MA - Mashpee pit bull limit bylaw going to voters

[Vicki]

Mashpee pit bull limit bylaw going to voters

August 18, 2009

MASHPEE — An article will be placed on the warrant for the fall special town meeting that would limit the number of pit bulls an owner is allowed to have in town to one and would order the euthanization or removal from town of any puppies born.

Carmen and Melissa Shay, who, beginning in April, unsuccessfully fought their new neighbors, Brendan Lopes and Tiffany Mendes, from bringing six pit bulls to their Ashumet Road property, are the lead petitioners. The Shays got nine more than the necessary 10 certified signatures to get their petition article placed on the warrant, Town Clerk Deborah Dami said.

The proposed bylaw is modeled after one in Canton, Dami said. It defines a pit bull as any American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier or any mixed breed that displays the physical traits of these types of dogs, unless a DNA test proves otherwise.

The bylaw would set standards for care, sterilization, liability insurance, sheltering and euthanization for humane societies and penalties for violations, according to the proposal.

The special town meeting will be held Oct. 19, Dami said.

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090818/NEWS/908180323/-1/NEWSMAP

 

[Vicki]

Mashpee, MA: Copy of proposed ordinance (pit bull ban)

Posted on September 4, 2009 by stopbslcom

How an Ordinance Passes in Mashpee, MA
The proposed ordinance to ban pit bulls will be voted on by the entire voting community in Mashpee during their fall Town Meeting (Oct. 19). If the majority approves it, it will pass. If the majority does not approve it, it will not pass.

How to Stop Passage of the Ordinance
Because the community will be deciding whether to pass the ban, locals and others are needed in Mashpee to educate and inform the community.
If you are a local in Mashpee and you do not want this ordinance to pass, get involved! The community needs to know about the moral, ethical, financial, and legal problems they are facing if the ordinance passes. They need to know that this ordinance will not make their town safer. They need to know that viable non-breed-specific alternatives exist.

You can spread these messages in a variety of ways. Flyers, mailouts, handouts, rallies, information booths at fairs or events, and so forth may be effective. Hands-on, face-to-face communication with locals will be necessary. Mashpee locals probably know what methods work most effectively to spread information in their town.

You may also speak during the Town Meeting on Oct. 19, before the proposed ordinance is voted on. However, it may be too late by this time to change minds if an effort has not been made to educate the public prior to this date.
If you would like to organize a group, or are organizing a group, to educate and speak against the ordinance in Mashpee, please leave a comment here to let others know how to join you.

Read the Proposed Ordinance
Copy of the proposed ordinance to ban “pit bulls†from Mashpee can be downloaded here (PDF): Proposed Pit Bull Regulation, Mashpee
Of interest:

Section 1, “Purpose,†gives a number of myths and stereotypes about pit bulls as the reason why Mashpee needs this ban.

Section 2 defines “pit bull†as American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, any dog of mixed breed displaying physical traits of one or more of these breeds, or any dog exhibiting distinguishing characteristics that conform to AKC or UKC standards for any of these breeds. A veterinarian, animal control officer, or “other qualified person†may identify a pit bull. A DNA test may exonerate a dog.

Section 3 bans all new pit bulls from town, but grandfathers existing pit bulls, provided that only one pit bull lives in each household. Visitors may also bring pit bulls into town for dog shows, but they must get written approval from the Board of Selectmen, and they must “have obtained all other permits or licenses required by by-law.â€

Section 4 describes requirements the pit bulls that are grandfathered in. This includes a special license and a liability insurance policy to cover the pit bull, in the amount of either one or two million dollars. The pit bull must also be spayed or neutered. Pit bulls must be contained in a “fenced enclosure from which the dog cannot escape.†When off the owner’s property, the dog must be leashed and muzzled. If the dog has a litter of puppies (not sure how, since pit bulls must be altered), the puppies are either euthanized, or the owner must permanently remove them from town upon weaning.