Back in May, we learned that the city of Wilmington, Delaware was having a difficult time recruiting a new animal control provider, due mostly in part to their 12-year-old ordinance regulating the ownership of pit bulls. At that time, the mayor suggested the city amend its ordinance to repeal the breed specific language. Wilmington dog owners have been attending council meetings and reaching out to city officials encouraging them to move forward with the change, but despite their efforts, the talks of repeal have come to a standstill.
In July, the city’s animal control contract was renewed with the SPCA, thus eliminating the need to continue discussions of repeal of the breed specific provisions in the eyes of some of the council members. However, when the mayor presented the issue to the council, he not only acknowledged the need to hold irresponsible owners accountable, regardless of the breed of dog they own, but also that there is little evidence that the breed-specific law reduced dog bites and attacks in Wilmington. These two points, of course, remain true.
The council is clearly divided on this issue, and some council members would like to hear more information in order to make an informed decision.
Please contact the Wilmington city officials and encourage them to repeal their breed specific ordinance. Please provide them with solid facts and statistics on the ineffectiveness of breed specific legislation, as well as breed-neutral ordinances for this review. The city of Calgary, Canada has an excellent ordinance that has reduced the number of problem dog incidents in the city consistently year after year.
This is a great opportunity to create positive change in Wilmington, and responsible dog owners are counting on us to help bring about that change. Please remember how very important it is that all your interactions with city officials be polite and professional.
Mailing Address
Wilmington City Council
Louis L. Redding City/County Building
800 N. French Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
Phone: (302) 576-2140
Fax: (302) 571-4071
Online contact form:
http://www.wilmingtonde.gov/contact/
Office of the Mayor
Mayor James Baker
Louis L. Redding City/County Building
800 N. French Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
Phone: (302) 576-2100
Fax: (302) 571-4102
Email: MayorBaker@WilmingtonDE.gov
CITY COUNCIL
Norman D. Griffiths
Council President
Phone: (302) 576-2140
Fax: (302) 571-4071
E-mail: ngriffiths@WilmingtonDE.gov
Charles Potter, Jr.
1st District Council Member
Phone: (302) 576-2140
Fax: (302) 571-4071
E-mail: cpjr00@aol.com
Ernest “Trippi” Congo II
2nd District Council Member
Phone: (302) 576-2140
Fax: (302) 571-4071
E-mail: sammycongo@aol.com
Eric D. Robinson
3rd District Council Member
Phone: (302) 576-2140
Fax: (302) 571-4071
E-mail: 3rddistrep@gmail.com
Hanifa G.N. Shabazz
4th District Council Member
Phone: (302) 576-2140
Fax: (302) 571-4071
E-mail: hshabazz@WilmingtonDE.gov
Samuel Prado
5th District Council Member
Phone: (302) 576-2140
Fax: (302) 571-4071
E-mail: sammy_wilm@yahoo.com
Kevin F. Kelley, Sr.
6th District Council Member
President Pro Tempore
Phone: (302) 576-2140
Fax: (302) 571-4071
E-mail: 6thdistrict@comcast.net
Paul F. Ignudo, Jr.
7th District Council Member
Phone: (302) 576-2140
Fax: (302) 571-4071
E-mail: ignudo7th@comcast.net
Tracey Thomson Schofield
8th District Council Member
Phone: (302) 576-2140
Fax: (302) 571-4071
E-mail: traceyscho@gmail.com
Michael A. Brown, Sr.
Council Member At-Large
Phone: (302) 576-2140
Fax: (302) 571-4071
E-mail: mabrown@WilmingtonDE.gov
Charles M. “Bud” Freel
Council Member At-Large
Phone: (302) 576-2140
Fax: (302) 571-4071
E-mail: budfreel@aol.com
Loretta Walsh
Council Member At-Large
Phone: (302) 576-2140
Fax: (302) 571-4071
E-mail: lwalsh@WilmingtonDE.gov
Justen A. Wright
Council Member At-Large
Phone: (302) 576-2140
Fax: (302) 571-4071
E-mail: justen@justenwright.org
October 3, 2012 Delaware online article
http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20121003/NEWS/310030040/Necessity-pit-bull-restrictions-considered?odyssey=nav%7Chead
Previous alert for Wilmington, Delaware
http://blessthebullys.wordpress.com/2012/05/03/repeal-alert-wilmington-delaware/
