Page 1 of 330 The Monthly National Legislation Report 7/5/2010 ...

The Monthly National Legislation Reporthttp://mnlreport.typepad.com/Page 121 of 3307/5/2010and a resident of the San Joaquin Valley, an air basin in California with more than 2.6 million dairy cows. "President Obama promised us during the election that he wouldprotect rural residents from this pollution and we expect EPA to keep that promise." CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE.ALABAMADeKalb County – (9/9/09) - The towns of Sylvania and Crossville both now have official dog nuisance laws. The Sylvania Town Council voted 4-2 Tuesday in favor of the law, which Mayor MitchDendy insists it is not a leash law.Muscle Shoals – (9/28/09) - Muscle Shoals officials are considering a vicious dog ordinance similar to the ones adopted earlier this year in neighboring cities Sheffield and Tuscumbia.The issue was discussed during Monday's work session, and City Attorney Marcel Black has been asked to develop the ordinance, which could pass as early as the next meeting, Oct. 5.Councilman Joe Pampinto called it a "public safety issue." Once the ordinance is adopted, it will be up to officials in Muscle Shoals to determine when it will become effective. When it does,Price said offending dog owners will be charged with getting a kennel to contain the animal, which would be inspected by his office.ALASKAJuneau – (9/30/09) - Some local dog owners are worried proposed changes to Juneau's animal control ordinance could result in more restrictions and more fines for dog owners. Gastineau Humane SocietyExecutive Director Chava Lee said the intent of any change to the animal control code is clarification. The city contracts the Humane Society for animal control. One of the most contentious proposed changesto what is for many an emotional issue is defining "competent voice control" for dogs not on leashes. A Juneau Assembly subcommittee was slated to discuss the definition of the term today, but the meetingwas canceled for lack of a quorum. Assembly member Bob Doll, one of two subcommittee members, couldn't be reached by phone. The meeting was tentatively rescheduled for Friday afternoon.Some other changes to the ordinance are:• establishing fees for licensing service dogs;• including sexual contact with an animal as cruelty;• classifying sports fields without artificial turf as off-leash areas for exercise and dog training; and• referencing recently revised Parks and Recreation guidelines as to which areas require dogs be on leashes.George Utermohle, president of the Grateful Dogs of Juneau, has also been active during the past few months in helping to change some of the revisions, such as specifying that animals cannot jump on peopleunless invited. Assembly member Jonathan Anderson, the subcommittee's other member, said what he would like enforced is the aspect of animal control pertaining to dangerous animals.ARIZONADouglas – (9/17/09) - The Douglas City Council is making a second attempt at approving a dog ordinance that will meet the needs of the public but not penalize them. The new ordinance does not seek to penalize all dog owners,only those that do not care for the animals. The new ordinance wipes out the two-dog limit and the definition of kennel. It requires a secure enclosure for the animals in one’s care. A “secure enclosure” means that it has to be asufficient size to provide the animal with appropriate exercise space and shall be constructed in a manner to minimize injury. It also must be constructed of mansonry, chain link or other fabricated metal. The material must be strongenough to prevent the animal’s escape, and shall include a cover for the animal. Also dogs cannot be permanently tied up or restrained by a rope or chain. It is unlawfiul for any person owning or having custody of any dog to fail,refuse or neglect to provide such dog with adequate food, potable water and shade or reasonable shelter. It is also unlawful for any person to maintain a dog or cat in such a manner that constitutes a public nuisance. The newordinance also increases the fines for those that do not care for their animals. The fine for the first offense has increase from $40 to a minimum of $65 or more to $100, plus restitution.Kingman – (9/25/09) - Kingman Animal Control is reminding pet owners to make sure their dogs and cats are spayed or neutered. A new Arizona State Statute takes effect on Sept. 30 and states that owners will have to paya $50 fee on top of any normal fee to recover their pets from Animal Control shelters if the animal is not spayed or neutered. Pet owners will also have to pay for a license if the animal does not have one and may have to pay for eachday a pet is kept at a shelter. For more information, call Kingman Animal Control at (928) 753-2727.Phoenix – (9/29/09) - With the Arizona Legislature's long-running struggle to adopt a balanced budget the governor would sign this year, it might be hard to remember that it passed a raft ofnew laws too, most of which take effect Wednesday. Gov. Jan Brewer signed 190 bills into law this year and allowed one more to take effect without her signature. The changes will affect how Arizonaregulates guns, religious viewpoints at schools, stray pets, abortion and a host of other issues. They include:GUN LAWS• Anyone with a state-issued permit to carry a concealed weapon will be able to bring it into a bar or restaurant where beer, wine or liquor is sold. It will be up to business owners to post a "no weapons" sign ifthey don't want their patrons to be armed. Anyone who is armed is not permitted to drink. Bill Weigele, president of the Arizona Licensed Beverage Association, said it's not yet clear to him how many placeswill seek to continue to keep out customers who are armed.• People can bring their weapons into parking lots and garages as long as they leave them in their vehicles. That includes parking lots at public colleges and universities.• Anyone who feels threatened can "display" a gun without being charged with intimidation.STRAY ANIMALS• If a dog or cat is not licensed when it's picked up by officials, it must be spayed or neutered at the owner's expense. An owner can get around that by showing the surgery would be "medically contraindicated"or by paying a $50 fee on top of any other charges.ARKANSASSalem –(9/9/09) - City Council met on Sept. 3 to discuss a new city ordinance (BSL) banning vicious dogs. The council agreed that pit bulls, mixed pit bull breeds and Rottweiler's would be included in the new ordinance. Cityattorney, Duane Plumlee was attending the meeting, and expressed the point that existing dogs would need to be grandfathered into any ordinance the city enacts; however, he stated that certain restrictions could be put into placemaking it very difficult for current owners to be compliant, such as posting signs, neutering the animals, having their vaccinations up to date and more.CALIFORNIABakersfield – (9/17/09) - County leaders will consider an ordinance later this month aimed at reducing the number of stray animals. The Kern County Animal Control Commission met Wednesday night todiscuss an ordinance that would require breeders and sanctuaries with at least 10 dogs and cats to obtain a permit and submit to inspections by animal control. Not everyone is supportive of the proposedordinance. The Kern County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote on the ordinance Sept. 29.Sacramento - SB250 - (9/8/09) – A bill requiring all dogs and cats to be spayed or neutered by 6 months of age has failed…again. Senate Bill 250 was introduced in February to reprise a similar bill that was