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Pit Bull Adoption Policy Advances
By Samantha Bartram

The county moved closer to creating a pit bull adoption policy last night, but the Animal Advisory Committee and the Animal Care and Control staff remain at odds over one provision.

They have been working for much of the year to develop new rules that would permit the animal shelter staff to offer pit bulls for adoption to county residents. Currently, unclaimed pit bulls are euthanized or, in rare occasions, transferred to other shelters or rescue groups. The policy is under challenge in Loudoun County Circuit Court.

During last night's AAC meeting, the Animal Care and Control Director Tom Koenig presented a draft policy that who permit the adoption of "high risk" dogs that pass temperament tests. However, a small portion of a clause seeking to prevent adoption of dogs by those who would abuse them--for dog fighting purposes, for example--is opposed by members of the ACC.

That part of the policy reads: "Due to their potential for misuse, dogs at high risk for abuse from those who may use them for illegal purposes such as dog fighting, including Pit Bulls ... Cane Corsos, Dogo Argentinos, Presa Canarios, Tosas, American Bulldog, and other similar fighting/guarding breeds, as well as any mixes thereof, will require special adoption criteria."

Yvette Denny, the Potomac District representative, said she fears the phrase "and other similar fighting/guarding breeds" would allow a shelter employee to deny adoption to any dog he or she deems unsafe or aggressive. Paul Dodaro, (Sterling), also was concerned about the "open-ended" statement and pointed out the shelter already has policies in place to identify high-risk dogs, assess them and place them with the appropriate adopter. He said the shelter had no use for the clause and that the committee was prepared to accept the new adoption policy with the exception of that condition.

Committee Chairman Mary Harper (Leesburg) said she was concerned about enumerating specific breeds in the policy, but would support it if the portion of the "misuse" clause were deleted.

Koenig would not agree to delete the clause. He said the proposal was indented to address concerns expressed by many different interests in the debate.

"This document must be managed and identifying the breeds is one way for us to be open about the proven nature of these types of dogs," Koenig said.

After continued debate, Koenig ultimately acquiescing to the committee, saying he would take "under advisement" the request to remove the clause.

The board of supervisors' Public Safety Committee is scheduled to take up the issue during its meeting Monday, Nov. 26.

The revised policy would allow for the adoption of high-risk breeds, provided the dogs pass a temperament test. The dogs are assigned a sociability level from 1-5, with one representing "easy" and five "high-risk." Dogs that fall within the latter category may only be adopted by those who meet all adopter criteria set forth by the shelter pertaining to the high-risk breeds, or deemed unadoptable. Committee members continue to object to the temperament tests conducted by the shelter, but did not discuss the matter at length last night.

Ron Litz of Sterling and Animal Rescue of Tidewater, a rescue league located in Norfolk, filed the lawsuit challenging the shelter's current prohibition on adopting pit bulls. They allege the shelter unfairly discriminates against certain dogs based solely on their breed, which violates state law.

http://www.leesburg2day.com/articles...dopt111507.txt