[debo-dumbo-ears]

ok, so enough writing about it in other threads - I want to know what I can do. My city (Everett WA) has BSL in place (I found out last week). This is an excerpt from the municipal code website:
http://search.mrsc.org/nxt/gateway.d...icodes:Everett
6.08.010 Definitions.
B. “Potentially dangerous dog” means:
3. Any dog known by the owner to be a pit bull terrier, which shall be defined in this chapter as any American Pit Bull Terrier or Staffordshire Bull Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier breed of dog or any mixed breed of dog which contains as an element of its breeding the breed of American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier as to be identifiable as partially of the breed of American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier.

6.08.035
G. 1. Dogs shall not be declared potentially dangerous or dangerous by the hearing examiner if a threat, injury, or damage sustained by a person forms the probable cause to believe the dog is potentially dangerous or dangerous, and the threat, injury, or damage was sustained by a person who, at the time, was committing a wilful trespass or other tort upon the premises occupied by the owner of the dog, or was tormenting, abusing, or assaulting the dog or has, in the past, been observed or reported to have tormented, abused, or assaulted the dog, or was committing or attempting to commit a crime.
3. Subsection (G)(1) of this section shall not apply if the dog is believed to be a potentially dangerous dog pursuant to Section 6.08.010(B)(3) (which is above)

Basically that second section says that if someone's golden retriever attacks an intruder in their home, it's a hero, but if my APBT attacks the same intruder in my home, then it's a dangerous dog!!!

So, how do I find out who to complain to? Who is the right lawmaker to approach? Does anyone know of any efforts already being made in this area to fight this law?

I take issue w/ the breed specific language & I take even more issue w/ the 2nd part I listed. I have no problem whatsoever w/ a dangerous dog law being in effect as long as it is not breed specific.

[Noelle's Mom]

Write letters to every counsel person, congressman, etc.. that you can think of. Get your friends and family to do the same. Do your research (if you haven't already) on the temperment tests (atts.org), hero APBTs, and show as much proof of the true behaviour of these dogs as you can find.

[sbpeed18]

i can e-mail you a lot of good research if you would like.

[sbpeed18]

i am a little confused about the wording. does this mean that pit bulls are banned? or it's on a case by case basis?

[debo-dumbo-ears]

What kind of research do you have?

Pit bulls are not banned, but they are automatically deemed a dangerous dog. All dangerous dogs must muzzled in public, kept indoors or in a outdoor kennel, signs posted. You must have dangerous dog insurance, have the dog registered w/ the city for $100 instead of the standard $35. The long definition of a dangerous dog is below, but it's basically a HA dog or one that kills animals. The official definitions:

6.08.010 Definitions.
B. “Potentially dangerous dog” means:
1. Any dog that when unprovoked chases or approaches a person upon the streets, sidewalks, or any public grounds in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack, or any dog with a known propensity, tendency, or disposition to attack unprovoked, to cause injury, or to cause injury or otherwise to threaten the safety of humans or domestic animals; or
2. Any dog that when unprovoked inflicts bites on a human or a domestic animal either on public or private property; or
3. Any dog known by the owner to be a pit bull terrier, which shall be defined in this chapter as any American Pit Bull Terrier or Staffordshire Bull Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier breed of dog or any mixed breed of dog which contains as an element of its breeding the breed of American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier as to be identifiable as partially of the breed of American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier.
C. “Dangerous dog” means any dog that (1) inflicts severe injury on a human being without provocation on public or private property, (2) kills a domestic animal without provocation while the dog is off the owner’s property, or (3) has been previously found to be potentially dangerous because of injury inflicted on a human, the owner having received notice of such, and the dog again aggressively bites, attacks, or endangers the safety of humans or domestic animals.

[debo-dumbo-ears]

I just had an idea for a start! Purple just posted a story
http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthread.php?t=2178 printed in my local paper about a lady w/ a (good) pit bull who lives in a nearby city. The columnist's & the city editor's e-mails are listed right in the article. I could write them & point out that the city that the paper is named for has BSL & why it's wrong, etc. But is that enough? What else do I say? It would be good if I could say that I'm taking action somehow, but I'm not there yet! Ideas?

[sbpeed18]

let me get back to you tomorrow on this. i will find some sample letters and get you some research!

[Michele]

Originally Posted by debo-dumbo-ears I just had an idea for a start! Purple just posted a story http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthread.php?t=2178 printed in my local paper about a lady w/ a (good) pit bull who lives in a nearby city. The columnist's & the city editor's e-mails are listed right in the article. I could write them & point out that the city that the paper is named for has BSL & why it's wrong, etc. But is that enough? What else do I say? It would be good if I could say that I'm taking action somehow, but I'm not there yet! Ideas?

If you write the letter to the editor send a copy of your letter and the article to your town's politicians. It's a start