Ft Worth considers animal rights legislation

[Ginger]

Information about things happening in Texas could be in the mix for YOU!...  I suggest you keep yourself informed because the animal RIGHTS groups are behind the scenes working against the animal WELFARE groups, and they are WAYYYY ahead of us! -------Original Message-------   From: Responsible Pet Owners Alliance Date: 4/21/2009 9:00:53 PM To: TX-...@LISTSERV.TAMU.EDU Subject: TX: Ft Worth considers animal rights legislation   April 21, 2009 City of Ft. Worth, Texas, to consider Mandatory Dog and Cat Spay/Neuter, Intact Animal Permit, and determining a dog to be dangerous for "charging a fence."    Fort Worth dog and cat lovers should contact city council members, attend animal control advisory board meetings and request a copy of proposed regulations being considered.  Texas Humane Legislation Network's 9 new chapters are promoting similar legislation statewide.  First San Antonio, then Dallas and now Ft. Worth.  The first two meetings on the changes in Ft. Worth are scheduled for 6 p.m. May 14 at the Botanic Gardens and 9 a.m. June 6 at the Botanic Gardens. ****************************************************  http://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/1330009.html OR http://tinyurl.com/cora4m Fort Worth may stiffen aggressive dog rules, permit darting BY MIKE LEE mik...@star-telegram.com FORT WORTH -- Animal control officers might start using tranquilizer darts to subdue dangerous dogs in some cases, and owners of aggressive dogs could face sharply higher fees and tougher requirements for fencing and licenses, under a proposed rewrite of the city's animal control rules. The proposals aren't final, and residents will be able to comment on them at meetings in May and June. City Code Enforcement officials say the changes are needed because of a growing number of aggressive dogs found on Fort Worth's streets -- particularly pit bulls. "That doesn't mean every pit bull is aggressive," Code Compliance Director Brandon Bennett told the City Council Tuesday. But the number of pit bulls and pit-bull mixes brought into the animal shelter grew to 4,631 in 2008 from 2,154 in 2004. There have been several attacks and near misses. In 2007, an animal control officer, Jennifer Phillips, was bitten on her arms and legs when she confronted two dogs that were running loose. She probably prevented an attack on nearby residents, Animal Control Director Keane Menefee said. In January, a child was killed by a Rottweiler after crawling through a backyard fence in far North Fort Worth. Currently, cities can declare a dog dangerous if it attacks someone, and require the owner to pay an annual fee and build a stronger fence. The dog can be impounded or destroyed if a second attack happens. But state law prohibits cities from writing rules on a specific breed of dog. Instead, Bennett proposed tougher rules on all kinds of dogs once they act aggressively, including: *  Allowing the city to impose safety restriction on dogs before an attack happens - if a dog charges a fence, for instance, or is caught at large several times *  Requiring higher and stronger fences, based on a dog's size *  Prohibiting dogs that are deemed dangerous in other cities from relocating to Fort Worth *  Requiring all animals to be spayed or neutered, unless the owner pays an extra fee *  Increasing the fee for loose dogs from $200 to $500 and the annual fee for a dangerous dog from $50 to $500. The city stopped using tranquilizer darts in 1995, after the outcry over a dog nicknamed "Island Girl." The dog had become trapped in a grassy island in a freeway interchange. Animal control officers had tried to catch her with ropes and bait, and decided to use a dart to prevent her from getting into traffic. The dog was paralyzed after a dart hit her in the spine. Bennett said darts could be used under tight controls. "They're the right tool under the right circumstances," he said. The first two meetings on the changes are scheduled for 6 p.m. May 14 at the Botanic Gardens and 9 a.m. June 6 at the Botanic Gardens.

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