Dog Community

Louisville dog ordinance, support a veto

mrv

Posted : 12/30/2006 4:48:45 PM

The Louisville City Council has passed one of the most restrictive and devasting legislation to the dog owning public. Intact animals regardless of purpose are at risk for removal from their owners if there is an accident or a complaint.    This would include any animal traveling through the area and picked up by the authorities following an auto accident.  The animals would be neutered no exceptions.

The mayor does have the option of vetoing. Please consider the following message and contacting the mayor with your support of a veto. I have written to the mayor and the chamber of commerce indicating that I will no longer attend events nor travel to or through Louisville while such an ordiance is in place.

Here are some other suggestions.   should you wish for more information about the law, here is a link [linkhttp://www.louisville-pets.com/legislation.html]http://www.louisville-pets.com/legislation.html[/link]

This is from the St. Louis Canine list.

Linda

Please feel free to cross post my message in it's entirety. The Louisville people need to know we are all upset about this proposed law. If your national breed club is considering using the Louisville area for a national, let them know you will recommend changing to another city that is dog friendly.

Just so you all know, I asked Kathy what would happen if I and my dogs were involved in a car accident in Louisville and the dogs escaped their crates as a result. I asked her if they would all have to be spayed or neutered before they were returned to me. She said that yes they would, there are no exceptions! If this doesn't scare all of you I don't know whatcould.
Michele Kasten
***************************************************************************

: "Michele Kasten" wrote,
> Hello all,
>
>   I just got off the phone with Kathy, secretary to Mayor Abramson in Louisville. She is taking statements from all concerned about the proposed animal ordinance. It is VITAL that you each take the time to voice your opinions on this issue. She has been instructed to take notes of all calls and the mayor is also reading emails. He is set to either sign or veto this ordinance next week. Please make your opinion known to them. His office
number is 502-574-2003.
>
>   I told Kathy that I thought there were much fairer ways to implement this kind of law that did not unfairly target the already law-abiding citizens. I spoke about the possibility of turning neighbor against neighbor and the waste of time for their animal control officers that would now have to respond to every minor tussle with folks perception of their neighbors' dog being vicious or annoying. I mentioned that the trend on the many internet lists I belong to was to not only boycott Louisville but to not even drive through the state. She seemed genuinely upset about that but
I told her that most of us would not feel safe driving through there with our dogs.
>   I also spoke of the economic impact to the city and that I had attended the Louisville shows for the past 18-20 years. I gave her a brief biography so that she knew that I was more than a pet owner, dogs are my life. I also mentioned my work background, which is in the security business for those of you who do not know. I have first hand knowledge of how criminals regard
laws and how they avoid them. I told Kathy that the dog community was opting to try and do more education so that the next generation would have the knowledge to be responsible dog owners.
>
>   In addition, I mentioned the fact that many are of the opinion that the mayor and others on the council have benefited from donations from animal rights' groups such as PETA and I informed her that these organizations rely on politicians following the money rather than writing and passing fair laws. Kathy told me that of all the politicians that she knows, the mayor is more of a straight arrow and not easily swayed. I do hope she is
correct.
>
>   I left her with the idea that if the mayor veto's this ordinance that there would be many who would help with amendments so that the law was fair to all and targeted the people they intended.
>
>   Make your call today, this is the most important battle we've had so far

> Michele Kasten
>   Schipperke Club of Greater St. Louis Rescue Chair
> Midwest Schipperke Rescue
>     [linkhttp://www.midwestschipperkerescue.petfinder.com]www.midwestschipperkerescue.petfinder.com[/link]
>   [linkhttp://www.schipperkeclub-usa.org]www.schipperkeclub-usa.org[/link]
>   Victoria Schipperkes
>    618-632-1567

RidgebackGermansShep

Posted : 12/30/2006 6:41:29 PM

This is crap. Living only 30-45 minutes away from Louisville, this is very scary for me. My aunt, who owns a 3 year old female pitbull lives in louisville. Over christmas, we were talking about the new law. She is outraged. It's absolutley unfair that whenever she takes her dog out in public, who is very friendly, she has to muzzle her. I also hate how they say, "pit bull type dogs" and include dogues, cane corsos, etc under that list. They are nothing alike. My aunt also said she thought the ordinance was against rotts, dobes, chows, and GSDs, although i saw nothing about it in the link...BSL is absolutley the most ridiculous thing i've ever seen.

mrv

Posted : 12/30/2006 6:52:19 PM

It also limits you to three pets. If your intact in season bitch comes in contact with any other pet (neutered or unneutered) she can be at risk for immediate surrender. So if you are traveling through Louisville for a dog show, or a breeding or whatever, you stay in a hotel and exercise her on a leash longer than 4 foot. one complaint, and your dog can be seized and altered, not to mention your very hefty fine.

If your dog would get loose at a dog show,,,, if someone complains about your dogs,,,, they can be seized. If intact, they wont be when they are returned. Understand, I spay and neuter my dogs AFTER they have finished their championships. I loved coming to Louisville for the March Cluster. Wont be back again.

RidgebackGermansShep

Posted : 12/30/2006 6:56:21 PM

The guy that i got Wyatt from lives in Lousiville, and has 1 intact male ridgeback, and a few intact females, along with a little corgi (who's probably been fixed). I'm going to have to call him...i bet he's moving! I sure as heck would.

Michelle

Posted : 12/30/2006 7:04:19 PM

So what is this going to do to breeders in the area? Both legit and BYB?

RidgebackGermansShep

Posted : 12/30/2006 7:18:28 PM

SURELY they can't do anything to a legit breeder! The only real breeder that i know of in Louisville is Royalton ridgebacks, but i'm sure there are more. I am really itchin' to find out what happens!

mrv

Posted : 12/30/2006 7:20:51 PM

Breeders are limited to three animals...and must pay higher licensing fees for unaltered dogs.... Have to admit that is the one part of the ordinance that I have the least trouble with.

One animal sold per year results in a 300.00 license.

spiritdogs

Posted : 12/31/2006 4:19:08 PM

Personally, I would not even drive through Louisville for any reason now, neve mind stop there, regardless of the fact that my dogs might be spayed and neutered. Laws like this just hurt the dog fancy, do nothing to stop the thugs who don't really give a rat's toot if their dogs are picked up (since they are expendable anyway or the people wouldn't be so irresponsible about them in the first place). I would urge people not to stay there, visit there, or even fill the tank up there until something changes that promotes responsible ownership without targeting innocent people and their dogs. Lately, I think you need an atlas to travel the country with a dog that tells you which places are safe to traverse. Glad I'm not a trucker any more - there'd be a whole lot fewer places to get freight. [:'(]