Letters Needed to Repeal Breed Specific Ban on Dogs - Prince George County

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Julia Sharp

JUDY BISHOP <jbishop_1 @ msn.com> (remove 2 spaces) wrote:

The County Council members of Prince George County, Maryland, are hoping to repeal a ban on Pit Bull and other breeds of dogs deemed vicious by their breed alone. They are choosing to consider changing the ordinance currentlyin place. It goes without saying that this will be a hotly contested issue since proponents of both sides of the discussion are so polarized.As we know, making an ordinance "dangerous dog" rather than "breed specific" makes better sense and is easier to enforce. Cities and counties who have chosen this route have better control over their dog population and theconscientious pet owner runs less of a risk of losing their beloved family pet because he or she is of a certain breed that has been banned where they live. Unfortunately, many cities and counties are not on board with this philosophy and have chosen to mandate ordinances that are "breed specific." Now, it appears that the Council members of Prince George County,

Maryland want to do what is correct and repeal the existing ban on "breed specific"dogs. Good for them! They are showing true grit!!!We are being encouraged to write the Prince George County Council members and express our appreciation for them taking a stance in changing their ban from "breed specific" to "dangerous dog." Their actions in repealing thecurrent ban and replacing it with something more realistic and prudent proves responsible leadership and good, fair judgment of dogs and their owners. This will pave the way for heightened community awareness and involvement in what is acceptable animal/owner behavior. It is a win-winsituation for the dogs, responsible pet owners, and Prince George County.Also attached (thanks to Teila) is a news article on Denver fighting the Colorado Legislature's ban on Pit Bulls. Denver wants to change the current breed specific ban on Pit Bulls to a "dangerous dog" ban. This

has all the trappings of becoming a real floor fight between the City Council members and the Colorado Legislature as to which group has jurisdiction. We'll want to keep our eye on this, also, and lend our support to Denver to do the right thing in lifting their current breed specified ban.Please take a few minutes and write the Council members of Prince George, won't you? Giving them our support will enable the Pit Bull dogs of Prince George County, Maryland to be part of the community and not be an outcast.Judy BishopFriends of the Animals in Kansas & Topeka Animal Talk Topeka, Kansas(785) 862-0234----Original Message Follows----"Animal Farm Foundation, Inc."< animalfarmfoundation @ earthlink.net > (remove 2 spaces)FW: [Md Dog Fed -Alerts] ACTION: PG Breed Ban Repeal

ContactsMatthew StimmelFoundation ManagerAnimal Farm Foundation, Inc.518-398-0017"To restore the image of the American Pit Bull Terrier and to protecthim from discrimination and cruelty"Visit us online: < http://www.animalfarmfoundation.org/ >www.animalfarmfoundation.org JRBerkey @ aol.com (remove 2 spaces)

Fwd: [Md Dog Fed -Alerts] ACTION: PG Breed Ban Repeal ContactsIn a message dated 4/28/2004 8:03:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time,euniverz @ aol.com (remove 2 spaces) writes:http://www.nbc4.com/news/3243716/detail.html

 

In today's news regarding the APPEAL TO REPEAL the Prince George's County Breed Ban:

 

Vote to remove breed ban in Ch 4 informal news poll: http://www.nbc4.com/news/3243716/detail.html

see the article in Wednesday's PG Journal: http://www.jrnl.com/PDFs/prg/wednesday.pdf

The time has come to begin contacting councilpeople. Call, fax, send letters or e-mail them to let them know they are doing the right thing by repealing the breed ban and replacing it with dangerous dog language that even better protects the public from all problems dogs in the community.

-- It protect the public from ALL dangerous dogs -- Costs will be better spent by not targeting dogs that are pets of innocent dog owners -- millons of dollars have already been wasted rounding up and killing benign dogs. -- Rather than decreasing public safety, as opponents try to tell us, we know this bill is better because it targets the behavior, not what a dog looks like.

Please note that the councilperson most in favor of keeping a repeal, Marilynn Bland, does not have e-mail. In this county, the extra step of a faxed, signed letter may be the best way to express yourself.

More information including a meeting, committee dates, hearing dates, will all be forthcoming. If you would like to add anyone to this e- list, please send an e-mail to

EUNIVERZ @ aol.com (remove 2 spaces)

 

Please be thoughtful and polite. Council contact information is below. To send a letter via US mail, address letters to the councilmembers at the following address:

County Adminstration Building (Room 2027) 14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive Upper Marlboro, MD 20772-3050

****************************************** Thomas E. Dernoga Council Member, Prince George's County Council District 1, Democrat 301-952-3887 301.952.4801 (fax) 301.925.5167 (TTY) tedernoga @ co.pg.md.us (remove 2 spaces)Constituent area includes Adelphi, Beltsville, Calverton, College Park, Laurel, Montpelier, South Laurel, Vansville and West Laurel ******************************************** Peter A. Shapiro Prince George's County Council Member District 2, Democrat (301) 952-4436 14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, 2nd Floor Upper Marlboro, Md 20772 Email: pashapiro @ co.pg.md.us (remove 2 spaces) Constituent area includes Adelphi, Avondale, Brentwood, Chillum, Colmar Manor, Cottage City, Green Meadows, Hyattsville, Langley Park, Lewisdale, Mount

Rainier, and North Brentwood. ******************************************** Thomas R. Hendershot Prince George's County Council Member District 3, Democrat 952-3060 trhendershot @ co.pg.md.us (remove 2 spaces) Constituen area includes New Carrollton, Greenbelt, Riverdale Park, etc. HE IS THE SPONSOR OF THIS BILL. ******************************************* Douglas J.J. Peters Prince George's County Council District 4 - Democrat Phone: (301) 952-3094 Fax: (301) 952-4910 Email: djpeters @ co.pg.md.us (remove 2 spaces)Constituent areas include Bowie, Glenn Dale, Greenbelt and parts of Lanham, Seabrook, Upper Marlboro and College Park. ******************************************** David Harrington Prince

George's County Council Member Council Member - District 5 (301) 952-3864 (301) 952-5885 fax dcharrington @ co.pg.md.us (remove 2 spaces)Constituent area includes: Bladensburg, Cheverly, Edmonston, Fairmount Heights, Glenarden, Landover, Colmar Manor, Cottage City, and Mitchellville.

******************************************** Samuel H. Dean Vice-Chair, Prince George's County Council District 6, Democrat 301.952.3426 301.952.4351(fax) 301.925.5167 (TTY) shdean @ co.pg.md.us (remove 2 spaces)Constituent area includes South Bowie, Capitol Heights, District Heights Forestville, Kettering, Largo, Mitchellville, and Upper Marlboro ******************************************** Camille Exum Prince George's County Council Member District 7, Democrat (301) 952-3690

Constituent area includes Bradbury Heights, Boulevard Heights, Capitol Heights, Coral Hill, District Heights, Hillcrest Heights, Landover, Marlow Heights, Seat Pleasant, and Suitland. ******************************************* Tony Knotts Chair, Prince George's County Council District 8, Democrat 301.952.3860 301.952.4821 (fax) 301.925.5167 (TTY) tknotts @ co.pg.md.us (remove 2 spaces) Constituent area includes Camp Springs, Clinton, Forest Heights, Fort Washington, Glass Manor, Marlow Heights, Oxon Hill, and Temple Hills ******************************************* Marilynn M. Bland Prince George's County Council Member District 9, Democrat (301) 952-3820

Constituent area includes (most of Southern Prince George's County) Accokeek, Andrews Air Force Base, Aquasco, Baden, Brandywine, Clinton, Eagle Harbor, Fort Washington, Piscataway and Upper Marlboro.

Adrianne Lefkowitz Maryland Dog Federation American Dog Owners Association euniverz @ aol.com (remove 2 spaces)301 693-2256 (cel)

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