http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=3697 Alert - Montana Bill Will Seek to Ban and Euthanize Some Terriers!
[Tuesday, January 06, 2009]
The American Kennel Club’s Government Relations Department is expecting
legislation in Montana that will seek to prohibit the ownership,
harboring, or keeping of dogs described as "pit bulls." The legislation
defines "pit bulls" to include Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American
Staffordshire Terriers, and "any dog that has the physical
characteristic
s that substantially conform to the standards established
for those breeds by the American Kennel Club." If the bill is passed and
signed into law, all such dogs would be seized and euthanized. The AKC
vehemently opposes breed-specific legislation and encourages all
concerned dog owners in Montana to contact their elected representative
s
and express their strong opposition to this draconian yet
hard-to-enforce legislation.
The American Kennel Club supports reasonable, enforceable,
non-discriminatory laws to govern the ownership of 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. The American Kennel Club
strongly opposes any legislation that determines a dog to be "dangerous"
based on specific breeds or phenotypic classes of dogs.
Currently named LC 1087, the bill will:
* Make it unlawful, with little exception, for a person to own,
harbor, or keep a pit bull dog. "Pit bull" is defined in the act to
include Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers,
and any dog that has the physical characteristic
s that substantially
conform to the standards established for those breeds by the American
Kennel Club.
* Force persons in violation of the bill to surrender their dogs to
animal control officials, or risk seizure of the animals.
* Mandate that within ten days of surrender or seizure, the animal
control agency shall euthanize such dogs.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
All concerned Montana dog owners should contact their elected
representative
s and express their strong opposition to this
breed-specific legislation. To find your elected representative
s, click
here.
For a copy of the bill, click here.
For a sample letter to write or e-mail legislators with, click here.
For a downloadable copy of our Deed, Not Breed flyer, click here.
For more information, please contact AKC’s Government Relations
Department at (919) 816-3720, or e-mail doglaw@akc.org.