Mt. Clemens, Michigan Adopts Breed Discriminatory Ordinance
Your Action Needed to Repeal Breed Discrimination in Mt. Clemens
To Michigan Residents
The City of Mt. Clemens, Michigan has passed a breed discriminatory ordinance (35.260) banning certain breeds of dogs within the city limits. This ordinance was recommended by the City Attorney, Michael J. Murray and Public Services Director, Jeffrey D. Wood in the July 6, 2009, City Council Agenda. When asked why the current legislation was not being enforced, City Council merely cited to how many complaints Animal Control received since January 1, 2009. The Council had no explanation for the city’s lack of enforcement for what some citizens deem a growing dangerous dog problem. Instead of attempting to enforce the current ordinance, the City Council adopted a breed discriminatory ordinance.
On August 4, 2009 the City of Mt. Clemens passed a new dangerous dog ordinance NOT grandfathering in current pit bull type dogs within the city and demanding residents with family pets that meet the definition of the ordinance to comply. This ordinance will be effective on August 13, 2009.
Contact members of the Mt. Clemens City Council today to request a repeal of this breed discriminatory law and a non-breed specific dangerous dog/reckless owner laws.
Request More Effective Legislation
Best Friends opposes canine profiling as it does not reduce dog bite incidents nor effectively manage dangerous dogs. Rather than breed-discriminatory restrictions, legislators should mirror good generic dangerous dog/reckless owner laws that have been enacted in Illinois and Minnesota.
Some of these laws include regulations that:
• Protect innocent dogs and responsible owners.
• Encourage residents to spay/neuter their pets.
• Effectively identify and manage truly dangerous dogs.
• Restrict tethering.
• Enforce stricter consequences for dog fighting.
• Prevent reckless owners from having dogs.
1. Provide your name and address
Legislators want to know that you are one of the people they represent.
2. Ask for specific action
Ask members to repeal the newly adopted dangerous dog ordinance that regulates a specific breed of dog.
3. Give reasons and examples
• Chose from the list below or share your own. Remember to be always be respectful and avoid being emotional. This is your chance to educate someone about truly effective ways to manage dangerous dogs.
• It is often difficult for even experts to determine the breed of a dog-particularly with mixed breed dogs. Click here to find the pit bulls on the web. Many dogs are misidentified and confiscated simply for their appearance.
• Breed discriminatory laws cause unintended hardship to responsible owners of friendly dogs that happen to fall within the regulated breed category.
• Breed-discriminatory laws compromise public safety by requiring officers to enforce regulation on dogs that may or may not be dangerous instead of investing resources into proven, effective tactics that make the community safer.
• A dog is an individual with its own personality. It should be judged on its temperament and not its appearance.
Studies of pre and post breed ban dog-bite-rates in the United Kingdom and Spain concluded that their pit bull breed ban had no effect whatsoever on reducing dog bites.
Italy recently revoked its breed ban stating the ban had no scientific justification.
Calgary, Canada has lowest dog bite rates in 25 years, without enacting BDL.
Contact City Council Members Today!
City Council
http://www.cityofmountclemens.com/commisioners.htm
Council members:
Send an email to the Mayor and City Council members here.
Thank you for taking action for animals!
Additional Information and Resources
Join the Pit Bulls: Saving America’s Dog campaign to help put an end to breed discrimination.
Learn more about breed bans and dog bite facts at the National Canine Research Council.
Photograph by Katie Bray, Best Friends Volunteer
Posted by Katie Bray, Best Friends Volunteer