL BE DAMBED !!!