Last night, city aldermen in Manchester, MO (suburban St. Louis) unanimously voted to repeal the city's breed-specific law that automatically declared 'pit bulls' as vicious based on appearance.
The city was facing a lawsuit over the ordinance based on the vagueness of the appearance-based language -- the change in the law was in response to the lawsuit. Alderman Michael Clement, who sponsored the bill, told the Patch that the new ordinance was the result of much research and written to be consistent with St. Louis County's animal control ordinance that is behavior-based, and doesn't include references to specific breeds.
Manchester has now joined two other St. Louis suburbs in their repeal of breed-specific laws this year. Wentzville, MO repealed its law back in March, and Town and Country repealed its law in August.
More good news on the breed-specific law front as more and more communities continue to realize that expert opinion overwhelmingly opposes laws based on appearance in support of laws focused on behavior.
Finally. Sanity in an insane world
Posted by: Susan Brummett | October 02, 2012 at 09:57 AM
Thank You Manchester, MO. It is the right thing to do. Ban the deed not the breed. Make humans more responsible. Thank You.
Posted by: Deb | October 02, 2012 at 11:30 AM