Update from Nancy Minion on Dangerous Dog Bill

Thanks to everyone who contacted their legislators to
support the dangerous dog bill. Governor Pawlenty
signed it into law on Thursday, May 15. We were
successful in keeping out breed specific language.
(See below for information regarding the dangerous dog
bill.) In addition, a provision that was amended into
the dangerous dog bill and also passed into law allows
a city to adopt an ordinance to permit food and
beverage establishments to allow dogs to accompany
patrons in designated outdoor areas (e.g., restaurants
with outdoor patio areas).

If you have a chance, please thank Senator Ellen
Anderson and Representative Michael Paymar for
authoring these bills.

Sincerely,

Nancy Minion for
Stop the Suffering

Foster a Bully... Find a Friend

Meet Bubba and Duncan. They're as lovable as dogs can be. Unfortunately because of their breed it can be difficult for us to find fosters willing to let these pups into their hearts, and into their homes. Please consider fostering a "bully breed." We guarantee that you'll fall in love.

To learn more about fostering with Pet Haven visit http://www.pethavenmn.org/feature/dog-foster.php. For more info email volunteer@pethavenmn.org.

Dangerous Dog bills: ACTION NEEDED!

ACTION NEEDED NOW (This email was received from Nancy Minion of Stop the Suffering)

The “dangerous dog” bills are on the Minnesota House
and Senate floors and need your action right away.
Please contact your State Representative AND your
State Senator and ask them to vote YES on the bills
below.

S.F. 2876 authored by Senator Ellen Anderson and H.F.
2906 authored by Representative Michael Paymar

These bills address the real issue relating to
dangerous dogs, which is the dangerous Owners of dogs
are the problem far more often than the dogs
themselves.

H.F. 2906 and S.F. 2876 strengthen existing law by
giving animal control authorities the tools they need
to better protect the public from dog bites and dog
attacks. They address repeat offenders and the
culpability of dog owners who endanger the public.
They clarify existing language, require the
sterilization of dangerous dogs, increase the dollar
amount of insurance required (for a victim of a dog
attack), provide due process for a dangerous dog
designation, provide for prohibiting further dog
ownership, and increase penalties for those who create
dangerous dogs through irresponsible actions.

The maximum penalty is often paid by the dog, but
there are relatively light penalties, if any, placed
on the owners.

Ask them to support the dangerous dog bill and let
them know that you do NOT support any amendments that
would include a dog breed ban in Minnesota. The
problem is the owner of the dog, not the breed of a
dog.

Call your State Representative to support H.F. 2906
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/hmem.asp

Call your State Senator to support S.F. 2876
http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/index.php?ls=85#header

If you don’t know who your legislators are, go to:
http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/districtfinder.asp

Update: Breed Specific Legislation

Since the 2008 Minnesota legislative session convened in February, no action has been taken on breed-specific legislation. Rep. Lesch did not introduce his bill to ban five breeds of dogs; instead, he proposed several changes to a bill introduced in the House on Feb. 14 by Rep. Michael Paymar (DFL-St. Paul), which addresses the issue of dangerous dogs. Paymar’s bill, HF 2906, was referred from the House floor to the Public Safety and Civil Justice Committee. The bill was introduced to the Senate, SF 2876, on Feb. 20 by Sens. Anderson, Torres Ray, Murphy, Koering, and Dille and referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Veterans. It was re-referred to the House and, as of Feb. 25, is in the Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Committee, where it is scheduled for discussion on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 12:30 p.m.

The bill seeks to amend Minnesota Statute 2006, sections 347.50-347.56 as follows (from Senate summary):
“Modifying provisions regulating dangerous dogs, defining the term provocation; transferring registration and enforcement responsibilities to animal control authorities; requiring owners to disclose dog relocation addresses, requiring dog sterilization; allowing local governments to regulate dangerous dogs, providing for disposition of seized animals, specifying restrictions on dog ownership, prescribing penalties, modifying circumstances requiring dog destruction (rt)”

Pet Haven’s Stop BSL in Minnesota task force will continue to monitor this legislation and provide updates as changes occur.

Workshop on Handling/Evaluating Pit Bulls

The Minnesota Conference is an annual educational and networking opportunity for the state’s animal welfare community. We volunteer to organize this Conference because we believe that providing affordable opportunities for continued education and networking among the various animal groups is key to making Minnesota a more humane community.

Conference—March 13th, 2008
Fee: $50.00
Best Western Kelly Inn
100 4th Ave. S. St. Cloud, MN 56301

Please share this information with those you think might have an interest. Questions? Contact Vicki Davis at tchs@cloudnet.com.

This workshop is for shelters and animal care givers and would be of interest for those enforcing or writing laws regarding the behavior of dogs in our communities. Our speakers will focus on understanding breed norms, assessing pit bulls for adoption programs and working with the challenges of housing and training pit bulls. Also: promoting dogs for increased adoption rates, working with volunteers and screening/educating homes for permanent, successful adoptions.

9:00—10:00 : Registration

10:00—4:00 : Workshop to include:

Pit Bull Handling 101

Pit Bull Evaluations

Understanding Breed Norms

Live demonstrations of dog assessment are part of the program, allowing for a better understanding of the process. Such methods were utilized by our speakers in evaluating dogs seized in the Michael Vick dog fighting case.

Q & A Session

Come and learn from Donna Reynolds and Tim Racer to help you with decisions that could make a real difference for your organization and the dogs you handle.

EXHIBITORS
Businesses and organizations will display equipment and materials to help make your work easier and more productive.

REGISTRATION
The registration costs cover all materials, breaks, and lunch. Deadline to register is March 1, 2008.

LODGING
If you plan to stay overnight, please call Best Western Kelly Inn (Hwy 23 & 4th Ave. S.) directly for reservations at (320) 253-0606. A block of rooms has been reserved for the night of March 14, 2008. Ask for the “MN Animal Conference” room rate. Best to reserve room before February 14, 2008 to assure availability.

SCHOLARSHIPS
There are a very limited number of scholarships available for this conference. The scholarship will cover the cost of registration only. Please submit a letter of need to Darlene Larson at darlenel@aspca.org by February 19, 2008.

Speakers...

Donna Reynolds (Exec Director of BR) and her husband Tim Racer (VP BR) have been working on rescue projects together for 20 years. The Oakland residents studied under some of California's best wild animal handlers during their 8 year stint rehabbing raptors at Walnut Creek's Lindsay Wildlife Museum. They've been deeply entrenched in working with pit bulls since 1999 when they co-founded BAD RAP and have orchestrated the rescue, training, and placement of over 300 dogs since that time.
The duo applied their experience and love of the breed to developing BR's popular Pit Ed classes, recently recognized by the American Humane Association as a notable program for Best Practices in Behavior and Training. Tim speaks fluent pit bull and runs the popular classes, which specialize in helping ill-mannered dogs learn better manners and overwhelmed owners gain confidence.

Donna was instrumental in developing the successful Ambassador Program of Pit Bull Hall, in partnership with the East Bay SPCA. She's authored several articles about pit bull behavior for publications such as Dog Fancy.
Both travel extensively to further BR's educational mission through sharing information at conferences and workshops, such as Donna's recent general session presentation on pit bulls at the HSUS Expo, and rolling up their sleeves and help out with special pit bull rescue projects (Katrina, Dixon Correctional Institute). The couple have been featured in articles outlining their work in several newspapers and online publications.

They are owned by four dogs, including two pit bulls, and have hosted up to 150 pit bull foster dogs over the years.

Lobby 101 Training

Lobby 101 – Training Provided by The HSUS
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Hennepin County Library
Rockford Road Branch
6401 42nd Ave N
Crystal, MN 55427

Think only professional lobbyists can lobby? Think again! The Humane Society of the United States and Pet Haven Inc. of Minnesota invite you to attend a free Lobbying for Animals seminar where you can learn how to make a tremendous difference for animals in Minnesota.

The presentation covers everything you need to be a citizen advocate for animals. We'll show you basic, but effective, lobby techniques. You'll learn how a bill becomes a law, what influences a legislator and what animal-related bills and issues we expect to be considered by Congress and the state legislature in 2008.

Attend this free seminar and gather all the tools and techniques you need to be a successful citizen lobbyist.
RSVP by February 4, 2008 to Jill Fritz at jfritz@humanesociety.org or 612-724-4316.
Hope to see you there!

Marilou
Pet Haven

Jill Fritz
Minnesota/Wisconsin State Director
The Humane Society of the United States

MN city council hearing 11/14 on amending dangerous animals ordinance

Council Committee to hold hearing on Nov. 14 on amending dangerous animals ordinance


The Minneapolis City Council's Public Safety & Regulatory Services Committee will hold a public hearing on amending City ordinances relating to dangerous animals (Animals and Fowl - Title 4 of Code, chapters 64 and 66) at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 14. The hearing will be held in the Council Chambers, Room 317, City Hall, 350 S. 5th Street.

The Committee will offer residents an opportunity to share their opinion on amendments being offered to the following chapters in Title 4 of the Code of Ordinances. To view the proposed changes, click on links below:

6. Dangerous Animals:
Subject matter of ordinances amending Title 4 of Code relating to Animals and Fowl, as follows:

a. Chapter 64 relating to Dogs, Cats, Ferrets, and Rabbits , defining terms, requirements, fees and fines for dangerous and potentially dangerous animals. (Samuels; Introduced 10/5/2007)
b. Chapter 66 relating to Animals and Fowl:Rabies Control , clarifying requirements for impoundment of rabies suspects and dogs, cats, or ferrets bitten by rabid animals. (Samuels; Introduced 10/19/2007).