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GEORGIA
Athens-Clarke County - proposal set to come up for a commission vote, dogs would have to be kept inside, in a pen or other outdoor enclosure, on a leash or on the owner's property and within view - not tied up to a tree or other stationary object. The proposed ordinance, as it's written now, requires an enclosure large enough for a dog to "stand up, turn around, lay down, and make all other normal body movements in a normal and comfortable position appropriate to the age, size and health of the animal." Some commissioners have expressed their feelings that the ordinance is vague and what happens to dogs whose owners cannot afford fencing for a kennel.
Cobb County - The state Department of Agriculture, which oversees shelter licensing and inspections, informed Cobb it was withdrawing its May approval of the shelter's gas chamber. Agricultural Commissioner Tommy Irvin tells Cobb to "begin taking whatever steps are necessary to make arrangements for alternative means of euthanizing" the animals. New euthanasia methods go into effective 10/30/07
Rockdale County - no tethering ordinance was adopted by the Board of Commissioners. Passed 9/25/07
ILLINOIS
Springfield - SB1279 - Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an insurer issuing a policy or contract insuring against liability for injury to any person or against liability for injury to or destruction of property, arising out of ownership or lease of residential one, 2, 3, or 4 dwelling real property, may cancel, charge, or impose an increased premium or rate for or refuse to issue or renew that kind of policy or contract based in whole or in part upon the harboring of a dog found to be vicious under the Animal Control Act upon the insured property. text available upon request. Update: Scheduled for third reading on the December Docket

Berwyn - Owners of “aggressive” dogs in Berwyn will now have to take out a $100,000 insurance policy in case someone is harmed by the animal, according to a new ordinance. If dogs are found guilty of attacking someone, they can be banned from the city. The liability insurance would ensure that the owners of such dogs could pay for medical and other bills resulting from an attack, officials said. The insurance was one of the stipulations made within amendments to the city’s dangerous dog ordinance. If the dogs show any aggressive behavior, now they will be dealt with, regardless of breed. Passed 10/24/07 Effective 11/03/07 Update: Berwyn is imposing new rules and penalties on residents who own what the city considers to be dangerous dogs. Mayor Michael O'Connor says a dog must first be declared dangerous by the police chief who explains a dog is not considered dangerous unless it menaces a person. City Council will also be discussing mandatory microchipping at the next meeting.
Burnham - Considering BSL. Update:A local breed advocate called the Burnham police chief and got him to
pull the BSL from consideration. Even though BSL is off the table, something just as bad could take its place though so local breed advocates continue to monitor the situation.
INDIANA
Fort Wayne - The Dangerous Dog Input Group panel held a "public imput" meeting on how to help prevent dog attacks . The following decisions were the out come: regarding breed ban such as pit-bulls - no on bred banning, will consider includes stricter leash laws, and a possible requirement for some animals to be spayed or neutered, serious repercussions for owners of pets that do attack, and stepped up efforts to educate the public. Tethering laws - will also recommend dogs cannot be chained outside from 11 at night to 6 in the morning. City council will look over the panel's suggestions and finalize details of the proposal. A vote could come by the end of the year. Committee's list of recommendations to city - Mandatory spaying and neutering, regardless of the severity of the bite. . No tethering of dogs younger than 6 months old. . No tethering dogs between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. . Tethered dogs must be kept three feet from property lines and public rights of way, including in fenced yards. . Only three dogs can be tethered at one house at one time. Fort Wayne residents who want to tether their dogs outside or whose dogs escape and bite may be forced to have them spayed or neutered.
New Richmond - at the town council meeting prior to the forum, all three members voted to approve the amended section of the vicious animals ordinance to ban pit bull breeds from within the town limits. This was the third and final reading of the ordinance. Pit bulls already in the community will be grandfathered in, but no additional animals of this breed will be allowed in the town. The ban was added as a precautionary measure for this type dog even though there has never been problem with any Pitbull. Passed 11/05/07
Wabash - a citizen’s proposal before the City Council is calling for tougher regulations against pitbulls. The Council unanimously agreed to have the mayor look into the issue. Mayor Bob Vanlandingham, in turn, asked the Council members to talk to their constituents in an effort to get a feeling for what the community wants in this arena. In his proposal Dave Monroe (citizen) wants - Require a permit to own a pit bull - Have owners carry liability insurance in the amount of $50,000. (He noted that most homeowners insurance does not cover pit bulls, and, in fact, some insurance companies will cancel your insurance if they find out you own a pit bull.) - Require owners to have the pit bull checked by a veterinarian every year. - Require owners to have a facility to adequately confine the animal(s).
KANSAS
Wichita - City Council - Dogs that aggressively chase people and are deemed dangerous by city animal officers must have identifying microchips and be sterilized under rules approved unanimously by the Wichita City Council. The city will track statistics involving dangerous animals for the next six months and, at that time, consider whether the ordinance needs even tighter restrictions. Passed 11/06/07
Wichita - City Council approved the vicious dog ordinance. While they unanimously supported the changes for dogs, they debated the threat of a wallaby. The ordinance means owner's of dangerous dogs will pay higher fines for dog bites. And they'll be forced to sterilize their dogs caught running at large more than once. "The fees and fines will escalate that people will fix their fences and take care of being responsible for vicious pets," The council will get monthly updates on the dog ordinance. After six months, if it doesn't look like its working, the city will consider stiffer laws possibly targeting specific breeds. Regarding the wallaby - one clause focuses on removing fur bearing mammals. Wallabys are not mammals, they are marsupials . Sounds like another city council who makes laws and are totally uneducated regarding the topics.