Published: Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008 / Updated: Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008 09:47 AM
Locals question breed-specific laws
CLOVER -- A tethered dog is like a loaded gun, according to the Committee for Responsible Pet Ownership, which cautioned Clover leaders to target abusive owners rather than specific dog breeds as it prepares to beef up its animal control laws.
Several animal advocates turned out for Monday's Clover Town Council meeting, but council didn't discuss its pending vicious animal ordinance, opting to schedule a workshop later this month to talk details.
But that didn't stop people from talking to council.
Alicia Schwartz and three others from the Committee for Responsible Pet Ownership encouraged council to pass a law prohibiting tethering. They said tethering frustrates dogs, both physically and mentally, which makes them aggressive. After a while, tethered dogs may lash out.
"They're loaded guns," Schwartz said. "The solution is to make owners accountable."
The group also asked council to consider raising licensing fees for unaltered animals and giving police officers more enforcement power.
Clover resident Dona Van Leer said council should refrain from targeting specific breeds.
"You can take any dog and make it a vicious dog," said Van Leer, who called breed-specific rules "discrimination."
For example, she said pit bulls were bred with a strong sense of fighting, mainly to corner bulls.
"They were bred for one purpose and being used for another," she said, referring to the frequent use of pit bulls in illegal dog fighting.
During last month's council meeting, Mayor Donnie Grice mentioned that pit bulls are a problem in Clover.
But on Monday, Grice assured the group that he's not singling out pit bulls.
"This is for all vicious dogs," he said of the proposed ordinance.
In a memo to council, Town Administrator Allison Harvey said she couldn't find any research proving that breed-specific legislation is successful.
However, breeds considered vicious by other municipalities nationwide include the American Pit Bull, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, any mix of those three, Rottweilers and Doberman Pinchers, according to the memo. Some municipalities prohibit those breeds while others require higher registration fees for those breeds or additional property signs (such as "Beware of Dog").
Harvey said she has noticed a "tremendous lobby" against breed specific legislation.
She recommended that council wait for York County to finalize changes to a similar ordinance before taking action.
The town council workshop is 5:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Larne Building in Clover. Workshops are open to the public, although council does not vote at them.
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