Proposed BSL in Little Rock, AR

I didn't see this post until just now. I would have loved to be at that meeting. How can I find out what was said?
 
This whole idea is beyond ridiculous. I'm down at the shelter every week taking pictures and I don't know how they can plan to ban a dog they can't identify. So many dogs labled as pits or pit mixes are iffy at best, and there are quite a few that I'd bet money don't have a bit of put in them at all.

You are 200% correct. They mislabel SO many dogs as pit mixes.
 
They are having a meeting June 12th @ 7 at the Adult Leisure Center at 6401 W 12th St here in LR.
 
Please, please attend!!! And encourage anyone you know who has a well behaved pittie to attend as well. Or just anyone who cares about animals. I have made a couple connections so far and am hoping we can do something...
 
The one lady helped try to fight the NLR ban....She said that they are probably set on banning SOMETHING but we might be able to get Am Staffs and pit mixes excluded. Very sad indeed.

i just saw this, and thanks for posting.
 
since i see your fear that they are intent on banning SOMETHING, might i suggest that you offer a "mandatory spay and neuter" proposal as an alternative?
 
i know, i know, we don't all agree with that, and that's fine, but my thinking is that you need to fight fire with fire, and such an alternative is certainly inflammatory.
 
i think government people are most impacted when an alternative to help manage the problem is presented, and not just a flat-footed denial that there IS a problem.
 
anyway, thanks for posting!  really!  if i was closer, i would be there with ROSIE!  how could you ban a face like that??[]

I agree with Badrap.  Propose a different option.  I'd also be there with Dipstick if I lived nearer.  How can you say no to a pitty smile?

How can they exclude AmStaffs and mixes? Would you have to show papers to prove you had a purebred APBT before they could take it?
 
I've marked my calendar and I'll definitely be there on the 12th. I could get behind the idea to propose a different law, but I'm not really in favor of a mandatory spay/neuter either. Why can't they just make laws that directly attack irresponsible dog owners? Was it Texas that passed a law making a dog attack a felony? I'm all for that.
 
Realistically though, they can't enforce the laws we have and they should really work on that before they start trying to pass any new ones.

Becca-there are actually 2 meetings. One on June 6th @ 6:30 and the other on June 12th @7.

We plan on seeing what we are up against before we even think about  making any sort of "deals".

Trying to find a lawyer now, so if you all know of any please send them my way.

It depends on how the law is written about pit mixes & Am staffs. We shall see. Wish us luck...

Trying to get as many good pitties there as possible and as many well spoken, well dressed, polite pittie people as well.
 
Just saw your comment too about the laws and that is what i was thinking on my way home..Why dont they work on improving LRAS to where so many dogs dont die of disease and they dont have to euthanize the massive numbers they do before even thinking about proposing a ban?? THey have a law too that it is illegal to chain but that is pretty much a joke because no one will enforce it. They also have a law about people having to have breeding permits to breed, but um...I was told that "wasnt in their juristiction" that it belonged to the agri department or something. Now THAT would defininantly help the city, if they would enforce those two laws.
 
They want to pass this law because "everyone else is" which is stupid and unfair.

DO tell your people to dress in a businesslike way!!!!  The media will look for the ones with the cleavage and the tattoos, trust me.  They go LOOKING for your average image of a bad Pittie owner.  Don't let it happen - make everyone stay calm, too.
If you  Google on "find the pit bull" you will see that little gem - it can help you prove that Pits are harder to identify than people think.  One group here actually blew each photo up and put them all on an easel.
Tell them that Dr. Nick Dodman, a nationally known behavior expert from Tufts U. in Mass. testified at a hearing recently that he did not think a ban on Pits was a good idea.

If they really want something, ask them to consider mandatory training class diploma or CGC to save the dogs already owned within the city.  Tell them that experts say the best course is to put some teeth in the leash laws, and enforce them.  How many times do you hear of a leashed dog attacking?

Also, highlight that there are less than 15 fatalities per year in the US caused by dogs, and that we don't know how many are Pits, since, again, it's hard to identify them accurately.  Any dog with rose ears and a big chest is a Pit to some people, and to others, any dog that bites must be a Pit - heck, I've been asked if my HOUND is a Pit, probably because he's red and big.
Get ADOA to help you.  One of their members might be willing to email you a photo of her AmStaff therapy dog.  But, if you have Pits and Rotts, etc. doing therapy work in your area, bring them in ID capes.  If you have anyone with a Pit Search Dog, get him to come. 
Jason Mann has a collection of Pit-positive articles. http://www.pitbulllovers.com/

Excellent advice Spiritdogs.
 
Dressing businesslike may seem ridiculous, but believe me, it will make a difference in how the media will protray you. Staying calm is also incredibly important, if thats one thing the media and politicians are good at doing, its staying calm over controversial issues, or rather exploiting the fear of passionate dog owners who love their dogs.
 
Try to come up with an attention grabbing/newspaper selling alternative, since isnt that what they are really after? Heck, Im all for charging the owners of dogs who attack with felonies. Make the dog equal to a gun or knife, since essentially they can be weapons.

Any tips on finding a lawyer? I have asked a whole bunch in LR but all of them told me no..
 
It would greatly help to have a lawyer..........
 
If need be, I can do the work myself finding cases that prove the law unconstituional but I am sure it would do better for our cause if a lawyer presented it...

i would check at local rescues and humane societies to see if they have any lawyers that help them out from time to time. i would assume if lawyers help out from time to time at shelters then they would be anti bsl legislation.
 
otherwise i would spend some time just calling lawyers and seeing if any would be interested in this type of work.

Here is some info I found on BSL that proves it unconstitutional.
 
[linkhttp://www.nopitbullbans.com/?page_id=34]http://www.nopitbullbans.com/?page_id=34[/link]
 
Here is also a link where the state of Ohio declared it unconstitutional
 
[linkhttp://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=2816]http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=2816[/link]
 
I plan on being at the public hearing tonight! 
 
Stephanie