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Appeals Court Throws Out Lima, Ohio’s Breed-Specific Dangerous Dog Law
On Monday, December 23, 2013, the Third District Court of Appeals in Ohio reversed a lower court ruling, and, in effect tossed Lima, Ohio’s breed-specific dangerous dog law by declaring it unconstitutional. The appeals court ruling stemmed from a November 19, 2012, incident in which Lima, Ohio resident Theodore T. Stepleton was charged with…
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Canton, Michigan to Drop ‘Vicious’ Pit Bull Designation from Dangerous Dog Law
As we posted earlier this month, Jessica and Marcin Kowalewski lobbied the Canton, Michigan Township Board of Trustees to remove the ‘vicious’ label for so-called pit bulls from Canton’s dangerous dog law. Thankfully, the Kowalewskis were successful in their lobbying at the December 10 meeting, and Township Attorney Kristin Kolb has undertaken an ordinance…
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Yakima, Washington to Discuss Possible Pit Bull Ban Repeal Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013
As I’ve been writing here, here, and here, Yakima, Washington has for many months now, been considering a repeal of their circa 1987 pit bull ban in favor of a possible update to their existing dangerous dog ordinance. Yet despite all the testimony about the inefficacy of breed-specific legislation (BSL), Yakima’s City Code Enforcement…
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Greybull, Wyoming Turns Away From Breed-Specific Legislation; Opts for Dangerous Dog Law Instead
As I wrote in October, Greybull, Wyoming had already passed a first reading of a very drastic breed-specific law (BSL) that would have severely restricted so-called pit bulls in a feigned attempt to protect them. Yet what Animal Control Officer Doug Youngerman had proposed would actually have codified animal abuse since the proposal required…
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Flint MI: Will Pit Bull Language Really Be Removed from Ordinance Proposal, or is Councilman Neeley Double-Speaking?
Like others on Friday, I read Mlive’s article entitled “Flint councilman rethinks plan to single out pit bulls in proposed dog registry ordinance” and thought that Councilman Sheldon Neeley was removing the pit bull language from his pit bull registry ordinance proposal. That would be a reasonable conclusion considering three paragraphs into the article…
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Help Save Indiana Pit Bull Who Defended Family & Will Be Killed in Days
An incident that occurred in Hendricks County, Indiana recently illustrates perfectly what I mean when I say that dangerous dog laws (DDLs) can be just as deadly as breed-specific legislation (BSL). Jo Zickmund says she and her mixed-breed Labrador, Jessie, were attacked by her neighbor’s pit bull, Klove, twice. Zickmund said, “Shes a…
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British Columbia Woman Says Dangerous Dog Law Too Severe
As I have been writing for a while now, there are many citizens who have expressed concern over dangerous dog laws and the extent of powers given to Animal Control Officers and law enforcement who enforce dangerous dog laws (DDLs). Dangerous dog laws and dangerous dog registries have the potential to be just as…
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Baker City, Oregon May Consider Pit Bull Restrictions Via Dangerous Dog Law
After the mauling death of 5-year old Jordan Ryan in September by a so-called pit bull, Baker City, Oregon convened an ad hoc advisory committee headed by Baker City Police Chief Wyn Lohner to research and propose options for better control of potentially dangerous dogs. Unfortunately, one of those options could be breed-specific legislation…
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Waunakee, Wisconsin Reverses Pit Bull Ban
Last month, Waunakee, Wisconsin decided to revisit their long-standing pit bull ban after Waunakee resident Kelly Lappen was cited for harboring a banned breed and Lappen considered legal action against the city. Monday night, November 4, 2013, Waunakee’s village trustees unanimously decided to remove the circa 1988 breed-specific legislation (BSL) pertaining to so-called pit…
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Orange County, California to Consider a Dangerous Dogs Map
The Orange County, California Board of Supervisors will vote on the creation of an online map designating locations of dangerous dogs within the county at its next board meeting December 17, 2013. The proposed online map, . . . would show residents where the countys estimated 150 vicious and potentially dangerous dogs reside. The…