Mississippi Canine Coalition Organizes Against Breed-Specific Proposals

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

American Kennel Club News Article

The Tupelo City Council and the Baldwyn Board of Aldermen will meet next Tuesday to discuss possible breed bans. The Mississippi Canine Coalition invites responsible dog owners to join them tonight from 6-8pm at the Lee County Public Library at 219 N. Madison in Tupelo to organize against breed-specific ordinances being proposed in Tupelo and Baldwyn.

Mississippi has been faced with a rash of breed-specific ordinances in recent months. The Mississippi Canine Coalition and responsible dog owners recently defeated a proposed breed-specific ordinance in Jackson and convinced the City of Brandon to rescind an ordinance that would have banned American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, and related breeds. The Clinton K-9 Coalition has sued the City of Clinton over a recently adopted ordinance which bans Rottweilers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers and any mixed breed dogs with a parent from one of these breeds. Your help is needed to prevent more breed bans from being enacted in Mississippi!!

Talking Points for Opposing Breed-Specific Legislation
Breed-specific laws are not the best way to protect communities. An owner intent on using his or her dogs for malicious purposes will simply be able to switch to another type of dog and continue to jeopardize public safety. The list of regulated breeds or types could grow every year without ever addressing responsible dog ownership. Deeds, not breeds, should be addressed.


Breed-specific laws are hard to enforce. Breed identification requires expert knowledge of the individual breeds, placing great burden on local officials.


Breed-specific laws are unfair to responsible owners.


Breed-specific laws increase costs for the community. Shelter costs for the community could rise as citizens abandon targeted breeds, and adoptable dogs of the targeted breeds would be euthanized at the shelter.


In some instances, breed-specific laws have been overturned on constitutional grounds. Because proper identification of what dogs would be included is difficult or impossible, the law may be deemed unconstitutionally vague. It may also be found to involve the taking of property without due process.


Strongly enforced animal control laws (such as leash laws), generic guidelines on dealing with dangerous dogs and increased public education efforts to promote responsible dog ownership are all better ways to protect communities from dangerous animals.


Since dogs must be unaltered to participate in conformation dog shows and other performance events, many responsible dog owners will be forced to give up a sport that both they and their canine companions enjoy.


Breed-specific legislation is opposed by the AKC, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the National Animal Control Association, the ASPCA, and a host of national animal welfare organizations that have studied the issue and recognize that targeting breeds simply does not work.
What You Can Do
Attend the Mississippi Canine Coalition Meeting TONIGHT
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
6-8pm
Lee County Public Library
219 N. Madison, Tupelo


Contact the Tupelo City Council members and ask them to oppose BSL.
City of Tupelo
P.O. Box 1485
Tupelo, MS 38802-1485

The Honorable Ed Neelly, Mayor
The Honorable Dick Hill, Ward 1
The Honorable Thomas Bonds, Ward 2
The Honorable Smith Heavner, Ward 3
The Honorable Nettie Davis, Ward 4
The Honorable Bill Martin, Ward 5
The Honorable Mike Bryan, Ward 6
The Honorable Berdell Jones, Ward 7
The Honorable Doyce Deas, At Large
The Honorable Carolyn Mauldin, At Large


Contact the Baldwyn Board of Aldermen and ask them to oppose BSL.
City of Baldwyn
P.O. Box 40
Baldwyn, MS 38824

The Honorable Danny Horton, Mayor
The Honorable Lee Bowdry, Ward 1
The Honorable Ronald Michael, Ward 2
The Honorable Richard Kolheim, Ward 3
The Honorable Tammie Waters, Ward 4
The Honorable Steve Scales, At Large
For more information, contact:

Mississippi Canine Coalition
Tere Woody
4aussie@bellsouth.net

AKC's Canine Legislation department
919-816-3720
doglaw@akc.org