Friday, August 3, 2007

On August 19: Light a Candle, Save a Life!


Stop the killing.

Participate in the 3rd Annual Worldwide Candlelight Vigil
Against Breed Bans! !

Across New York, and around the world, dog lovers will come together for one hour on August 19 to light candles and remember the innocent dogs everywhere that have died due to discrimination and hate.

Complete information on how you can participate is available on
Light a Candle, Save a Life website.

If you are in New York:
Please be sure to download and
circulate our petition opposing the Plattsburgh Resolution to permit breed specific legislation in New York! BSL kills innocent dogs!

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Love Does Not Discriminate! Why does Plattsburgh?

We need laws based on fact, not fear!

Empire State Dog Lovers! We need your help! The City Council of Plattsburgh, New York, has requested the New York State legislature to roll back the protection from profiling and discrimination that state law provides to us.

Voice your opposition TODAY and help save dogs and dog owners across New York!

SAY NO TO IRRESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP!
No one should ever be injured by a dog, and we are vehemently opposed to scoff-law, irresponsible dog owners. New York State's breed neutral dangerous dog laws are among the most effective and comprehensive in the country.

Breed specific legislation does not work. It uselessly targets law-abiding dog owners with well-managed dogs and gives wrong-doers a free pass!
SAY NO TO PROFILING AND DISCRIMINATION!
Breed specific laws use the PRETEXT of dangerous dog law as a way to pressure "certain people" living in "certain neighborhoods" out of the area. Poor and minority dog owners are the first casualties of breed specific legislation.

SAY NO TO GUESS WORK, WASTE AND JUNK SCIENCE! Breed specific laws are expensive to enforce, and require animal control officers to "guesstimate" dog breeds. They are opposed by every credible animal welfare organization in the country.

Don't let the bad old days return! In New York we judge dogs and dog owners by their actions. Not their appearance.

SUPPORT A DOG-FRIENDLY, DOG-SAFE NEW YORK

SAY NO TO THE PLATTSBURGH RESOLUTION!

We all deserve dog-friendly, dog-safe communities -- no matter where we live, no matter how much money we make, no matter the color of our skin.

OPPOSE THE PLATTSBURGH RESOLUTION

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Text of Plattsburgh's Anti-Dog Resolution

[On July 12, the City Council of Plattsburgh, New York voted unanimously to approve the following resolution. Emphasis has been added to the original text. ]

Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to repeal State Law which currently bans the passage of local dangerous dog legislation that is specific as to breed, so the city of Plattsburgh may ban the ownership or sale of dangerous dogs, including pit bulls.

WHEREAS, the city of Plattsburgh has seen an increase of attacks by dogs commonly know as pit bulls in the last few years: and

WHEREAS, these unprovoked attacks by dangerous dogs upon residents and pets of City residents in recent years have resulted in serious physical injury; and

WHEREAS, like Plattsburgh, many communities nationwide have reported increased incidents of attacks by dangerous dogs, especially attacks on children; however, unlike Plattsburgh, these cities, including Denver and Cincinnati, have been able to take decisive legislative action to protect their citizens by enacting bans on pit bulls, the breed determined to be most frequently responsible for attacks; and

WHEREAS, In contrast, Plattsburgh and other cities in New York State, are currently unable to enact such legislation; under Section 107 of the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law, municipalities are prohibited from passing any laws which would regulate dangerous dogs in a manner which is specific as to breed; and

WHEREAS, in most cases of vicious dog attacks, certain specific breeds are consistently implicated, most notably, pit bulls; and

WHEREAS, While there may be exceptions, evidence strongly suggests that these breeds have aggressive and violent tendencies which can easily be provoked and, when they are provoked, such dogs have the potential to inflict serious bodily harm to their victims, including death; and

WHEREAS, in populated environments like Plattsburgh, the potential for owner negligence and disregard for leash laws poses a very high public health and safety hazard, one which can be minimized with the enactment of restrictions on the ownership, possession, or sale of dogs deemed dangerous; and

WHEREAS, in a city like Plattsburgh, where the inappropriate actions of one person can have severe consequences for many, and the potential harm of dangerous dogs to the community warrants effective and meaningful legislative action; and

WHEREAS, in order to properly protect the health and safety of all individuals living, working, and visiting the city of Plattsburgh, our city must have the ability to restrict the ownership, possession and sale of breeds of dogs deemed dangerous; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED: that the Council of the City of Plattsburgh calls upon the New York State Legislature to repeal State Law which currently bans the passage of local dangerous dog legislation that is specific as to breed, so that Plattsburgh may ban the ownership or sale of dangerous dogs, within the City.