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Montreal Imposes BSL

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It’s been a sad week in the pit bull/bully breed community. On Tuesday, September 27, legislators in a council meeting voted 37-23 in favor of imposing breed-specific legislation in Montreal, Québec, Canada. The law will effectively outlaw any dog that resembles a pit bull – unless owners comply with a strict set of regulations. Perhaps the most heartbreaking part of the new law is that pit bull-type dogs that are currently in city shelters cannot be adopted. They must be euthanized. According to The Dodo, the Montreal SPCA takes about 2,000 dogs into the city shelters it runs every year. About a third of those dogs meet the city’s standard as pit bulls.

For people who already own pit bull-type dogs, the new law allows them until March to undergo a criminal background check and pay $150 for a special permit. They must also have their dog neutered/spayed, vaccinated, and microchipped. Dogs also must be muzzled and on a 4-foot leash at all times in public. For those who cannot or do not follow these rules, their dogs are subject to seizure and euthanasia.

montreal imposes bsl Even further, the bylaw also creates two categories of dogs of all breeds: at-risk and dangerous. At-risk dogs are those that exhibit aggressive behaviour, such as biting. Dangerous dogs are those that have killed someone or are deemed dangerous by an expert. If a dog is “deemed dangerous,” he/she will also be subject to seizure and euthanasia.

The controversial legislation was proposed after a series of dog attacks in the city. One of those attacks lead to the death of a woman in her yard, but it is still unclear if the dog that killed her was even a pit bull at all.

The new law is definitely not supported by everyone, however. The ban has sparked protests throughout Canada and around the world. Rescue groups are working tirelessly to move pit bull-type dogs into other provinces that don’t enforce BSL before the law goes into effect on October 3.

While this news is discouraging for our pit bull-loving community, the fight is not over. Here are a few things you can do to take action:

  1. Sign a petition – here and here.
  2. Write to city officials (especially Mayor Denis Coderre). Here is a list of elected officials you can email:
    mbarbe@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    dimitrios.beis@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    frantz.benjamin@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    richardbergeron@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    michel.bissonnet@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    karine.boivin.roy@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    eric.alan.caldwell@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    richard.celzi@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    harout.chitilian@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    mariecinq-mars@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    jfcloutier@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    catherineclementtalbot@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    russell.copeman@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    francois.croteau@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    cdauphin@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    adesousa@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    mderos@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    richarddeschamps@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    p.desrochers@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    elus.sudouest@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    sterling.downey@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    erika.duchesne@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    suzannedecarie@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    france.st-jean@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    marc-andre.gadoury@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    pierre.gagnier@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    manon.gauthier@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    jgibeau@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    richard.guay@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    ahenault@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    laurence.lavigne.lalonde@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    guillaume.lavoie@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    elsie.lefebvre@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    francois.limoges@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    louise.mainville@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    normand.marinacci@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    justine.mcintyre@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    peter.mcqueen@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    francesco.miele@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    lmiranda@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    real.menard@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    alex.norris@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    sylvain.ouellet@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    lorraine.page@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    jean-francois.parenteau@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    lionel.perez@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    dperri@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    valerie.plante@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    magda.popeanu@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    giovanni.rapana@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    chantal.rossi@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    mrotrand@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    chantal.rouleau@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    richard.ryan@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    aref.salem@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    asamson@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    craig.sauve@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    jeremy.searle@sympatico.ca
    steve.shanahan@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    anne-marie.sigouin@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    emilie.thuillier@ville.montreal.qc.ca
    monique.vallee@ville.montreal.qc.ca
  3. If you are interested in adopting a pit bull, consider doing so from the Montreal SPCA here.

It is okay to be angry about this news, but it is important to not act out in anger or violence. As pit bull and bully breed advocates, we must continue to fight for breed equality in a peaceful manner. It will take time, but our voices WILL be heard.

Wisconsin Ends BSL Law

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Earlier this year Wisconsin lawmakers moved forward in the national fight against breed-specific legislation (BSL) when Assembly Bill 487/ Senate Bill 450 was passed. The bill reduces the holding time for stray and seized animals in the state, and ends the required euthanasia of animal victims seized in dog fighting operations.

wisconsin ends BSL lawUnder the current law, “if the owner of an animal that is being held in custody (by a local governmental unit or other person, such as a humane society, on behalf of a local governmental unit) is convicted of a crime related to animal fighting and the animal is one year old or older or shows indication of having participated in fighting, the animal must be euthanized.” This law did not allow for any kind of behavioral analysis or rehabilitation for the animal in question; it was an immediate death sentence. Under Bill 487, however, “if an animal has been taken into custody because it is believed that the animal has been used in any crime against animals or that it constitutes evidence of a crime against animals, it must be retained in custody.” The bill also allows the local governmental unit or other person with custody of the animal in question to demand payment from the animal’s owner for the custody, care, and treatment of the animal every 14 days.

The passage of this bill is a victory for those who oppose BSL. Pit bulls who are rescued from illegal dog fighting rings in Wisconsin have now been given hope for rehabilitation and a future life full of happiness and love. While the passage of this bill is certainly cause for celebration, we must remember that we are still fighting a far larger war. A number of U.S. states still allow for breed discrimination. Let us use this small victory as motivation to continue the fight against injustice. No dog should be killed simply because of what he/she looks like or because a human decided to commit a crime against him/her.

How To Break Bully Breed Stereotypes

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Different dog breeds elicit different perceptions about them to the general public, both positive and negative. As pit bull and bully breed owners, we are sadly familiar with the overwhelmingly negative stereotypes surrounding our dogs. People often see bully breed dogs as “violent,” “unpredictable,” and “scary.” In addition to the negative stereotypes associated with these kinds of  dogs, there are also stereotypes surrounding the people who own them. Pit bull and bully breed owners can be seen as criminals, gang members, or even drug dealers.

There are many reasons why these stereotypes persist today, perhaps the most notable being selective interpretation, or confirmation bias. This is the process in which a person forms a theory bully breed stereotypesand then searches for things that prove their theory while ignoring things that are contradictory. For example, events that confirm the idea that pit bulls are vicious creatures are highly publicized by the media, while so many friendly, sweet pit bulls are ignored.

However, discrimination toward others also stems in part from unfamiliarity with bully breed dogs and their owners. It’s important to remember that people who are unfamiliar are reacting to the stereotype, not reality. Oftentimes, those who perpetuate negative stereotypes have never actually had a personal experience with a pit bull and are only going off of something they heard or saw on the news.

So, how do we break these stereotypes?

The most important thing we can do as pit bull and bully breed owners is to become breed ambassadors. This means doing everything we can to be responsible dog owners and separating ourselves from the stereotypical pit bull owner. Make sure your dog is well-trained and socialized. Take him/her places and be sure he is well-mannered and obedient. Make friends with your neighbors and be open to starting conversations about your dog. Educate yourself. Learn and follow laws, and be active in your local government. If someone makes a rude or negative comment, don’t get defensive. Instead, speak with maturity and wisdom and use these opportunities to help others understand the true nature of your dog’s breed.

You have the power to help change the public’s perception of pit bulls, one positive interaction at a time. Through education, outreach, and love, we can help restore the pit bull’s reputation and bring an end to breed discrimination once and for all.

What Is Dog Liability Insurance?

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Dog Liability Insurance, also known as canine liability insurance or pit bull insurance, pays for damage your dog does to other people/animals or property.

With so many states, cities and counties changing laws about Pit Bulls (and other “dangerous” dog breeds), you may need dog liability insurance. Even if you are not required to have dog liability insurance, it’s highly recommended! The unfortunate truth is that many people are often looking for any excuse to sue, and a dog liability policy can help to make sure you are covered.

 

Does your home or renters insurance provide dog liability insurance?

Blow the dust off your policy and crack it out. Look in the EXCLUSIONS portion of the policy and read about the Liability Exclusions. See if your policy mentions anything about excluding dog bites, injuries caused by animals/dogs or if it lists specific breeds. If it does, your dog is most likely not covered.

While many insurance companies and carriers breed discriminate, there are a few that love all dog breeds (so long as there is no history of biting/aggression). You don’t have to give up your beloved 4-legged family member, you just need to know what options are available.

 

Einhorn Insurance Keeps Families Together

insurance-for-pitbull-dogsEinhorn Insurance can help owners of all dog breeds get dog liability insurance. If they are not licensed in your state, they’ll point you in the right direction. The folks over at Einhorn Insurance all own Pit Bulls and understand how it feels to be discriminated against.

Even if your dog has a bite history and/or been deemed dangerous, potentially dangerous, vicious or potentially vicious, Einhorn Insurance has options. Feel free to give them a call at 858.336.4644, send an email to agent@einhorninsurance.com or visit their website www.einhorninsurance.com

 

What does dog liability insurance cover?

Many people think dog liability insurance is like having health insurance for your dog. This is not the case.

Dog Liability Insurance Covers:

  • Bodily injury your dog causes to other people or other animals.
  • Vet Bills including surgeries and medicine.
  • Medical Bills including plastic surgery to the injured person.
  • Attorney fees if your claim goes to court.
  • Damage your dog causes to other people’s property (not including the damage your dog causes to the place you are renting).
  • Income compensation if the injured person can’t work.

 

It is important to have the right dog liability insurance!

Dog owners may lose their homes, assets and income in a dog claim. People (especially the parents of hurt children) that are victims of a dog injury want compensation for injuries. When a dog owner doesn’t have the right coverage, the injured party can go after that person’s assets or take a portion of each of your pay checks until they are fully compensated.

Ohio Passes Law to End BSL

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Ohio Signs Bill to End BSL

BSL Ended in OhioToday is an exciting day for pit bull owners in Ohio and anti-BSL supporters worldwide. Earlier this morning, Governor Kasich signed Ohio House Bill 14 into law – effectively ending 25 years of discriminatory breed specific legislation geared toward pit bull-type dogs. Click here to read a background on BSL in Ohio

Ohio’s HB 14 not only reverses the previous law, but helps to strengthen current dangerous dog laws by focusing on irresponsible owners, instead of innocent family pets. Dog wardens and those working in animal rescue will now be able to use their time and resources to protect the public from verifiably dangerous dogs, instead of wrongly targeting family pets that simply “look the wrong way”.

Prior to today’s passing of HB 14, Ohio was the only state with laws that permitted the declaration of a vicious dog based only on the dog’s appearance, without taking temperament or other behavioral criteria into consideration.

It is my hope that other states and countries that have looked to Ohio to set the precedent for BSL will now re-evaluate their existing or proposed laws. As Ohio has shown, BSL is an expensive, ineffective way to prevent dog bites and other acts. At the end of the day, as reinforced by Ohio’s new legislation, the only way to truly keep the public protected and safe from the acts of dangerous dogs is to punish the careless, ignorant owners that have allowed and/or encouraged the behaviors.

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