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

The Monthly National Legislation Reporthttp://mnlreport.typepad.com/Page 220 of 3307/5/2010attended the control board's meeting Wednesday night. Most said they opposed plans to impose fees on people who own more than six pets, not counting fish, over 6 months old, or exoticpets such as large snakes.In the former case, the permit fee would be $50; in the later, $75, or a total of $125 if there were more than six qualifying animals. Board members defended the proposed regulations, whichalso would cover colonies of feral cats, making anyone who feeds the animals their manager. Chairman Barrie Pease said limiting animal ownership will allow the police or animal controlofficers to take action when there is a problem and more than six animals are found. But they also said many details are still to be worked out.RHODE ISLANDNo Report for Rhode Island.SOUTH CAROLINANo Report for South Carolina.SOUTH DAKOTAMobridge - (5/27/09) - Thanks Jo for the information below.I received a note from a concerned citizen in Mobridge, South Dakota. Police Chief Mike Nehls advised the city council that they were experiencing an upward trend in vicious dog calls, andhe wants to change the city's vicious dog ordinance. He told the council that he has been researching the matter and that many communities have outlawed certain breeds. He went on toadvise that he wants to draft an ordinance that would require owners of certain breeds to carry a high insurance liability and toinstall fencing that meets ordinance standards. Chief Nehls went on to say that there are more and more pit bulls being brought into the city and that pit bulls have a disposition for aggressivebehavior.Please send your POLITE AND RESPECTFUL opposition to breed specificlegislation to the Mobridge city officials listed below. Please alsosend viable alternatives and other suggestions for their consideration, aswell. E-mail contact is only available for one official, however, a faxnumber for the city clerk is listed below.City of MobridgeCity Hall114 1st Ave EMobridge, SD 57601-2604(605) 845-3555(605) 845-3521FAX: 605-845-3309steveg@westriv.comThe next council meeting is Monday, June 1, 2009. A Mobridge resident istrying to raise public awareness on the police chief's proposal, and wouldlike to get as much attendance at the next council meeting as possible. Ifyou are able to attend the meeting this Monday, June 1, please drop me aline at rescue@blessthebullys.com, and I will put you in touch with him.TENNESSEESB258/HB386 - Commercial Breeder Act - TN Commercial breeder bills SB258 sponsored by Senator Doug Jackson (D-District 25) and SB386 sponsored by Rep. Janis Sontany will licenseanyone owning or possessing 20 or more females. Regulation and inspection will be done by the TN Department of Health which is not adequately set up for this task. USDA commercialkennel standards will be enacted.(Please visit the link for further information, contacts and talking points !) Thanks to SAOVA for the update and information !Dyersburg - (5/2/09) - The city of Dyersburg has begun a public-awareness campaign to educate residents on its vicious-dog ordinance. The ordinance is currently posted on the city's Website at http://www.dyersburgtn.gov, with a series of public-safety announcements relating to the ordinance in the newspaper beginning in the State Gazette today. Information related to theordinance will also appear on cable channel 4. To kick off the campaign, Dyersburg Mayor John Holden provided answers to frequently asked questions concerning vicious dogs within theDyersburg city limits.Jackson - (5/30/09) - (NOTE: This article is 3 pages long. Please go to the link to read it in its entirety) - An animal control plan the Jackson City Council is expected to consider in Julyhas prompted concerns about the fairness of stricter pet ownership rules and whether the city will be able to enforce them. The proposals would limit the number of adult dogs and catsJackson residents can own to six unless they pay for a permit. Residents also would have to obtain a permit if they did not have their animals spayed or neutered. The proposal would setstandards for how to contain pets and create an animal advisory board that could help refer residents to groups that can offer more affordable spaying and neutering. The rules were draftedby the Jackson Safe Neighborhoods Task Force, which has crafted much of the city's crime policy over the past two years. The City Council would set the price of the animal permits describedin the proposals, but no official cost recommendations have been made, said Kathleen Huneycutt, Jackson health and sanitation director. Some have suggested making the breeding permitcostlier than the average price of spaying and neutering. Spaying usually costs between $110 and $170 for cats and $130 to $200 for dogs, according to a survey of five local veterinarians'rates this week. Neutering costs between $75 and $115 for cats and $125 and $190 for dogs.TEXASHB2310 - (5/31/09) - The amendment to HB 2310 which would have heavily regulated Texas dog and cat breeders has been removed from the bill. It's now official onthe state's website. Just click on the link !Austin - (5/27/09) - (AG) - The federal government has proposed a program to identify and track farm animals, and the move has some local ranchers and farmers unhappy. At a U.S.Department of Agriculture hearing Wednesday, more than 100 farmers and ranchers voiced their concerns, many telling the government to butt out.Fort Worth - holding a series of public meetings for ideas and concepts from the public regarding changes to their animal ordinance. It appears that city officials want to join the ranks ofother anti-pet cities in Texas: San Antonio, Dallas, El Paso and Plano. Considerations are ordinance changes for Dangerous Dogs (before they do anything), Kennel Size, Mandatory