In Need of Action !!!

*** New Castle County, Delaware Breed-Specific Legislation Alert ***

To all Wilmington Kennel Club members and Residents In New Castle County, Delaware:

I hope you are all aware that New Castle County is considering breed specific legislation.   This amendment will be voted on at the March 14th meeting of the council. The amendment is aimed at Pit Bulls, American Stafforshire Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers.  I am asking that you write to your council member and state your opposition.  Here is a simple letter that you can copy paste and change to your information and info that you can use to write your own letter.  Please feel free to share this information with anyone who might be interested in this issue.

Thank you
Joe Foster
Wilmington Kennel Club
Legislation Liaison
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Dear Councilman/woman ____________,

I am contacting you to ask that you not support the proposal 06-019, to amend Chapter 4 of the County Code, on the Confinement or Restraint of Pit Bulls.
This was introduced by Councilman Street on 2/28/2006.

I am one of your constituants living in ___________. I am also a member of the Wilmington Kennel Club.

I am writing because I am concerned about the attempt to change the County Code to single out Pit Bull type dogs. Although "Pit Bulls" are not a pure bred dog and not recognized by the AKC, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terriers are. We think any breed specific legislation is ineffective and a misguided attempt to solve a problem that will just drive irresponsible dog owners to other breeds. Restricting a breed is not the answer to this problem.

Our club has dog shows that bring a lot of people, business and dogs into the county every year. The listed breeds will not be allowed to attend our show because dogs can not be shown while wearing a muzzle. I am also concerned that once a certain breed is regulated it would be easy to regulate other breeds.

The AKC and The Wilmington Kennel Club do support responsible legislation that isn't breed specific. Our current State laws are pretty effective if enforced as they should be. With the County taking over dog control issues in the near future, how will this new ruling be funded?

The problem of dog attacks is not a Pit Bull problem. This is a responsible
ownership problem. Any dog that is raised by an irresponsible owner has the potential to become a problem.

Punish the deed not the breed.


Sincerly;

NAME
ADDRESS
PHONE NUMBER


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IF YOU PREFER TO WRITE YOUR OWN LETTER, HERE IS A LINK THAT WILL GIVE YOU MORE INFO


Find your council person and also see the agenda link for the amendment as written:

http://www.co.new-castle.de.us/countyCouncil/Home/webpage1.asp

AKC position statement:

"Dangerous Dog" Control Legislation

The American Kennel Club supports reasonable, enforceable, non-discriminatory laws to govern the ownership of dogs. The AKC believes that dog owners should be responsible for their dogs. We support laws that: establish a fair process by which specific dogs are identified as "dangerous" based on stated, measurable actions; impose appropriate penalties on irresponsible owners; and establish a well-defined method for dealing with dogs proven to be dangerous. We believe that, if necessary, dogs proven to be "dangerous" may need to be humanely destroyed. The American Kennel Club strongly opposes any legislation that determines a dog to be "dangerous"
based on specific breeds or phenotypic classes of dogs.

• Please check here often to see what activities are needed, to educate our representatives about proper dog legislation!

Completed Actions

• The Office of the Governor for the State of Delaware officially declares September 17 as RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP DAY !

• Delaware was proposing a bill (HB571) against "dangerous" breeds!  Due to the action of many voices, HB571 has been dropped, with work continuing on a better piece of legislation!

  • Click here to read the update from AKC website !!!

• Please click here to learn what is happening in Delaware, and how you can voice your opposition to HB571.  Thanks to the actions of Joe Foster and Blackie Nygood, the AKC is actively persuing this legislation, and we need more voices to be heard!

• URGENT from the AKC: Ask Farm Bill Conferees to Delete the Puppy Protection Act from the Farm Bill Conference Report

  • Please click here to learn how to help in this effort!  You'll be taken to AKC's site on this major effort, with instructions on contacting the House/Senate Farm Bill Conference!

  • UPDATE (4/29/2002): All members of W.K.C.

    I am happy to report that the House-Senate Farm Bill Conference has dropped the Puppy Protection Act from the final bill. This is due to you, the AKC and many others who responded to our request for help to get involved in voicing opposition to this act.

    The bill now goes to both houses of Congress for final approval before it goes to the President.

    Well done everyone!

    See the link below for this information from AKC.

    Please share this news with anyone not on the list.

    Thank you,  Joe Foster, Legislation Liaison, W.K.C.

    http://www.akc.org/love/dip/legislat/ppa_dropped.cfm

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