dog bill

briannell · Post by **briannell** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 2:48 pm

My problem with this is that some people will become hysterical about certain breeds. I also have a problem that the sentence length is disporportional to other violent crimes. for example the dogs were not "set loose" and instructed to maul this woman, unlike Whipple in SF. I think 13 years would be too lengthy a sentence. VA tends to have some stronger laws in general than here in WA state. I still say if you want to be a violent criminal just move here, you'll only get probation when you should get prison. i do think this was a horrific death, and the owner should be liable.

Mauling Death Sets Off Review of Dog Laws By KRISTEN GELINEAU, Associated Press Writer
45 minutes ago

A Virginia lawmaker is proposing tough legislation to punish dog owners whose pets injure or kill, following a fatal attack on an elderly widow by three roaming pit bulls.

Dorothy Sullivan, 82, was attacked March 8 while walking her small dog, Buttons, in her own front yard in Partlow. Buttons also was killed.

Her family and some legislators say her death spotlights the need for legislative action.

"The horrific nature of Mrs. Sullivan's death, coupled with the prosecutor telling me he really didn't have a whole lot legally as means to pursue the case, told me that Virginia law really seemed to be lacking," said state Sen. R. Edward Houck. He plans to present the Dorothy Sullivan Memorial Bill to the General Assembly when it convenes next month.

In the absence of a specific law, the woman who prosecutors say owned the pit bulls, Deanna Large, faces trial Tuesday on a charge of involuntary manslaughter. It is the first time in Virginia a dog owner will be prosecuted on such a charge in a fatal mauling.

Large, 37, who lives down the road from Sullivan's house, could be sentenced to up to 13 years in prison if convicted of the felony and of three misdemeanor counts of allowing a dangerous dog to run at large.

Houck's bill would add a provision to state law to make fatal dog attacks a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $2,500.

It also would make certain dog attacks that result in serious injury felonies, instead of the current misdemeanors, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $2,500 fine. The penalties would be harsher for owners whose pets have previously been declared dangerous.

"There should be an option for the commonwealth to seek a stiffer penalty," said Kim Hamilton, executive director of the Virginia State Crime Commission.

The measure also would allow law enforcement officials to petition a court to declare a dog dangerous. Currently, only animal control officers have such authority. Owners of dogs declared dangerous would be required to maintain a $300,000 insurance policy, up from the $100,000 required now.

Despite the public outcry over Sullivan's death, Houck acknowledges getting the General Assembly to pass the legislation could be tricky.

"There's an old saying at the General Assembly: 'You do not introduce a dog bill,'" he said. "There's such a wide assortment and differing opinions about dogs that it's very difficult to develop a consensus."

Passionate debate between dog owners and attack victims makes it a tough issue for lawmakers to tackle, said Los Angeles attorney Kenneth Phillips, who has represented victims in more than 1,000 dog bite cases.

"It's tricky politically," Phillips said.

Most regulation of dog laws is done at the local level. Some cities, including Denver and Miami, ban pit bulls. Last month in San Francisco, city supervisors passed a law requiring spaying and neutering of pit bulls following the killing of a 12-year-old boy. In August, Ontario became the first province in Canada to ban pit bulls following a string of attacks by the dogs.

Banning certain breeds simply doesn't work, said Ledy VanKavage, an attorney with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

"It's a knee-jerk reaction," she said.

Sullivan's daughter, Betty Greene, said her family has collected more than 3,500 signatures on a petition calling for stricter dog laws. She hopes the General Assembly will take her mother's death to heart when considering the legislation next month.

"A lot of people agree with our petition and they want something done," said Greene, 57, of Partlow. "If they do pass the law and it does some good, at least she wouldn't have died for nothing."

___

On the Net:

General Assembly: http://legis.state.va.us/

ASPCA: http://www.aspca.org/

BWahlberg · Post by **BWahlberg** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 11:18 pm

I own a rescued Rottweiler, she was malnourished (sp?) and abused, she was afraid of anything or anyone she didn't know. After a year of treating her like a normal dog, she's become the best dog I've ever owned. She's friendly, not afraid of hardly anything, eager to meet new people, and very content (also 15 lbs heavier). I believe that she'll never harm anyone unless that individual is attacking my wife, my son, or myself. She's an amazing animal, very muscular and strong, she's built like a brick wall. Steriotypes about Rotts come up a lot with some of my family members and friends, it comes with the territory, and she's proof that good owners have good dogs.

That said, bad owners usually have bad dogs. Not bad like peeing on the carpet or chasing cars, but biting and chasing people stuff like that. If someone "creates" a violent dog then it's their responsibility, if that dog attacks someone the owner should be held responsible.

briannell · Post by **briannell** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 11:24 pm

i work with Mastiff rescue so this was interesting to me. i agree about your Rott, Rotties were carting/farmers dogs and are excellent in families when well socialized . As for the dogs i work with people assume size means aggressive and it is the exact opposite with mastiff's. i do however, carry a very large extra insurance policy as a home owner for that "extreme" chance my 215 pound male eats an intruder

bozbobcat · Post by **bozbobcat** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 11:48 pm

Good owners make good dogs. Any dog can become abusive if abused, and a dog that is loved won't hurt anyone unless their family is being attacked. As for these pit bulls, didn't Denver and San Francisco ban them after similar events?

BWahlberg · Post by **BWahlberg** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 12:26 am

I think a lot of areas have banned Rotts, Pit Bulls and Dobermans. I know my homeowners insurance provider thinks I own a "mutt" or else I wouldn't have insurance.

ChiOCat · Post by **ChiOCat** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 8:48 am

Unfortunately, some breeds have been selectively bred for fighting. When you breed one mean dog to another mean dog, then breed that pup to a mean dog, for a few generations can you really raise that dog to be nice? And when I'm out on the streets, pushing a stroller with my boys in it, I can't tell if that Rot weiler or Doberman barking his head off at me is one of those well bred and raised one or not.

I don't think banning the bread is the right thing to do, but I think neighbors should have a little more to say if they feel someone has a potentially hazardous dog. That being based on actual events, not just they don't like the dog.

Just last week, my boys were playing out in our fenced in back yard and a large husky broke through our fence! Luckily, he was friendly and just wanted to play, but he was the same size as my middle boy, and jumping all over them. They were terrified (my eldest has been afraid of dogs for no reason since day one) and still ask about that husky breaking into our yard again. I don't know what I would have done had it been a vicious dog!

briannell · Post by **briannell** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 11:34 am

see if that happened to my kids, even working in rescue, that would have REALLY upset me. I am always aware of unleashed dogs. although the neighbor thing I honestly don't deal with. i have one neighbor that actually told me when we moved in that he would sue me for having Mastiff's. He called the local PD and we'd been in the house only 3 days saying he had a "vicious" dog that threatened him. I laughed as he is used for animal Assisted therapy, so the cops told my neighbor to back off. That neighbor put his home up for sale a month ago. It's all about being responsible. Pits can be loving loyal dogs, it's the owners that screw up not the dog. I do think owners should be liable - but the sentence asked for was too lengthy IMO.

on a side note - I think it's funny that I had a friend offer to give me a heeler for "safety", because my mastiff is so gentle - he wanted the kids to be safe.

briannell · Post by **briannell** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 12:00 pm

funny - now the police have the vicious dog - this was in today's missoulian.

Dec 19, 9:23 AM EST

Dog Among Defendants in Drug Dealer's Suit

ATHENS, Ohio (AP) -- In a lawsuit filed by a convicted drug dealer, one of the defendants has more than two legs to stand on. He has four.

Andi, a dog used by the Athens County Sheriff's Department, is listed as one of the defendants in a lawsuit filed by Wayne Francis Green, 46, who sued Nov. 18.

Green, who is representing himself, alleges that a search of his furniture business in 2003 was illegal. The search turned up 50 pounds of marijuana, and last month Green was convicted of possession and trafficking in the drug.

He claims officers also went into an adjoining building that he owned without a warrant, but police deny it. Green also said that he felt endangered by Andi's presence.

"They've got a mean ol' dog, you know what I'm saying? I take that pretty serious," Green said, adding, "I'm a dog lover, but that's the limit."

Green's lawsuit, which seeks $450,000 in damages, also was filed against police investigators, Athens County Sheriff Vern Castle and the trial judge.

Last Thursday, Andi the German shepherd was informed that he's being sued - sort of. With a paw print, the dog "signed" the paper indicating he had been formally served with the complaint.

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ChiOCat · Post by **ChiOCat** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 1:39 pm

The dog wasn't actually unleashed, it appeared he'd been working for a long time to get loose. He has a wire chain padlocked to his collar, and the end looked like it had just been worked long enough to weaken and break. When I called the sherrif, they said they'd had 2 calls about him before, but couldn't catch him. I closed him in the back yard (boys inside of course) and the sherrif came and took him away.

briannell · Post by **briannell** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 1:55 pm

my boy was nipped at 2 by a Saint Bernard cross. belonged to another MSU alumni that happened to be a nurse - the first time the men were " in charge" of Ben. didn't do wonders for me, ben was scared for awhile, but now he likes all the "mean looking" breeds and dislikes the little breeds. He wants me to have 4 mastiff's at home, instead we have one and I work to get donations and act as taxi for other rescued mastiff's. 4 is nuts, don't need 800 pounds of dog in my home - well -unless I build say a 6000 sf home than i wouldn't notice the drool