page 2

STATES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

ALABAMA

Colbert County - County's animal control director is asking the county's larger municipalities to consider an ordinance that would outlaw chaining dogs.

Dothan - City has put aside the proposed ordinance that gives AC officers right of entry, defines regulations for "dangerous", "vicious" and nuisance .and has agreed to the formation of a ten member panel of community experts to construct a new ordinance that meets the needs of all interested parties.

Fultondale - City Council discussing a proposed ordinance regarding owning and keeping dangerous animals in the city. The proposed ordinance would be breed specific and includes sections on
notification of people currently owning animals, and insurance requirements for those who continue to keep dogs. The only breed to be banned under the proposed ordinance would be pit bulls, although current owners would be able to keep their dogs. However, officials are considering revisions to the proposal.
http://www.alabamacaninecoalition.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=68&Itemid=2

ARKANSAS

Rector - City Council continued its discussion on how best to approach the implementation of a new vicious dog ordinance during Monday (01/04/08) nights monthly meeting. In the citys current ordinance, a dog deemed vicious is required to be kept by its owner in a pen and hat constitutes a vicious dog? On the topic of vicious dogs, one breed was constantly mentioned: Pit Bulls. Mayor Ron Kemp suggested the council members meet with people in the city over the next month to gain a better understanding of what the residents of Rector would like to see included in the ordinance and whether or not specific dog breeds should be named

ARIZONA Home Page: http://www.azleg.gov/

HB2011 - AN ACT amending section 13-1208, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to vicious animals.
http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/48leg/2r/bills/hb2011p.htm


HB2153 - AN ACT amending sections 13-1802, 13-2910.01 and 13-2910.02, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to offenses against public order. Relating to dog fighting
http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/48leg/2r/bills/hb2153p.htm

HB2485 - AN ACT to be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona: Section 1. Title 13, chapter 29, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 13-2914, to read: START_STATUTE13-2914. Unlawful public sale of animals; classification; definitions http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/48leg/2r/bills/hb2485p.htm

HB2516 - proposed law will prohibit persons from owning or keeping a dog or cat that is more than six months old if the animal has not been spayed or neutered, unless the person has acquired an intact permit for the animal. Will require breeders to pay an undetermined annual fee for every intact dog they possess.
http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/48leg/2r/bills/hb2516p.htm

HB2553 - AN ACT Amending title 3, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to veterinarians.
http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/48leg/2r/bills/hb2553p.htm

El Mirage - City Council will consider an intergovernmental agreement with the county for full-time animal control services. Law-enforcement officials hope the city's long-standing problem of strays and vicious dogs will be tamed. City Council will review a measure tying the city to an agreement with the Maricopa County Animal Care & Control. Under such an agreement, the county would respond to every animal-control call. Such calls would include dog bites and stray animals. The cost for the fiscal year is $58,500.

CALIFORNIA Home Page: http://www.legislature.ca.gov/

AB0667 (2007) - An act to amend Section 600 of the Penal Code, relating to crimes. Law enforcement animals. Existing law makes it a crime to willfully and maliciously injure any horse or dog used by a peace officer in his or her duties, as specified

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_0651-0700/ab_667_bill_20080107_amended_asm_v98.html

SB0685 (2007) - An act to repeal and add Section 15212 of the Probate Code, relating to pet trusts. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_0651-0700/sb_685_bill_20080123_a

SB0902 (2007) - An act to add Section 13159.85 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to firefighters. Requiring the State Fire Marshall to update regulations for accelerant canines and their handlers. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_0901-0950/sb_902_bill_20080128_amended_sen_v97.html

SB0986 (2007) - An act to amend Section 122350 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to pet stores.

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_0951-1000/sb_986_bill_20080107_amended_sen_v98.html

Huntington Beach - City Council opted out of any programs requiring pet owners to sterilize or microchip their pets - whether mandatory or incentive-based - or to license cats. The council also voted to make it mandatory for anyone advertising dogs or cats for adoption to display a business license number in the ad, which was the only original language added to a city law concerning pet licensing. PASSED 01/04/08

Kern County - County Animal Control Commission answered questions and debunked myths about proposals affecting dog owners and breeders. There are no mandatory spaying and neutering laws in the proposals. Proposals, which have not yet been set, cover issues such as increasing annual license fees for unaltered dogs and animal facility permits.

Long Beach - City Council's Public Safety Committee is expected to meet Feb. 19 or 26 to discuss a proposed "dangerous dog ordinance" that could tighten laws and increase penalties for owners with potentially dangerous dogs. Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske believes the proposed model should include elements from policies advocated by The Coalition for Living Safely with Dogs in the state of Colorado, according to the newspaper. Some of the elements include: .. well-defined procedure for determining if a dog is potentially dangerous, increased penalties and a spay or neuter requirement for dogs found running loose more than once, an option for first-time animal ordinance offenders to choose an education program over costly fines and mandatory pet micro-chipping.

http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_8180925?source=rss

Los Angeles - Most dogs and cats in the city of Los Angeles would have to be spayed or neutered by four months of age under a proposal approved Monday by a City Council committee. The proposed ordinance is intended to reduce the number of animals in the city's shelters and decrease the rate of euthanasia, which costs the city about $2 million a year. The proposed law would require pet owners to spay or neuter their dogs and cats by four months of age. The proposal includes exemptions for animals who show and have competed in at least one legitimate show or sporting competition; dogs that are in the process of earning an agility, carting, herding, protection, rally, hunting, working or other title; guide, signal or service dogs; dogs that are actively used by law enforcement agencies; and animals with valid breeding permits. Update 2/1/08 - passed first reading 10-1 UPDATE: PASSED

Modesto - City Council proposal regarding dangerous dogs could send their owners to jail and ratchet up penalties for canine attacks.

Napa - City Council adopted new regulations Tuesday (01/22/08) for dealing with dangerous and vicious animals. The new rules should speed up enforcement of animal control laws, with greater fines for owners and reduced animal stays at the county shelter for pets. Officers now have more authority to find that a dog is potentially dangerous or vicious and impose corrective actions to protect the public. Owners can appeal to a hearing board. A "potentially dangerous" dog is one that has engaged in unprovoked, aggressive conduct. A "vicious" dog has caused unprovoked injury or death to a human or domestic animal. If a dog is found to be dangerous, the owner will have to agree to having an identifying microchip inserted in the animal, obtain professional training for the animal, reimburse medical expenses and property damage and install graphic warning signs where the animal lives. The additional requirements for vicious animals include expert behavioral testing, construction of an approved safety enclosure, required use of an approved leash, collar and muzzle, spaying or neutering, proof of liability insurance and a prohibition of the dog living with minor children.
Santa Barbara County - County Animal Services will be hosting two community forums to invite public comment regarding a proposed Pet Population Awareness Law (PetPAL). The proposed ordinance to reduce dog and cat overpopulation aims to reduce the number of unwanted dogs and cats in the county by targeting specific populations without imposing additional burdens on responsible pet owners, and seeks to provide assistance to pet owners seeking to alter their pets but unable to afford the service

Santa Barbara County - Ordinance recognizes the responsibility of cat and dog owners to provide proper and humane care for their animals; and the need for mandatory sterilization of designated dogs and cats as a necessary means of addressing the problem of pet overpopulation UPDATE: County of Santa Barbara discussion regarding mandatory spay neuter have been postponed. Originally scheduled for February 27 (Santa Barbara) and February 28 (Santa Maria), the County Board of Supervisors has advised "POSTPONED TO APRIL (POSSIBLY MAY)."
West Hollywood - City Council has voted to ban the sale of dogs from puppy mills