ARIZONA
Prop 109 - Proposition 109 is a proposed amendment to the Arizona Constitution making it a constitutional right of residents to hunt and fish. According to the official proposition guide, "Establishes the right of Arizona citizens to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife lawfully; grants exclusive authority to the legislature to regulate hunting, fishing and harvesting wildlife; prohibits laws that unreasonable restrict hunting, fishing and harvesting wildlife; establishes lawful hunting and fishing as a preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife." This amendment gives the legislature the sole authority to make the laws regarding hunting and fishing and the right to appoint the Game and Fish Department to carry out those laws. Arizona Game and Fish currently has as their mission "conserve, enhance, and restore Arizona's diverse wildlife resources and habitat." If Prop 109 passes, Game and Fish would be limited to making hunting and fishing the preferred method of controlling and managing wildlife.
Mohave County - Kingman - (10/25/10) County Board of Supervisors revised the number of dogs a person living in the county could have from four to two on parcels less than an acre. . The new county ordinance would limit residents that live on less than an acre of property to two dogs and four cats. Residents that live on an acre or more of property can apply for a special over-the-counter zoning use permit that would allow them to have more animals. The permit would have to be renewed each year. . The new ordinance has five classifications of kennels; each classification allows a resident to have a different number of dogs on their property. For example, a class II kennel permit would allow a resident to have between five and 10 dogs if their property is larger than one acre. . The city of Kingman allows residents to have a total of three animals - cats, dogs or potbellied pigs - on properties less than 40,000 square feet and a total of four animals on properties that are 40,000 square feet or more. . Bullhead City limits the total number of animals a resident is allowed to have to three. Lake Havasu City has no limits on the number of animals a resident can have as long as the animals are well cared for. . According to Arizona Revised Statues, animals such as horses and cattle are considered livestock and do not count as pets. . A kennel is defined as any building or structure that houses four or more animals that are four months or older. That definition does not include people who have four or fewer animals as long as no more than two of the dogs are breeding females. However, animal sanctuaries do currently fall under that definition. . A kennel or sanctuary is required to keep medical records of all animals on the property and have all animals tagged with a dog tag or a microchip or keep a photo and description that lists the animal's vaccination record and allows the animal to be easily identified. Records also have to be kept of every animal that is sold or adopted. . Short-term facilities are defined as any kennel where animals are kept for one month or less. Long-term facilities are defined as any kennel where animals are kept for longer than one month. . In short-term facilities, dog kennels can be no smaller than 12 square feet for dogs that are under 35 pounds, no smaller than 20 square feet for dogs that are between 36 and 50 pounds, and no smaller than 24 square feet for dogs that are more than 50 pounds. . Long-term care facilities are required to have runs that are three times as big as in short-term facilities. Long-term facilities that have health permits that were issued prior to the Board of Supervisors approving the ordinance are exempt from the kennel requirements. . Long-term facilities must also provide an exercise area for dogs. . The flooring of indoor dog kennels must be made of material that is waterproof and easily cleaned. The floor of outdoor kennels can be made of similar materials or pea gravel or sand. The sand or gravel must be replaced every six months or sooner, as needed. Dirt is not allowed. Concrete floors must slope to drain water from the area. . Cat cages must be at least 2 feet high and at least 22 inches in width and length. Each cage can hold only one cat unless it's a nursing mother with kittens, and must have one litter pan. . Cat colony cages must be at least 10 by 15 foot and can house no more than 15 adult cats or 20 kittens. One litter pan must be provided for every three cats or five kittens. Long-term facilities must have cages that are three times as large. . Kennels and sanctuaries must have adequate bathroom facilities for volunteers. . Each animal in outside kennels must have an enclosure to protect the animal from the weather that is large enough for the animal to sit, stand, lie down and turn around in comfortably. . Animals must be fed using stainless steel bowls. . The ordinance also describes what methods of euthanasia are allowed, how to dispose of waste and how food must be stored.
CALIFORNIA
AB2743 - Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoes declaw, devocalization bill in California
Hollister - (10/19/10) Mandatory Spay-Neuter ordinance passed despite this unprecedented level of constituent opposition, by a 3-2 vote. Thank you to Mayor Gomez and Vice Mayor Valdivia for voting no. Council members Friend, Emerson, and Sanchez voted yes.
COLORADO
Denver - (10/25/10) City Council postponed for the second time the introduction of CB 10-0724 ,which would exempt service pit bull-type dogs from the breed ban. The bill would also delete the prohibition on the transport of pit bull-type dogs through the City and County of Denver. Note that this provision was invalidated by the courts in 2006, but it's still on the books.
IOWA
Camanche - considering an ordinance that would regulate the ownership of "pit bulls."
MICHIGAN
HB6449 - A bill to amend 1974 PA 163, entitled "C.J.I.S. policy council act," by amending section 4 (MCL 28.214), as amended by 2005 PA 311.
Establish policy and promulgate rules governing access, use, and disclosure of information in criminal justice information systems, including the law enforcement information network, the automated fingerprint information system, and other information systems related to criminal justice or law enforcement. The policy and rules shall do all of the following:
(iv) Authorize any animal control agency that is an agency of a county to request and receive information obtained through the law enforcement information network by a law enforcement agency for the purpose of performing its duties, regardless of whether the animal control agency is a subunit of a county criminal justice agency.
Dearborn Heights - (10/19/10) At the Sept. 28 City Council meeting with some comments in favor of a ban, the discussion continued Tuesday where council expressed interest in other measures rather than a ban. Council Chair Ken Baron said it sounds like council has come to a consensus there won't be a pit bull ban. It seems like there isn't enough follow-through with the existing ordinance, he said, so one goal is just to make sure the city is enforcing the regulations it already has. Councilman Tom Berry said better enforcement is always the key. Even if the ordinance is enhanced, he said, it won't suffice unless it is enforced. Corporation Counsel Gary Miotke was directed to prepare language for increased penalties for unlicensed dog owners.
Garden City - City Council member is looking for stronger measures in dealing with pit bulls in the community. Councilwoman Jaylee Lynch is requesting the city consider stronger measures to deal with "pit bulls" in the community.
Ypsilanti Twp - approves pit bull sterilization law
Thank you Jodi Preis
NEBRASKA
Blair - (10/26/10) Council members first reading proposed new ordinance would give police officers more discretion about dangerous dogs and would put more responsibilitiy on owners, leaving them subject to court appearances and fines, being forced to take classes on responsible pet ownership and even banning them from pet ownership for up to four years if they are deemed "reckless owners." By law, the ordinance must be approved at three different meetings, unless that rule is waived by the council.
NEW YORK
Suffolk County - (10/12/10) County Legislature unanimously approved a bill to create a law establishing a county registry for animal abuse offenders, the first of its kind in the nation. The new law allows the county to create a public registry of convicted animal abusers, in which the names, aliases, addresses and photographs of animal abusers would compiled in a searchable database, much like the state's sex offender registry. The convicted abusers would pay a $50 annual fee for upkeep of the registry, and those who fail to register would be charged $1,000 or face jail time.
NORTH CAROLINA
Guilford County - Greensboro - (10/21/10) County Board of Commissioners passed new laws aimed at puppy mills and irresponsible breeders. Some of those changes include the requirement of a permit for breeders whose animals breed more than six litters a year or for high-volume retailers that sell more than 50 dogs a year. State law required that two votes be held to change the existing ordinance unless the first vote was unanimous. That was a hurdle the commissioners couldn't clear at their Oct. 7 meeting , when three commissioners said they had concerns about the law and couldn't vote "yes." The changes passed 8-2 with Commissioners Billy Yow and Paul Gibson voting "no" and Chairman Melvin "Skip" Alston absent.
OHIO
Toledo - (10/12/10) City Council approved a new Toledo law governing dogs and their owners. The vote means that the city repealed its old "vicious dogs" law that targeted "pit bulls" and "pit bull" mixes. It will be replaced with a law intended to promote responsibility among dog owners and change the scopes of dogs considered to be dangerous.
TENNESSEE
Knoxville - (10/18/10) City Council passed a measure Tuesday night allowing chickens, with one controversial issue removed. Originally, the ordinance stated if a person gets a permit for the chickens, animal control officers could come on to that person's property at any time. The ordinance was revised to state that residents still have to obtain a permit, but animal control will not have unlimited access to residents' property. The ordinance does come with a number of other rules including: no roosters, only six hens per lot, and no selling of eggs or breeding. The Metropolitan Planning Commission must rewrite city zoning code to match the new ordinance.
Nashville - (10/19/10) Metro Council adopted a bill proposed by Councilwoman (and animal lover) Karen Bennett that takes advantage of a state law passed last year that authorizes municipalities with populations greater than 100,000 people to allow the presence of dogs in outside eating areas.
TEXAS
El Paso - (10/13/10) City Council has passed an ordinance that will place severe restrictions on the sale of dogs and cats in the city. The new ordinance requires that all dogs, cats and ferrets be registered with the city, and in order to be registered they must have the required vaccinations and an implanted microchip. No resident of the city will be allowed to own an un-registered cat, dog or ferret for more than 30 days, and no visitor will be allowed to own one of more than 90 days. If a dog, cat or ferret is not vaccinated against rabies, it will not be allowed in the city for more than 10 days. The ordinance also prohibits the retail sale of dogs and cats under 8 weeks of age. Under the new law, "no person, retail establishment or animal welfare organization may sell or transfer a dog or cat that is under one year of age for a profit" - the animal can only be transferred for a price that is based on certain actual expenses incurred, such as veterinary care, food, shelter, spay/neuter, applicable permit fees and microchip and registration fees. A detailed permit process was outlined for breeders and animal welfare organizations, but only one litter is allowed per permit issued. In addition, all advertisements for pet sales must carry a litter permit number. Enforcement of the ordinance will be by the city's Code Enforcement Division.
WISCONSIN
Port Washington - (10/19/10) officials said they will work to strengthen the city's existing vicious dog ordinance, but do not intend to regulate specific breeds of dogs.
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