Off LEASH
The saying “All politics is local” certainly applies when it comes to matters of canine legislation. In addition to over 1,000 pieces of legislation being tracked on the state level, the American Kennel Club’s Government Relations Department is also closely watching local issues across the country. Common topics on the local level often include but are not limited to breeding restrictions, limit laws, mandatory spay/neuter measures, breed-specific legislation and dangerous dog measures. Some often involve a combination of such topics, as is currently the case in Los Angeles, CA.
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A Pastor’s Proposal And Other Local Legislation ByShaun Coen
he LA City Council’s Personnel and Animal Welfare Committee is considering modifications to the current mandatory spay/neuter ordinance to require spay/neuter for any licensed dog that is impounded twice, and will remove exemptions in current law for dogs that have earned or are being trained for and are in the process of earning a title in agility, carting, herding, hunting, working or other titles. It will also require anyone who holds a breeding permit to submit to inspections by the LA Department of Animal Services, and require breeders to implant all dogs sold with a microchip that identifies the breeder’s identity as well as the owner’s. The measure was deferred but is expected to return, so all area breeders and fanciers must remain on guard and reach out to their local constituents, councilmen and politicians. Matters of canine legislation are oftentimes either won or lost because of the persistence and perseverance of those involved. Thanks to the dedication of dog owners that speak up on behalf of their beloved dogs, much of the potentially damaging and overly burdensome requirements on breeders and owners have been defeated at the local level but all must remain vigilant. Mandatory spay/neuter is also the topic du jour in Macon County, Illinois – and in fact has been part of the animal rights agenda there for the better part of two years. Since 2012, the Humane Society of Decatur, IL has been seeking to impose mandatory spay/neuter on the dog owners of Macon County and the City of Decatur. It has sought to collect 1,000 signatures on two petitions asking lawmakers to make it a law. The first petition sought to make it a law that would require sterilization for all dogs 5 months of age of older and the second petition proposed that any dog or cat considered a “stray” should be sterilized at the owner’s expense prior to release from the shelter. For a first offense, one would think such a permanent solution would seem a tad extreme. Granted, there were exemptions in the petitions for those who hold breeding licenses, which are required for anyone breeding a dog, and for show dogs and cats, though no definition of those terms were provided. Owners who obtain a letter from their veterinarian stating that the dog is not healthy enough for the procedure would also be exempt, though there’s no word on whether or not a vet would charge for an office visit before issuing such a letter or if another trip the vet would be warranted before such a missive was drafted, nor is the length of the grace period provided. As a sign of the persistence and perseverance of the humane societies, they are circulating these petitions again and publicizing that an additional 250 signatures are needed in order to present them to the council. The AKC’s GR Department is matching wits and efforts, working along with the Illinois Federation of Dog Clubs to educate local officials and the general public to oppose these proposals. In Kingman, Kansas a brouhaha is brewing over the city’s breed-specific bans. For years the city has banned “pit bulls,” which were defined as Bull Ter-
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riers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, mixed breeds of dogs that contained any of those breeds, or “any dog which has the appearance and characteristics of being predominantly of” the above mentioned breeds. In March, the Kingman City Commission put a moratorium on enforcing the pit bull ordinance, but the moratorium didn’t make it legal to own a pit bull. However, in further evidence that these types of bans don’t work, these breeds of dogs began appearing on city streets as if out of the woodwork, as owners that had been laying low now began to surface thinking they were allowed to own these breeds of dogs. So, the Commission ended the moratorium at its next meeting two weeks later. Then a Presbyterian pastor who conducted some online research and looked up other communities’ dangerous dog ordinances furnished the Commission with a proposal that would allow “pit bulls” in Kingman, but only if owners were in compliance of the following regulations: they must apply for a special permit and display Beware of Dog prominently on the owner’s premises; the owner must undergo a criminal background check; the owner must carry $100,000 in liability insurance; the dog must be confined in a locked pen or dog run made of at least 9-gauge chain link with no more than one inch spacing and the pen must have sides of at least 6-feet high and be secured over the top and if the bottom isn’t secured to the sides, the sides must be imbedded into the ground at least a foot deep; if the dog is outside the house or pen, it must be on a leash not exceeding 6 feet and having a minimum tensile strength of 300 pounds; all male dogs must be neutered by the age of two unless the owner applies for an exception and the certificate of neutering must be provided to the city; if the owner moves, or sells or gives away the dog, it shall be reported to the city within 10 business days, and the dog must be microchipped by a licensed veterinarian. Any violation of the provision would be considered a misdemeanor. Wait, there’s more. The pastor’s proposal would not only apply to “pit bulls” but the same regulations would also apply to owners of Akitas, Alaskan Malamutes, Argentine Dogs, Chow Chows, Dalmatians, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, Great Danes, Rottweilers, Siberian Huskies, American Staffordshire Terriers, Cane Corso, Dogue de Bordeaux, Fila Brasileiro, Perro de Presa Canarios and Staffordshire Bull Terriers. Thankfully, cooler heads have since prevailed and Kingman City Commissioner Stan Hacker deemed the pastor’s proposal “ridiculous”. The Commission has further studied the issue and has now proposed an ordinance that would expand the city’s ban by defining a “pit bull” as a dog that meets five of eight general physical characteristics based on descriptions of the dog’s head, eyes, ears, neck, body, tail, hindquarters and coat. This was the compromise? And you thought that the pastor’s proposal was preposterous? What’s next? I’m almost afraid to mention it, because stranger things have happened, but will all dog owners be forced to buy one of those kits and swab their dogs’ cheeks and mail the samples away to have the DNA tested to determine the breed(s) of dog they own? Such a solution is hardly foolproof and could be rife for corruption. In other words, it would be no more effective than breed-specific legislation in addressing the issue of irresponsible owners and dangerous dogs. The AKC’s GR Dept. has wisely sent a letter of opposition to each member of the Kingman Commission, the mayor and city attorney, along with information on more effective dangerous dog laws and suggestions on how to increase responsible dog ownership without discrimination.