On Friday, June 15, 2007 St. Paul Rep. John Lesch held a press conference to announce that in 2008 he will propose a ban that will outlaw the ownership of 5 so-called dangerous breeds, including Rottweilers, Pit Bulls, Akitas, Chow Chows, Wolf-hybrids...and ANY mix thereof in the state of MN. Anyone caught owning one of the banned dogs would be subject to misdemeanor charges and face as long as 90 days in jail and a fine of as much as $1,000. The statue would force all dogs of the banned breeds be removed from the state or euthanized.
Please sign our e-petition opposing Rep. John Lesch proposed legislation:
Click to sign the petition
This petition will be sent to:
Rep. John Lesch at 537 State Office Bldg, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55155
Email : rep.john.lesch@house.mn
E-mail me to request paper petitions to put out and start your own grassroot effort to fight this crazy legislation or if you have any concerns, rants, protest ideas, etc. - Jessie at mnbreedban@gmail.com
Following Are A List Of Our Specific Concerns:
(1) Available data indicates that a dog of ANY breed can bite. Studies published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association conclude that there is NO reliable data identifying biting dogs by breed.
As well, the American Temperament Test Society has available results of dogs tested by them. As of December 2006, the following results were found:
(Number of dogs tested) [Percent of dogs passed]
Labrador Retriever (686) [91.5%]
American Pit Bull Terrier (542) [84.1%]
Rottweiler (4744) [82.7%]
American Staffordshire Terrier (521) [83.9%]
Golden Retriever (687) [83.8%]
Collie (811) [79.2%]
Akita (447) [73.6%]
Chow Chow (89) [69.7%]
Shetland Sheepdog (471) [67.3%]
Standard Schnauzer (56) [66.1%]
This can be verified with the A.T.T.S. by calling them at (314)869-6103 or on the web at www.atts.org.
(2) The term "pitbull" is not a breed nor is it recognized by reputable breed organizations or kennel clubs. Pitbull is a variety of breed that describes American Pit Bull Terriers and mixes, American Staffordshire Terriers and mixes, and Staffordshire Terriers and mixes, and is often mistakenly used to describe other similar breeds (such as bull terriers and American bulldogs). It is very difficult or impossible to tell these breeds apart and, as a result, it is impossible to fairly enforce the proposed ordinance.
(3) Cities that have tried to solve their dangerous dog problem by restricting or banning breeds have discovered that such laws do not work. Recently, Cincinnati, OH has repealed its ban on specific breeds and Baltimore, MD has removed all breed specific references from its ordinance, and PA prohibits any BSL.
(4) There is no reliable method by which to scientifically determine the breed of a dog. It is impossible to determine whether a mixed breed dog is 50% of any particular breed. To require the owner of a mixed breed dog to prove that the dog is NOT 50% of a targeted breed places an impossible burden on that citizen. The question of constitutionality comes into play here.
(5) The majority of the owners of targeted breeds are responsible, law-abiding citizens. The proposed ordinances unfairly brand these people as unreliable and irresponsible, solely because they own a targeted breed. We believe irresponsible owners are to blame for dog bites not the dogs.
(6) It is the consensus of knowledgeable dog experts (as reported in the JAVMA article, "A Community Solution to the Dog Bite Problem") that targeting the owners and the specific dangerous dog, not breeds of dogs, is the key to addressing the dog bite and "dangerous dog" problems.
Better Solutions That Affect All Dog Breeds
1. Strengthen our state's animal cruelty laws
Dogs can become aggressive as a result of cruelty, abuse, neglect, or improper care. Physical abuse received from a person can make a dog distrustful of human beings and prone to attack out of fear. We need stronger anti-abuse laws to put a stop to the owner-imposed neglect and pain that prompts some dogs to bite and attack humans. Stronger anti-abuse laws are important for the animals as well as for humans. Many studies in psychology, sociology, and criminology during the last 25 years have demonstrated that violent offenders frequently have histories of serious and repeated animal cruelty.
Minnesota's current animal cruelty laws as provided by the ASPCA – aspca.org:
346.38-346.42 Pet and Companion Animal Welfare Act (Police Regulations Stray Animals & Companion Animals) - 1983
Summary: Provides minimum mandatory standards for the care, feeding, exercise, temperature, lighting, sanitation, shelter, and transport of horses, dogs, cats, birds, and rodents. Other animals must be maintained in a general standard of care necessary for the species as determined by an expert. Exception: Farm animal used for food or other agricultural use.
Penalty: Per 346.44, Misdemeanor, maximum 90 days confinement and/or maximum $1,000 fine (609.02)
343.21 Overworking or mistreating animals (Police Regulations Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)- 1986, amended 2001
Summary: For 343.20 343.36, 'Animal' = every living creature except members of human race (343.20). 'Cruelty or torture' = every act, omission, or neglect which causes or permits unnecessary or unjustifiable pain, suffering or death (343.20) Prohibits overdriving, overloading, torturing, cruelly beating, neglecting or unjustifiably injuring, maiming, mutilating, or killing any animal cruelly working any animal when it is unfit for labor; willfully instigating or furthering any act of cruelty to any animal; depriving any animal in one's custody or control of necessary food, water, or shelter keeping cows or other animals in any enclosure without providing wholesome air and exercise abandoning any animal allowing any maimed, sick, infirm or disabled animal to lie in any street, road or public place for more than three hours after receiving notice of animal's condition caging any animal for public display unless cage meets certain criteria (except: captive wildlife, agricultural societies and state fair) intentionally and without justification causing bodily harm to a service animal while it is in service or in custody of person it serves. Provides standards for the size and materials of display cages.
Penalty: Note: the penalties vary under this section. Asterisks delineate the various punishments. Misdemeanor, maximum 90 days confinement and/or maximum $1,000 fine (609.02).
2nd or Subsequent within five years: gross misdemeanor, maximum one year confinement and/or maximum $3,000 fine. Intentional violation resulting in substantial bodily harm to companion animal: maximum one year confinement and/or maximum $3,000 fine (if within five years of prior gross misdemeanor or felony for animal cruelty, then maximum two years confinement and/or maximum $5,000 fine) (if done to threaten, intimidate or terrorize another person, then maximum two years confinement and/or maximum $5,000). Intentional violation resulting in death or great bodily harm to companion animal: maximum two years and/or maximum $5,000 fine (if done to threaten, intimidate or terrorize another person, then maximum four years confinement and/or maximum $10,000)
** Violation resulting in substantial bodily harm to service animal: maximum two years confinement and/or maximum $5,000 fine.
** Violation resulting in death or great bodily harm to service animal: maximum four years confinement and/or maximum $10,000 fine Court must order seizure of all pets in custody or control of offender unless court determines that offender is able and fit to provide for animal. Future custody of pets may be limited. Court can require psych. treatment, periodic visits by animal control officer, and/or community service. Upon conviction, expenses for care, vet care, and investigation are assessed against offender Animals may be disposed of if suffering (see 343.20)
2. Increase spay and neuturing of dogs
Unaltered dogs, particularly males, are three times more likely to attack a human than either neutered males or spayed females. Unneutered male dogs also tend to escape and wander more than neutered males. Low-cost spay/neuter programs reach out to citizens who may be unable to afford the regular cost of these surgeries.
3. Crack down on dog fighting
This is another issue where lax laws and minimal funding often comes into play. Fighting dogs used to be consistently bred to be human friendly, but today, indiscriminate breeders and vicious individuals have transformed many of these dogs into human-aggressive creatures. Dog fighting today persists underground, and the dogs often suffer in horrible conditions and die gruesome, brutal deaths. Law enforcement officers and animal control departments struggle to break into these dog fighting rings, but the effort requires a lot of money, time, and manpower.
4. Encourage responsible dog ownership
There's more to owning a dog than simply giving them food and a dog house. Dogs are pack animals and they love to be with their pack - their human family. A dog that is left without socialization or mental stimulation can become unruly, destructive, and possibly aggressive. They need exercise, mental stimulation, attention and affection to be mentally well-adjusted individuals. They also need proper socialization and training to ensure that they will become a good canine citizen.
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