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

The Monthly National Legislation Reporthttp://mnlreport.typepad.com/Page 130 of 3307/5/2010WEST VIRGINIABerkeley Springs – (9/23/09) - More than 35 people crowded into the Morgan County Commission meeting trailer Thursday morning to hear what the commissioners had to say about a possible antichain/tetheringordinance for dogs in Morgan County. Commission President Brenda J. Hutchinson said Thursday’s meeting was not a public hearing on the matter and that more information is needed to draftan ordinance for the county. She said the commissioners should address the issue in a workshop with Morgan County Sheriff Vince Shambaugh and Morgan County Animal Control Officer Laura Klein. Brocksaid an anti-chain/tethering ordinance in Kanawha County, W.Va., that was passed in August had to define the state cruelty law relating to dogs, “and it needs to be defined here.” Commissioner Thomas R.Swaim said he did not see the need for an ordinance because the West Virginia law covers cruelty to animals. After much discussion, Dugan and Swaim agreed that a workshop would be helpful to determinewhat the problem is in enforcing the current law before going forward with a second workshop to draft an ordinance. Shambaugh, Klein and Morgan County Prosecuting Attorney Debra MH McLaughlin willbe part of the workshop on Oct. 22 at 1:30 p.m. at the commission meeting trailer, Swaim said. He said a state police officer, game warden and conservation officer also will be asked to attend.South Charleston – (9/5/09) -South Charleston City Council introduced an ordinance Thursday night regarding the regulation of dangerous dogs in city limits. According to Mayor Frank Mullens, the ordinance has been awork in progress since the beginning of his term and will let city residents know where dangerous dogs live and who own them. The ordinance includes strict guidelines for owners of pit bulls, Rottweilers and Presa Canarios, andheavy fines if owners do not comply. If passed, the ordinance will require all dog owners of these breeds to obtain a permit from the city. The city, in turn, will issue a red tag that must be worn on the dog's collar to identify it as adangerous dog. Failure to register a pit bull, Rottweiler, or Presa Canario can result in a fine of $500 for every day the owner does not comply with the ordinance. In addition to the red tags, dogs classified as dangerous in theordinance must be kept in an enclosure. When taken out of the enclosure, the ordinance states that these dogs must wear a muzzle and be kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Owners of registered dangerous dogs will also berequired to post a sign with the words "Beware of Dog," obtain $100,000 worth of liability insurance, and pay to have a microchip implanted into the dog by a veterinarian. If the ordinance is passed, owners of the dogs listed willhave 60 days to obtain their permit from the city or risk paying fines. Any person wishing to buy a dog of the types listed must obtain the permit before purchasing the dog. The ordinance passed the first reading, and is set for asecond reading and public hearing at the next council meeting on September 17. UPDATE – (9/18/09) - The breed-specific language was dropped from the proposed dangerous dog ordinance for SouthCharleston. The video of the city council meeting is extremely interesting to watch. It seems that the public did an excellent job educating the council. Council cited several interactions with the public whichwere enlightening. Click here to watch the video. (Click on September 17 Video, then choose Agenda Item 6a.)WISCONSIN(9/21/09) - Wisconsin currently has no set laws on dog breeding, but a bill heading through the State Senate is looking to change that, and potentially bring an end to puppy mills throughout the state. Clickhere to read Rep. Jeff Smith’s testimony re: Dog Breeders Licensure BillClick here to read Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 to 2009 Assembly Bill 250 (pdf)Oshkosh – (9/27/09) - City officials appear ready to ask voters to cast their ballot on whether to allow dogs in some city parks. Residents have already started the process themselves. A citizen petition withalmost 100 signatures on it asked that leashed dogs be allowed in South Park. But Oshkosh Common Council member Tony Palmeri and Oshkosh City Manager Mark Rohloff both said they favor asking voterswhether the city should work on a policy to allow dogs in some city parks. Oshkosh would join only the city of Neenah in allowing leashed dogs in parks. Menasha allows dogs on the Friendship Trail only,while Appleton and Fond du Lac do not allow dogs in any parks. Parks Board member Terry Wohler said he supports the idea, adding Sturm is on the right track in starting the discussion early. "I think weshould talk it over before we go to a referendum. People need to have some awareness of it," Wohler said. "We're just an advisory board, but if the citizens want something, they can come to us at any time."Wood County – (9/22/09) - Currently, the State of Wisconsin has no set laws on dog breeding, leaving regulation up to local municipalities. But the Commercial Dog Breeders Licensure Bill that's headingthrough the State Senate looks to change that, and if passed into law, local humane society officials feel the bill would go a long way in ensuring ethical treatment of dogs. "(Dog breeders) will be inspected atleast once a year at the beginning, and then every other year as it goes on for the conditions that the dogs are kept in, that they have adequate food, water, shelter, the conditions are good for them, they're able toget exercise and get out," says Philip Hartley, Executive Director of the South Wood County Humane Society. The bill would apply to anyone who shelters, sells, or breeds 25 or more dogs a year. But whileproviding a uniform set of rules for the state would be an important step, Hartley says the power to shut down puppy mills in Wisconsin, which breed hundreds of dogs a year with little regard to their wellbeing,would be even more important. However, dog breeders who are taking good care of their animals would have nothing to fear if this law passes. Hartley says, "There's a lot of good ones out there, ifthey're doing their job right, and keeping the facility clean, and keeping the dogs good and healthy, and up to date on veterinarian records like we do here, they'll have no worries at all." And that's exactly whyHartley feels that Humane Societies throughout the state hope the Commercial Dog Breeders Licensure Bill will pass. The Wood County Board will decide whether or not to officially support the bill in ameeting Tuesday night.WYOMINGLusk – (9/3/09) - During the Lusk Town Council on Sept. 2 Mayor Pete Pier and the Town Council heard from town employee, James Santistevan, who is in charge of parks and cemetery. Santistevans askedthe council to consider making a town ordinance that dog owners are required to pick up their dog’s waste when walking their pets. According toSantistevan there has been a large amount of dog waste in all of the town parks and the cemetery. The largest amount of dog waste was cleaned up just afew days ago in Chamberlain park, which is located between the Ranger Apartment building and the Lusk Post Office. Director of Public Works, DenisPeterson did remark that he has seen some dog owners carrying Decker’s plastic bags and picking up their dog’s waste. After a brief discussion it wasdecided that an town ordinance would be written specifically for pet owners that they would be required to pick up their dog’s waste.NEWS IN OTHER COUNTRIES OF INTERESTAUSTRALIA(9/28/09) - Local Government Minister Desley Boyle has today launched a statewide education campaign at the Animal Welfare League of Queensland on the Gold Coast, using theopportunity to call on pet owners to be responsible. The education campaign involves posters, fact sheets, an advertisement in local papers and online resources to explain the AnimalManagement ( Cats and Dogs ) Act 2008 and the responsibilities that pet owners take on. Ms Boyle said councils in South East Queensland, Gladstone and the Central Highlands were thefirst to introduce the new pet laws which came into force in July this year, with a three-month grace period for registering cats for the first time ending this Thursday, October 1. “So thiscampaign is timely to complement what the councils are doing and to promote microchipping, desexing and registering your pets to ensure your loved animals make it home if they stray orget lost,” Ms Boyle.CANADANeguac – (9/30/09) - One of the primary concerns of any municipal council is the safety of the people they serve. To that end the council in the village of Neguac has taken the step of passing a bylaw that banspit bulls in their community. The law acknowledges there are several breeds referred to pit bulls and bans them all. The banning of the controversial dog type, which includes the Staffordshire bull terrier,American Staffordshire terrier and American pit bull terrier, has been a hot button issue in other places where it's been done. While this ban will rid Neguac of pit bulls, those who want an aggressive breed will