Breed Discriminatory Legislation Introduced in Florida

Ask your Florida Representatives and Senators to oppose H.B. 189 and S.B 922 Written by Best Friends StaffFlorida State Rep. Perry E. Thurston, Jr. filed H.B. 189, "an act relating to dangerous dogs," to repeal the prohibition on breed discriminatory legislation (BDL) in Florida. An identical bill, S.B. 922, has also been filed by Senator Anthony C. Hill.H.B. 189 and S.B. 922 would allow any Florida local government to restrict or regulate any breed of dog. A similar effort to legislate BDL was unsuccessful in 2008.Click on photo to the right for a video interview "Owning a pit bull couldsoon be illegal" from Fox 9, Tampa Bay news. Currently Miami-Dade is the only county in Florida that is allowed to “profile” dogs and destroy them because of this. They enacted a “pit bull” ban in 1989 and last year around 800 “pit bulls” were picked up and destroyed simply because of their breed.Best Friends opposes canine profiling. The problem of dangerous dogs is not remedied by the quick fix of breed-discriminatory laws. All dogs can bite. Dogs are individuals and should not be judged by their appearance, but by their temperament.In its study of human fatalities resulting from dog bites, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) did not support the breed specific approach. The CDC noted many other factors beyond a dog’s breed may affect a dog’s tendency toward aggression – things such as reproductive status, heredity, sex, early experience, and socialization and training.These concerns seem well-founded, given that more than 70% of all dog bite cases involve unsterilized male dogs. In fact, an unneutered male dog is 2.6 times more likely to bite than a neutered dog and in 2006, 97% of all dog related human fatalities in the United States involved unsterilized canines.Another insidious problem seen with canine profiling is the potential for abuse. Selective enforcement can be triggered simply by the ethnic background of the owner.Breed discriminatory laws cause unintended hardship to responsible guardians of entirely friendly, properly supervised and well-socialized dogs who happen to fall within the regulated breed category. Although these dog owners have done nothing to endanger the public, they may be forced by the municipality to either give up their dogs or move. Those pets who are relinquished are then killed.The most harmful consequence of breed-discriminatory laws is their tendency to compromise, rather than enhance, public safety. Resources are shifted away from routine, effective enforcement of laws that have the best chance of making our communities safer: leash laws, dog license laws, spay/neuter laws and animal fighting laws.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:Politics is not a spectator sport. Please take action on behalf of animals.► H.B. 192 was referred to the committee on January 22, 2009. Florida residents are asked to please write the members of the House Agricultural and Natural Resources Policy Committee and ask them to vote “NO” on H.B. 189 ► Also, constituents are asked to please write or call your Florida Representatives and Senators and respectfully ask them to vote “NO” on H.B. 189 and S.B. 922, "an act relating to dangerous dogs." Local governments already have the ability to adopt regulations regarding dangerous dogs and protect the public as they see fit. Breed bans are ineffective, costly to enforce, and penalize responsible dog owners.To find your Representatives and Senators, please click on the following links:FL Representatives and FL SenatorsFor some ideas on alternatives to BDL, please view the Best Friends Community Safety Program.You can also download the following article posted on Animal Law Coalition’s website to send to your legislators. It contains additional information that confirms that BDL is ineffective and offers real solutions to keep communities safe. ► Join the Stop BSL community for more information on how you can help put an end to breed discrimination.

Pembroke Pines and Hollywood FL want BSL to exist!!!

Pembroke Pines, Florida is standing behind the FL HB 198 and SB 922 which will allow breed specific legislation to take place....please wite and protest this action from happening!



Mayor Frank C. Ortis954-435-6505fortis@ppines.comVice Mayor
William B. Armstrong954-436-3266Charles F. DodgeCity ManagerPh: 954-431-4884
http://us.f535.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=cdodge@ppines.com
City Clerk's OfficeJudy Neugent, City Clerk954-435-6501http://us.f535.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=jneugent@ppines.com
Commissioners:Angelo Castillo954-436-3266acastillo@ppines.comCarl Shechter954-436-3266scshechter@ppines.comIris Siple954-436-3266isiple@ppines.com

FIND THE PITBULL

Only one of the pictures below features the real American PitBull Terrier. Take the test to see if you can find it. To find the breed of a dog, click on image. Note there are no mixes or rescue dogs of unknown background who's breed could be debated. All dogs have been picked from breeders' websites and should be good representatives of their breed.
When you are done, ask your family and friends to take to test and watch the results. For many people, a Pit Bull is a a big headed dog, or a dog with cropped ears. For some it's a brindle dog, a big, stocky dog, or one with an eye patch.
Quite often dogs that attack are identified as pit bulls when they are not. There are 20+ breeds that are commonly incorrectly identified as pit bulls. Visit Understand-a-bull for more information.

http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html

Another Poem from Caymen & Haley

Just a little note to say we are OK!
We fought BSL and won our right to stay
So many others have lost their lives this way
But we will keep on fighting until that great day
When people will see us for what we really are
Loving, Loyal, Caring and Strong
Always trying to raise the bar for all that have been wronged
While we can’t help the ignorance that continues everyday
We will try to educate the haters so perhaps they will stop making us pay
For things that they think our breed has done
We will fight the good fight
Until we are no longer wronged
So as you read this think to yourself
If I don’t help stop BSL
Then maybe my dog will be next!!!!

Caymen & Haley

Caymen and Haley are HOME!!!!

Hi All,
Well I have some GREAT news to share with everyone!!!! CAYMEN AND HALEY ARE HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes that is correct I did just say that Caymen and Haley are home.
So now I will elaborate on what has been happening in the last two weeks, sorry I could not say anything sooner but could not risk jeopardizing them getting out.
Well about 2 weeks ago my attorney had a deposition with the chief investigating office for animal control, one that the county tried to block but the courts allowed it. Apparently during the deposition things were not going well for the county and they stopped the depo and then proceeded to ask my attorney what can be done to stop this law suit that we had against them. This is when the settlement came up. It took a lot of time to get all the details sorted out but in the end the county released all 7 dogs and we dropped our law suit(however we will not receive any compensation for all the money we have had to pay for the county’s crappy law.
Now here is the catch to all of this, there are many restrictions my babies must abide by:1. They have to be registered as Dangerous dogs and that requires a license of $300 and must be renewed each year at $1002. They must wear a HUGH dog tag stated that they are dangerous…really it is 3 inches long and made of metal.. a little excessive3. Anytime they leave the house they must have a muzzle on4. Now here is the kicker..when take them out in OUR yard, which has a 6 foot privacy fence and all gates are chained they must still wear a muzzle, WHY because my yard does not have a top to it…meaning they want us to basically make my OWN yard into a prison..how ridiculous!!
Aside from all the BS stuff we must do we are SO HAPPY to have our babies back at home. They are doing good and will bounce back in no time.
Thank you to all of you who have been so supportive and have given me much inspiration. All of you will never know how much this has meant to me and our family!!!

A Poem from Caymen and Haley

We are Caymen and Haley and we are here to say STOP BSL and stop it today.

As our mother writes this we sit on DEATH ROW, alone and cold and missing our home.

We are not here because we are bad to the core but instead because of a law that should not have been born.

Please don’t listen to what the haters say, they just assume our breed must die, day after day.

We are loving, loyal, caring and strong. We protect our family from all that may harm.

All that know us knows we have done no wrong, but our mother looks at us with tears filling her eyes as she has to watch us go back to the cage they provide.

Our mother is now in a fight for our lives. We pray she prevails or else we will die!


Please help save us!!!!
http://www.savecaymenandhaley.com/

Life through a Pit Bull's Eyes

You breed me to be strong,
Now you think you were wrong.
I am man's best friend,
Now you want me to meet my end.
I live to protect the ones that I love,
I'm the best of my breed a step above.
I'm as good as you raise me to be,
I was not born evil can't you see.
I come in different shapes, sizes, and colors,
I'm here to serve my master just like all the others.
My master loves me as if one of their own,
When I walk by there side or fetch a bone.
Here is a little history about my kind,
Always keep these facts in the back of your mind.
I lived in the white house with a President named Teddy,
During the 1st World War, I was an American symbol can’t you see.
Sgt. Stubby was the most decorated war dog and this is no lie.
I even lived with the little Rascles once upon a time,
I’ve lived with the brightest man ever known,Thomas Edison he created the light bulb,
Now that I’ve given you some history about my kind,
Let me get back to what’s been on my mind.
I feel for people, who have been attacked,
But you can't put all the blame on my back.
For I'm a creature put on God's great earth,
No knowledge of love or hate before my birth.
Why do you blame us all for a few bad ones?
Do you hate your children because of a few bad sons?
One day I hope you’ll realize,
For it’s you that has hate in your eyes.
It’s not up to you to wipe out a breed,
For only God has the power to do that deed.
So just remember as I run along,
It’s not my breed, but your perception that’s all wrong.

Broward County's New Dangerous Dogs Law

Broward County's Dangerous Dog Law is in conflict with the laws that govern the State of Florida. Here is the brief overview, the section that pertains to my dogs are in bold, to see the full laws you may visit these websites:

http://www.broward.org/animal/ani01700.htm#Dangeroushttp://www.flsenate.gov/statutes/index.cfm?mode=View%20Statutes&SubMenu=1&App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=dangerous+dog&URL=CH0767/Sec11.HTM

State of Florida Law states...
767.11 Definitions.--As used in this act, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(1) "Dangerous dog" means any dog that according to the records of the appropriate authority:

(a) Has aggressively bitten, attacked, or endangered or has inflicted severe injury on a human being on public or private property;

(b) Has more than once severely injured or killed a domestic animal while off the owner's property;

Now here is Broward County's Law..tell me how can a county law out rule a state law?????

Dangerous Dogs: Section 4-12A

“Dangerous Dog” is a dog that has done the following:

A dog that when unprovoked approaches a person in a menacing fashion or with an attack attitude.

A dog that has killed or caused the death of a domestic animal in one incident, while off the owner’s or keeper’s property.

Has aggressively bitten, attacked, endangered, killed or inflicted severe injury on a human being on public or private property.

If a dog – whether or not the dog has been classified as “dangerous” -- causes severe injury or death to a person OR domestic animal while unprovoked and off the owner’s property, an Animal Care Officer will impound the dog. Written notice will be given to the owner and after ten (10) business days from the date of notification, the dog will be humanely euthanized.

News Links to the cases:http://miamiherald.typepad.com/crazy_for_critters/2008/09/broward-bite-la.htmlhttp://www.local10.com/download/2008/0909/17426986.pdfhttp://aspcacommunity.ning.com/profile/JenniferLinnustehttp://www.blogcatalog.com/blogs/save-caymen-and-haley.htmlhttp://www.local10.com/news/17339044/detail.htmlhttp://miamiherald.typepad.com/crazy_for_critters/2008/09/new-broward-cou.htmlhttp://miami.craigslist.org/brw/pol/853028490.htmlhttp://www.savethehuskies.com/
PLEASE EMAIL & CALL OUR COMMISSIONERS TO OVERTURN THIS LAW
Ilene Lieberman
ilieberman@broward.org 954-357-7001
Kristin Jacobs
kjacobs@broward.org 954- 357-7002
Stacy Ritter
sritter@broward.org 954-357-7003
Ken Keechl
kkeechl@broward.org 954-357-7798
Lois Wexler
lwexler@broward.org 954-357-7005
Sue Gunzburger
sgunzburger@broward.org 954-357-7006
John E. Rodstrom, Jr.
jrodstrom@broward.org 954-357-7007
Diana Wasserman-Rubin
dwassermanrubin@broward.org 954-357-7008
Josephus Eggelletion, Jr.
jeggelletion@broward.org 954-357-7009


We kindly request that anyone interested in helping us save our babies please go to the this site and sign the petition. Please pass it on as well so that we can make a difference. Thank you!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-my-dogs-from-the-new-broward-countly-dangerous-dog-law