Elkhart, Indiana

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

6:00 p.m.

  The ad hoc committee appointed to study and make recommendations to the Public Health & Safety Committee of the Common Council of the City of Elkhart for a new animal control ordinance will meet on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, at 6:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers, Municipal Building, 229 S. Second Street, Elkhart. 

The meeting is open to the public, but no public comments will be heard.  

Thanks to YOU — the dedicated owners and advocates of the American Pit Bull Terrier across the country and in Canada — Bless the Bullys 3rd annual National Pit Bull Awareness Day was a huge success (AGAIN!)

The National Pit Bull Awareness campaign is a nationwide effort to bring positive awareness to the American Pit Bull Terrier, and the positive articles are flowing in newspapers across the U.S. today!

Since its inception in 2007, when Bless the Bullys introduced the idea of a national “pit bull awareness day,” devoted pit bull advocates, enthusiasts and owners jumped on the opportunity to participate in what is still…three years later… the ONLY nationwide initiative to bring about positive pit bull media attention together on one day.

Bless the Bullys thanks each and every organization and individual who organized and/or participated in one of the 90+ events held across the country this weekend! THANK YOU SO MUCH for your dedication to changing the underserved reputation and stigma attached to these incredible dogs.

Bless the Bullys is incredibly excited about the turnout for the 2009 celebration of National Pit Bull Awareness Day, and we cannot wait for 2010!

Please watch the Bless the Bullys website in the coming days as I will post pictures of events held across the country!

Thank you again for another great year!

We started off the week with our third Bark in the Park on Saturday.  It was a cold and dreary day, but that didn’t stop pet lovers from coming out!  Harlan and Brooklyn met a lot of people and showed them they pit bulls do not deserve the terrible reputation and hype that surrounds them. I love to see people interacting with bullys – and the dogs love meeting and snuggling with everyone!

We got lots of people to play “Find the Pit Bull”…even a couple of Algood police officers who quickly realized that identifying a “pit bull” isn’t as easy at it sounds!

We even got to hob-nob with state officials! State Representative Henry Fincher visited Bark in the Park and took a few pictures with his old buddy, Harlan. Personally, I think this should be Henry’s next campaign poster!

We always have a good time at Bark in the Park – getting to spend time with fellow animal advocates and talking with the public. This year was certainly no exception, and I can’t wait for Bark in the Park 2010!

TUESDAY it was off to Dandridge to attend the city council meeting and address the council on a proposed pit bull ban. The council had already passed two readings, and Tuesday’s vote would have sealed the deal. I was absolutely thrilled when I arrived at the Public Works building in Dandridge to see so many concerned people already there ready to voice their opposition to BSL! We handed out stickers that read “no pit bull ban,” and it was amazing to see the news footage that panned the crowed and everyone was wearing a sticker!

Everyone who addressed the council was polite and respectful and offered suggestions and alternatives for their consideration. The council was very patient and allowed us well over an hour to voice our position. Not one single person in attendance was for breed specific legisation.

In the end, the council decided to take the proposed ordinance off the table to research an alternate ordinance that I provided. It is my understanding now that they are, in fact, going to adopt my ordinance! I commend the council for recognizing that animal control problems are a direct result of irresponsible dog owners–not the dogs themselves.

Click WBIR to read the article on Tuesday’s council meeting.

FINALLY, on Thursday afternoon Bless the Bullys welcomed Jake! Jake is one of the 500+ dogs seized in a dog fighting bust in Missouri over the summer. This was the biggest dog fighting bust in history. There are not enough words to express my gratitude to all the people working tirelessly in Missouri making it possible for these dogs to get a second chance.

Jake is such an incredible creature! He is so gentle and sweet and just has the most incredible disposition. He was a favorite of many out in Missouri, and I can definitely see why. I have no doubt that Jake is going to make a very special family extremely happy!!

The Dandridge, Tennessee city council is set to take a third and final vote on an ordinance that would ban pit bulls TONIGHT (Tuesday, October 13, 2009). The meeting begins at 7:00 (EST) and will be held at the Public Works Building located at 267 West Highway 25  70. I have included a map below.   (Public Works and the Police Department are in the same building)

Please make every effort to try to attend this meeting if at all possible. Dandridge is located in Jefferson County. Jefferson County consists of 4 cities, two of which already have pit bull bans in place.  It would be very easy for the council to just follow suit of these nearby towns, and we need to educate them on the reasons why BSL is not the solution for their animal control problems. 

We really want to have a PACKED HOUSE tonight. Please come to this meeting as a show of united support for the responsible pit bull owners in Dandridge. While there is a period of time for open public comment, you do not have to address the council if you don’t want to, but please just show up to support those who will be addressing the council. We are providing stickers to wear to those who oppose BSL, so please be on the lookout for them when you arrive.

Hope to see you tonight!

Dorothy was right – there certainly is no place like home.  After all, home is where the heart is.   I’m beginning to realize, though, that there are many places we will always call home.  Why not?  Over the course of our lives, we give our hearts to many different people…why then can’t our hearts become attached to many homes, as well? 

I just returned from my trip “home”, which included Delaware, where I was born and spent most of my life, but also New Jersey, where I lived for several years and developed a strong attachment.

Crossing the bridge to Ocean City, NJ my heart raced as the feeling of “home” settled over me.  As I walked the beach and approached the lifeguard stand marked “9,” memories washed over me.  When I moved to Ocean City, I was newly divorced and experiencing life on my own for the very first time.  It was a frightening time for me, and I was in a strange place where I didn’t know a single person.  The “9” stands for 9^th Street, and that was where my first apartment in Ocean City was.  That lifeguard stand was a marker for me.  When I walked the then unfamiliar beach, I knew this was my stop.   This was where I turned to head home.  That period of my life, while it was lonely, was very empowering, as well.  I had always been a free spirit and extremely independent, but for the first time I was truly free and entirely on my own.  Those years in Ocean City cultivated an inner strength, resolve, and determination that shaped the person I am today. 

Of course, Delaware is where I grew up and where my parents live.  I always feel like a child when I pull up in their driveway after being gone for long periods of time.  They still live in the house that I grew up in, and even though they have made changes to the physical appearance of the house, memories lurk in every crevice.  My first night there, my parents decided we would go to Old Country Buffet for dinner.  Well, of course, this is the obvious choice as it is common knowledge you simply cannot find enough country cooking in Tennessee.  J  In truth, it wouldn’t have mattered to me if we hit the McDonald’s drive-thru as long as we were eating dinner at the same table together.  My mom comes to Tennessee routinely because she is from here, but my dad does not, so seeing them together, acting silly, was great.

Tiffin went home with me, and he, of course, loved seeing his “granny.”   Much as he tried, he didn’t get too much love from the cat, though.  He would get down in his “lets play” stance, only to get a slap in the face from Ms. Kitty.  I think he missed Harlan and Oakley, and he was glad to finally get back to Tennessee.  One thing that was noticeably different with respect to Tiffin was the way he was received by people.    The last time we were home, people reacted so negatively toward him – a total stranger even called him a killer.  This time, many people approached us on the beach and elsewhere wanting to talk about him and pit bulls in general – how they get a bad rap.   He was a great ambassador, as usual.

There were so many people that I would like to have seen on my visit, but time just doesn’t allow.  I was so happy I was able to catch up with a few special friends, and send a BIG thank you to Heather for all the doggy goodies!  The dogs absolutely LOVE THEM ALL!! 

For now, we are back “home” in Tennessee.  I’m told it rained the entire time we were gone, and a simple glance at my yard definitely proves that.  The grass desperately needs to be mowed, the hedges need to be trimmed, and the vacation is definitely over.  I did miss my Tennessee hideaway and all my bullys terribly.  Regardless of all the clichés, I finally realize, at least for me, that “home is where the dogs are!”

The proposed ordinance grandfathers in ”pit bulls” that currently live in the city limits.  Owners would be required to carry a $50,000 liability insurance policy; the dogs must be kept in a secure pen or kennel; signs must be posted on the property that read “Beware of Dog;” and owners would be required to muzzle the dogs when taken out in public.  

The ordinance is worded such that it would affect bull terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, American pit bull terriers and any dog whose immediate parentage is from the “pit bull family”.

Dandridge Town Hall

Post Office Box 249

131 East Main Street

Dandridge, TN 37725

PHONE: 865-397-7420

Mayor and City Council

Reporter Megan Trotter did a great job with this article.  If you agree, I hope you will let her know you appreciate the opportunity to for a positive pit bull story in the news.   Her contact info can be found on the Herald Citizen website (www.herald-citizen.com).

 http://www.herald-citizen.com/index.cfm?event=news.view&id=1FA614B5-19B9-E2E2-67A31592F0D93405

Pit bull rescuer: Breed ban isn’t the answer

Megan Trotter
Herald-Citizen Staff
Sunday, Aug 16, 2009

WHITE COUNTY, TN  – Many people in White and surrounding counties rejoiced last week when the White County Steering Committee announced to concerned dog owners that steps could not be taken to ban the pit bull breed without zoning in the county.

Jodi Preis of Jackson County was one of those dog owners. As the owner of her own rescue organization, Bless the Bullys, Preis currently has 11 pit bulls that she cares for herself at her home. She firmly believes that breed specific legislation is not the answer.

“Dogs are a product of their owners. If you’re a good owner, you’re going to make sure your dog is cared for, it’s always under your control, it’s always in your yard,” she said. “Pit bull owners aren’t the only ones guilty of being irresponsible, unfortunately.

I commend Sheriff (Oddie) Shoupe’s desire to work with the citizens of White County in creating an animal control ordinance that is enforceable and effective and will ultimately result in a safer community for people and animals alike. The issue of ‘problem dogs’ cannot be tackled without first addressing the issue of ‘problem dog owners.’ We must invest time and effort to educate dog owners on responsible ownership practices, and hold those who choose to be irresponsible accountable for their actions or the actions of their dogs.”

One of her current rescues, JoeJoe, was found chained to a house that his owner set on fire. The dog was badly burned and still sports a hairless spot under one of his eyes. Preis took him in after seeing a photo of his injuries. Preis keeps all 11 of her dogs in separate cages large enough for a Great Dane, and lets one or two at a time out to play in her back yard. She says she rarely has a problem with aggression between dogs, and has never had a problem with her dogs being aggressive toward humans.

“You will very rarely run across a pit bull that is human-aggressive. If they are, it’s a really good sign that the dog has been mistreated or it may have some really severe temperament issues,” Preis said. “I hate talking about the dog-fighting aspect, but the dogs who had been raised to fight back in the early part of the century, they were still trained to be extremely human friendly. Because these people who were fighting them were fighting for money, fighting for dogs, and if the fight was not going the way they wanted, they wanted to be able to get into that pit and get in between the dogs and not be bitten.”

Preis fell in love with the pit bull breed after adopting her first rescue, Tiffin, who is now 12 years old. She found him listed on an adoption Web site and knew right then that this was the dog for her.

“He looked pathetic. His backbone was sticking out, he had sores on his legs,” she said. “I saw that dog and just thought, ‘That dog needs me.’”

After bringing Tiffin home and introducing him to her family, Preis’ mother started sending her Web pages filled with more homeless rescue dogs. Preis says that it became overwhelmingly obvious to her that more rescues were needed. After a while, she contacted a local rescue group and agreed to be the foster mom for two puppies.

“After you do it one time, you’re hooked,” she said. “There are times when I think, ‘Holy cow, what am I doing? I’ve got all these dogs!’ but I don’t think I ever regretted anything I’ve done that would help an animal. You sacrifice a lot personally because you’re always doing more for the dogs than you do for yourself. But you’ve helped animals to live and to find a better life and to find people who need them.”

For more information about Bless the Bullys, visit www.blessthebullys.com.

Got 44¢ and 10 Minutes?

The Honorable Al Franken
U.S. Senator
320 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510

RE: Military Housing Pet Policies

Dear Senator Franken:

I am writing with respect to a new pet policy being enforced in military bases across the United States.

….. INSERT YOUR TALKING POINTS HERE ….

I appreciate your allowing me to address this issue with you.

Respectfully,

John Q. Public

– Talking Points / Important Points –

A City Council member is working on an ordinance change that would allow pit bulls in Denver.

But repealing the city’s 20-year-old ban on pit bulls would come with many stipulations, such as requiring temperament testing, muzzling the dog, and requiring special licensing and insurance fees, to name a few proposed restrictions.

Councilwoman Carla Madison — who identifies herself as a “dog lover” who is opposed to the city’s breed-specific legislation — said the idea is only in very preliminary stages, being discussed with fellow Council members, the mayor, animal control officials and city attorneys.

“For me personally, it’s not about the dogs, but about the people who own the dogs,” said Madison.

Being called the Responsible Pit Bull Ownership Act, support for the ordinance change is growing with a national pro-pit bull group based out of California called ROVERlution. Founder of the group, David Edelstein, said the city could help close its $120 million budget shortfall if it only repealed the breed ban.

“They’re spending about a quarter of a million dollars per year (on enforcing this ban). But has it alleviated dog bites in Denver? No, not even close,” said Edelstein.

City officials were unable to present the Denver Daily News with a cost analysis of how much it costs to enforce the ban, stating that there is no specific line item for the enforcement, and that the cost is part of overall animal control costs.

But Meghan Hughes, spokeswoman for the Department of Environmental Health, said ROVERlution never contacted her office in conducting its cost analysis. Records provided by Hughes show that 2,011 pit bulls have been euthanized by the city.

Regardless, Edelstein says the city can both save and make money by repealing the ban and then issuing fines and fees related to an ordinance change.

“Now is the perfect time to use home rule for something productive and in the name of public welfare,” he wrote to city officials. “This law and its authority has been abused long enough.”

Mayor considering it

Mayor John Hickenlooper told the Denver Daily News that his office is considering Madison’s proposal. 

“This is something we will certainly look at carefully,” he said. “In the end, we want to do what’s best to maintain a safe city for everyone.”

Hughes was unable to say with certainty whether a ban on pit bulls has made the city safer.

“I don’t know that there’s one single answer to that. I think it all depends on the way you look at it,” she said. “Technically, there hasn’t been any serious bites since the ban was put into place; however, it’s hard to tell when you really don’t know how many dogs are out there.”

Denver actually has a higher than normal rate of dog hospitalizations than any other area of Colorado, despite the ban, according to the National Canine Research Council.

Does ban work?

Several other towns and cities in Colorado — including Englewood and Lakewood — have examined dog bite data and decided breed-specific legislation does not work. 

Ban advocates, however, point out that there has not been a serious pit bull attack in Denver since the 1989 mauling of Rev. Wilbur Billingsley, who was left with more than 70 bites and two broken legs. The incident resulted in the City Council banning pit bulls from the city.

Local ban foes declined to comment on Madison’s proposal, saying it is too premature. 

Meanwhile, three former Denver residents have filed a lawsuit to overturn the ban. In May, a federal appeals court in Denver gave the go-ahead to challenge the law in court. The three-judge panel overturned a March 2008 decision by a federal judge to dismiss the lawsuit.

Looking to save money

Facing budgetary pressures, sources — who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press — said city officials have expressed an interest in finding a fast compromise to squash the lawsuit and stop mounting legal fees. A compromise could include fast-tracking the Responsible Pit Bull Ownership Act.

But supporters are sure to come across opposition, including from inside the city attorney’s office. Kori Nelson, a Denver assistant city attorney who led the city’s fight to re-enact its ban in 2004, has on numerous occasions told the Denver Daily News that pit bulls are a unique breed with inherently dangerous characteristics.

“It’s designed to prevent maulings and death attacks by pit bulls,” he said of the ban.

City attorneys are still trying to determine whether the ban must first be repealed before it can be changed, said Madison.

Madison seeks input

The councilwoman says she has been receiving letters concerning her proposal from across the nation, but very few from Denver citizens. She is asking for Denverites to send her their opinions so that she and the rest of Council can make an informed decision.

“I’m just a dog lover, and I have had pit mixes and have known pits that are great dogs, and I know people that have had to leave the city because of their dog,” said Madison. “But, ya know, people snap. Some people say that pit bulls have this internal negative thing that they can just all of a sudden be nice family dogs and then one day just snap. But I think that could happen to anyone at any time.”

http://www.thedenverdailynews.com/article.php?aID=5166

The city administration of Laurel, Maryland has sent a request to the Prince George’s County administrator to repeal the long standing pit bull ban.

Please send your POLITE, RESPECTFUL AND INFORMATIVE correspondence and materials to the Prince Georges County administration asking them to form a task group to consider the City of Laurel’s request to repeal the county-wide breed specific ordinance.

The County Council rejected requests by task forces consisting of community members, animal groups and county officers to rescind the ban in 1999 and 2006. LET’S MAKE THE THIRD TIME THE CHARM!!

Talking points for letters may be found at www.defendingdog. com.

Accurate, documented, reliable research can be found at http://nationalcani neresearchcounci l.com/

Laurel Gazette article: http://www.gazette. net/stories/ 07232009/ portnew180447_ 32544.shtml

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, MARYLAND

 Office of the Clerk of the Council

14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, Room 2198

Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20772

(301) 952-3600         Fax (301) 952-5178

clerkofthecouncil@ co.pg.md. us.

Craig S. Price Council Administrator

Phone: (301) 952-3794        Fax: (301) 952-3238

County Administration Building (Room 2027)

14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive

Upper Marlboro, MD 20772-3050

County Executive Jack B. Johnson

countyexecutive@ co.pg.md. us.

 Contact information for individual council members can be found here: http://www.princege orgescountymd. gov/Government/ LegislativeBranc h/index.asp? nivel=foldmenu( 0)

or you may direct all communications to the clerk of the council with a request to please distribute to each council member.