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: 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: HB/SB 460
State: North Carolina
Date of Proposal: 3/05/09
STCA Legislative Contacts: Kristin Tresidder & Al Bincarousky

House Bill 460 was recently proposed in North Carolina by Representative Maggie Jeffus of Greensboro and Representative Margaret Highsmith Dickson of Fayetteville, and its companion bill, Senate Bill 460, was sponsored by Senators Don Davis of Snow Hill and Senator Don Vaughan of Greensboro.  The goal of these bills is to implement restrictions on ‘commercial breeders.’  The bill defines a commercial breeder as “any person who, during any 12-month period, maintains 15 or more adult female dogs for the primary purpose of the sale of their offspring as companion animals.”

Some of the proposed restrictions include:

• Mandatory annual licensing at a cost of $50.
• Age limits on breeding dogs
• Annual certification by a veterinarian that a dog can be bred
• Unannounced home inspections
• NC Board of Agriculture devised standards of care, including exercise, veterinary care, housing, and record-keeping

Those breeders found to be in violation of the imposed restrictions, or who declined a home inspection would find themselves subjected to fines and possible seizure and euthanasia of their dogs.

The legislative committee is currently drafting a letter to be sent to all sponsoring Representatives and Senators voicing our opposition to this proposal.

For more information on how you can help, please contact your STCA Regional Representative

On Tuesday November 17th, the Orange County Board of Commissioners passed an ordinance strictly limiting tethering by a 4-1 vote. Dogs can now only be tethered for three out of every twenty four hours, and there are also kennel size restrictions as well.

The Durham Kennel club, of neighboring Durham county, officially opposed the ordinance, sending a representative to read a statement authored by STCA Legislative Committee member, Kristin Tresidder, advocating the enforcement of current animal cruelty laws.

Here is a copy of the letter that was sent to the commissioners, and read at the public hearing:

“Commissioners;

Comprised of over 250 members, more than 40 of which reside in Orange County, the Durham Kennel Club (DKC) has been promoting the care and welfare of North Carolina’s dogs for over thirty-nine years. Through owner education and community involvement, the DKC has striven for the betterment of all dogs, regardless of their background. The DKC officially opposes legislation limiting the rights of responsible dog owners to keep dogs in a humane manner, including anti-tether legislation. Where there are already laws in place dealing with neglect and animal cruelty, there is no need for further legislation to address the same issues.

The Orange County Animal Cruelty ordinance currently in place states:

“All animals in Orange County are required to have the following:

* Adequate Food – Animals should be fed with foodstuff that is nutritious and suitable for the species and age group. Such foodstuff shall be provided at least every 24 hours and served in a clean receptacle, dish, or container that is free of contaminants that may be injurious to the health of the animal.

* Adequate Water – Animals must receive constant access to a supply of clean, fresh water provided in a sanitary manner.

* Adequate Shelter – Non-aquatic animals shall be provided shelter which will keep them dry, out of the direct path of winds and the sun, and at a temperature level that is healthful for the animal. The animal containment area shall be free of accumulated waste and debris so that the animal can walk or lie down without coming in contact with any such waste or debris, and a suitable method of draining shall be provided to eliminate rapidly excess water or moisture.

* Aquatic animals shall have an adequate amount of clean water in which to move..”
http://www.co.orange.nc.us/animalservices/occruelty.asp

Considering that it is entirely possible, indeed easy, to tether a dog while meeting all of the stated requirements above, it is contradictory to define tethering in and of itself an act of cruelty punishable by law. Dogs tethered in a manor inconsistent with existing laws are already protected under said laws. We support the cruelty laws as they stand now and fully condone continued efforts to enforce them against those that choose not to comply. Those dog owners who keep their dogs responsibly on tethers, meeting all the requirements of the law, should not be penalized for the negligent actions of those who choose not to abide by the law.

Every “issue” broached in the proposed anti-tether legislation is already addressed by the current animal cruelty laws: adequate shelter, veterinary care, food and water, waste removal, etc. Anti-tether bills, such as this one are couched in emotional appeals, and personal anecdotes, rather than being based on factual evidence. Pictures of starving puppies on logging chains are used to sell a horror story, one not representative of the norm, to sympathetic dog lovers, the majority of which keep their dogs strictly inside as house dogs. It is entirely possible to tether a dog responsibly in a manner consistent with, and even above and beyond, all existing levels of mandatory care. Whether an outdoor dog lives in a kennel or on a tether, the obligation exists to keep the dog responsibly, which is contingent upon a combination of love, and common sense – neither of which can be created through legislation. “

After an unfortunate, but vague run in between a pit bull and a police officer, the town of Hope Mills, North Carolina is proposing to ban all “vicious dogs” from the city limits. So far as I can tell, the definition of vicious simply means that the dog is a Pit Bull, a Rottweiller, or a Doberman. One commissioner, by the name of Collins, went so far as to go on record saying,  “Through all my years of law enforcement, pits, Doberman and Rottweilers have been the most vicious …I’m concerned about the public safety and the citizens.”  Hope Mills’ Commissioner Maynor said, “I think we need to do whatever it takes…If it’s banning them within the city, then so be it.”

While there is no breed specific wording yet in the written legislation, NC residents would do well to take a proactive approach towards this situation.  The Legislative Liasions for the NC region will be sending a letter containing both the STCA’s position on BSL and some proposals to help Hope Mills better deal with the owners of dangerous dogs of any breed.

Hope Mills city officials can be reached as follows:

Mayor Eddie Dees
Mayor Pro Tempore Robert Gorman
Commissioner Tonzie Collins
Commissioner Eddie Maynor
Commissioner Doris Luther
Commissioner Jackie Warner

Town of Hope Mills
PO Box 367
5770 Rockfish Road
Hope Mills, NC 28348

Main Phone Number: 910-424-4555
Central Fax Number: 910-424-4902

Office Hours: 8 am to 5 pm Monday thru Friday