I'm obviously running late in getting this out -- on top of missing the roundup from last week. But there are a lot of interesting stories out there. Hopefully this will loop you in to some of the top stories you may have missed over the past couple of weeks. There are also quite a few big stories that I plan to cover under their own headers this week.
Cities and Laws
The dog warden advisory committee in Toledo met last week to begin talks of changes to their animal control ordinance that could eliminate the city's breed restrictions. The chairman of the committee says that at first glance, they are looking at laws that will target irresponsible owners and that will target prolonged tethering.
Springfield Township (OH) has decided to quit enforcing its breed specific regulations. Apparently veterinarians in the community say they are unable to say with certainty what breed of dog a dog is. "It was obvious that we shouldn't have regulations we can't enforce," said Township Administrator Mike Hinnenkamp. HT/Stop BSL
Some great news from out of Austin, TX, where the City Council approved a proposal of 38 recommendations that will help the city to become a No Kill Community. The proposal passed unanimously in the council. Regulations include a moratorium on killing animals when the shelter has empty kennels and improvements in working with local rescue groups. Great work by the folks at Austin Pets Alive and others who worked to make this possible.
In Livingston County, MI, the Board of Commissioners has made several changes to their animal control policies that are turns for the better: instituting a 30 day euthanasia policy (many shelters are at 3 or 5 days) and a policy that will allow 'bully breeds' to be adopted from the shelter (when all were previously killed).
Memphis is going to be holding a public meeting tomorrow to discuss the idea of mandating that all dogs be spayed and neutered. If you are in Memphis, please make your voice heard and tell them that similar ordinances have failed miserably everywhere they have been tried...and to focus their efforts on low cost VOLUNTARY spay/neuter programs.
Rochester Hills, MI is considering some new dangerous dog laws -- and breed specific regulations are on the table. The discussion of the new ordinances started after a large dog attacked a smaller dog in the community - -the larger dog was originally called a 'pit bull', but now has been declared an American Bulldog -- which shows all the more reason why the community should focus on breed neutral legislation and just focus on the behaviors of the animals.
Maynard, IA passed a new ordinance that has set a new pet limit for the city (at 5), mandates licensing and updates the definition of dangerous dogs in the community -- defining a dangerous dog based on behavior, not breed.
Russellville, AL approved a new ordinance that prohibits dogs from running loose, requires dogs deemed vicious (based ono behavior) to be penned and muzzled when taken for walks and requires owners of these dogs to hangs signs.
An interesting story from out of Wichita, KS -- where a woman's Corgi was killed by three dogs that are believed to be 'pit bull-type' dogs. Apparently animal control had been called on the dogs on many occassions before because the owner had let them loose on several occassions, but animal control never really addressed the problem. The dog's owner believes that animal control in Wichita is understaffed. Although, instead of dealing with THAT problem, last year, the city of Wichita passed a law that mandates the spay/neuter of all 'pit bulls' and requires them to be microchipped -- making more laws for the already understaffed AC department to enforce. For the Pit Bulls has a good post on the topic "When Laws are Not Enforced." All of the laws in the world can't make up for lack of enforcement of existing laws.
Dog Bites and Attacks
A Semmes, AL toddler was hospitalized and received 160 stitches after being attacked by three dogs -- 2 Labs and a Blue Heeler, attacked the 3 year old girl while they were out roaming at large in the neighborhood.
A rabid dog bit a South Carolina man earlier this week. Incidences of rabid dogs biting people in the US are very rare -- but it is still important for people to keep their dogs up-to-date on their shots.
In the UK, a teenage girl was attacked by two Bull Mastiffs. The UK is currently working on changes to their failing Dangerous Dogs Act that bans four breeds of dogs -- I plan to write more about that sometime this week.
In Springfield, MO,a woman's dog was attacked by a dog she claims was a 'pit bull'. "Pit Bulls" are banned in Springfield, but stray/at large dogs are still causing a nuessance there.
An 8 year old Lithonia, GA girl was attacked a 'pit bull' that was running at large. The attack has the city talking about potential breed restrictions, or more liability for owners. If you live in or around Lithonia, please push the officials there to focus their efforts on responsible dog ownership.
A Philadelphia area Rhodesian Ridgeback was declared dangerous after being involved in several aggressive incidents in the community.
One year after a young boy suffered terrible injuries from his grandparent's German Shepherd, the boy has come a long way in his recovery.
Abuse Cases
For the Love of the Dog Blog has a story about a woman who beat her family Bulldog with a snow shovel. The story just gets worse from there.
Two 'pit bull' puppies were abandoned in a drainage ditch in Massachusettes.
An Ohio man is upset because police responded to a burglar alarm at his house but then came across his Labrador Retriever and shot and killed his dog. The dog apparently did not bite anyone, but officers shot his dog anyway.
In Seattle, a man was charged with drowning his girlfriend's 'pit bull'. Apparently the man became angry when the dog urinated on the floor and the dog bit him when he "scolded" the dog for it. And then, "lost it" when the dog again bit him while he was attempting to bath the dog. Seems like the dog's "temper" was a reflection of the temper of the owner, and unfortunately the dog is dead because of it.
Because people are scum, apparently some folks in Texas are holding "boxing matches" between Kangaroos and humans. Of course, the kangaroos is on a leash so if the kangaroo gets too "enthusiastic" the human will be protected. PETA is quoted in the article -- obviously against the activity -- and even PETA can get something right from time to time.
A Kansas City area man shot a barking dog last week because he is outraged by the number of roaming dogs in his neighborhood. Interestingly, the man appears to be facing charges for discharging a gun within the city limits, but NOT for animal cruetly.
In Charlotte, Animal Control officers "accidentally" killed a family's two dogs. The dogs had gotten out of the fenced yard. Officers said the owners couldn't get the dogs back until after their fence was repaired, however, once the family fixed the fence they called animal control and the dogs had been killed.
Positive Press
A great story from out of Philadelphia on Roo Yori's dog Hector, who was a dog that was formerly owned by Mike Vick -- as Hector shows the best of what these types of dogs are, and can be.
A great story in the Toledo Blade about Cesar Millan and his famous dog Daddy (RIP) and how Daddy helped reshape the perception of 'pit bulls'.
Another former Vick Dog, Leo, graces to pages of Ladies Home Journal in the April issue.
TheHumane Society in Bellview, WA is working hard to fix the reputation of 'pit bulls' in the community. In addition to offering free spay/neuters for 'pit bulls' they have also been adopting more of them out.
Miscellanious
Kansas City area vandals hit the metro's largest No Kill shelter, Animal Haven, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage. The shelter could could really use cash donations to help pay for the damage to the facility.
Cast your vote for the Dogs Change Lives Competition where people have submitted a variety of stories about how dogs have changed their lives and you can vote on the top stories from their site.
Completely not dog related, but probably the best commentary on the tragic Sea World incident involving an Orca that attacked and killed its trainer.
The family of Liam Perk, a two-year-old boy who was the victim of a horrible incident where he was bitten and killed by the family Weimaraner has partnered with the city of Cape Coral, FL in order to build a new playground in Liam's honor. They hope to dedicate the park in May in honor of National Dog Bite Awareness Week.
Top Blog postings
YesBiscuit! has a good read on yet another family that is in danger of losing their family pet -- this time in Emmetsburg, IA - because the dog is being declared a 'pit bull', which is banned in the community. Never mind that the dog has never bitten anyone, or even acted aggressively.
Social Mange has an update on the seized dogs in Brampton, Ontario. Turns out the owners have FINALLY been allowed to see their dogs while they are in the shelter -- 2 months after being taken from the owners.
Police in Need of Canine Sensitivity Training - From Change.org
Maybe you included it in another blog entry somewhere, but you should talk about Spork, the dachshund that bit a vet tech and sent his owners into a legal battle.
http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2010/03/spork_update_decision_day_for.php
If vets and vet techs can press charges for getting bitten, this sets a dangerous precedent. People might stop taking their animals to the vet for fear of being sued if something happens! Its kinda scary to think that one stupid act by a vet or a tech or heck even a kennel worker could send you into court!
Posted by: CF | March 15, 2010 at 12:44 PM