Staffordshire Terrier Club of America - Legislative Committee

Region 3 Representative, Kristin Tresidder, was invited to attend an Anti-BSL conference hosted by AKC and held at the North Carolina State University Veterinary School on November 2nd 2009.  The purpose of the event was to educate Veterinary students about the dangers and pitfalls of BSL as they entered their new, and influential careers.

Here is the official write up of the event from the AKC website:

http://www.akc.org/news/blocks/print_article.cfm?article_id=4002

Bill Name: SB554
State: Alabama
Date of Proposal: 4/2/09

A bill recently proposed in Alabama seeks to implement a statewide mandatory spay/neuter policy for all dog over the age of six months. Similar in design to California’s AB1634, SB554 would:

• Make it illegal to own an intact dog over the age of 6 months, unless the dog met a certain set of requirements for exemption such as:
  • The dog is actively showing or competing and has competed in at least one show or sporting competition hosted by or under the approval of a recognized registry within the last two years
  • The dog is a puppy in training for such shows and competitions.
  • The dog is trained or in training for use in law enforcement, military, or rescue activities, or has been titled in the past in a sport
  • The dog has a note from a veterinarian specifying health reasons why it cannot be altered.
• Subject those owners found to be in violation to $50-$100 fines
• Result in forced mandatory sterilization of dogs found to be in violation upon a 3rd offense

Please contact your STCA Legislative Liaison to find out how you can help.

Bill Name: H626
State: North Carolina
Date of Proposal: 3/18/2009
STCA Legislative Contact: Al Bincarousky & Kristin Tresidder

A bill recently proposed in North Carolina seeks to implement a statewide limit on the use of tethers to confine dogs. Specifically, A7218 would:

• Make it illegal to tether a dog for more than 9 hours out of 24.
• Require all tethers to be at least 15 feet in length.

The STCA Legislative committee has written to NC state officials expressing our opposition of the proposed law and our support of the current animal cruelty laws, which cover the “issues” raised in support of anti-tether legislation.

Please contact Al or Kristin to find out how you can help.

Bill Name: A7218
State: New York
Date of Proposal: 4/7/2009
STCA Legislative Contact: Peggy Doster

A bill recently proposed in New York seeks to implement a statewide ban on the docking of tails. Specifically, A7218 would:

• Make all instances of tail docking unlawful, except those deemed necessary by a duly-licensed veterinarian to protect the life or health of the dog.
• Make anyone exhibiting a dog with a docked tail subject to a misdemeanor charge, punishable by a fine of up to $500.
• Allow any New York animal rights organization to sue a violator for declaratory judgment, via a private right of action, to obtain redress for a violation.

STCA Legislative Liaison, Peggy Doster, has spoken at all breed club meetings about this bill, and is working hard with other New York dog breeders to prevent the passage of this bill, which would impact over 50 breeds of dogs currently shown in the state of New York.

Please contact Peggy to find out how you can help.

In Ohio, Representative Barbara Sears, (R-Sylvania) has introduced a bill that would no longer define pit bulls as a vicious breed. Sears stated, “All we’re saying it that a pit bull by its very nature is not a vicious dog…”In the 1970s, it was the German shepherd. In the 1980s, it was the Doberman. In the 1990s, it was the Rottweiler. We shouldn’t put something in permanent law that is a moving target. It begs the question that whether we should really be looking at the owners of the pit bulls.”

The Ohio Dangerous Dog law currently in place defines a dangerous dog as “one that has killed or injured a person, killed another dog, or “belongs to a breed that is commonly known as a pit bull dog.” Ms. Sears’ bill would strike the last phrase, along with the language stating that the “ownership, keeping, or harboring of such a breed of dog shall be prima facie evidence of the ownership, keeping, or harboring of a vicious dog.”

Ms Sears will offer testimony to support her bill on 4/29/09; however, Sears’ bill faces opposition from local officials, as well as long-time BSL supporter, Tom Skeldon.

Please email Ms. Sears and let her know that you support her efforts to remove BSL from Ohio state law,

district46@ohr.state.oh.us

and contact the STCA Region 5 Legislative Liaison, Heidi McClure

hlmmclure@earthlink.net

to find out how you can help.