Get your pens out.

(CROSS POSTED FROM http://www.nomuzzle.blogspot.ca/)

Radical new bill talks of banning pit bulls in Ore., euthanizing them
By Meghan Kalkstein KATU News and KATU.com Staff PORTLAND, Ore.

A new bill on pit bulls that hasn't even hit the Senate floor yet is already getting a lot of heat from folks on both sides of the issue.

Under a bill from Sen. Bruce Starr's office, owning a pit bull would be illegal in Oregon and the state would punish those who own one by euthanizing the dog, slapping the owner with thousands of dollars in fines and perhaps even throwing them in jail. And if your pit bull killed someone? Then you could be fined $125,000, spend five years in jail or both.

Those who already own a pit bull would be grandfathered in, so to speak. They would have to obtain a permit to keep the pit bull (for a fee) and provide a certificate from a veterinarian showing that the dog had been sterilized.Here is the summary that is laid out in the draft of the bill:Prohibits keeping of pit bull. Creates exception for pit bulls currently in state upon meeting certain conditions. Declares pit bull dangerous dog and makes keeping of pit bull punishable by euthanization of dog and by maximum of $6,250 fine, one year's imprisonment, or both.

If dog kills person, punishes by maximum of $125,000 fine, five years' imprisonment, or both. (If you would like to read the proposed legislation in full, click here.)The bill has not had a first reading on the Senate floor yet. That is expected in a week or two.

Please send your polite, calm informative emails to our senators. Remember to note the ineffectiveness of BSL, the cost, and the extreme difficulty in enforcement. For help on writing to legislators, http://www.stopbsl.com/. com is a great resource.
Here is the contact information:

Senator Jason Atkinson
Party: R District: 2
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1702
Interim Phone: 541-955-0911
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-415, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: PO Box 1704, Grants Pass, OR, 97528
Email: sen.jasonatkinson@state.or.us

Senator Alan C Bates
Party: D District: 3
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1703
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-205, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.alanbates@state.or.us

Senator Suzanne Bonamici
Party: D District: 17
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1717
District Phone: 503-627-0246
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-403, Salem, OR, 97301
District Office Address: PO Box 990, Beaverton, OR, 97075
Email: sen.suzannebonamici@state.or.us

Senator Brian Boquist
Party: R District: 12
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1712
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-305, Salem,, OR, 97301
Email: sen.brianboquist@state.or.us

Senator Ginny Burdick
Party: D District: 18
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1718
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-213, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.ginnyburdick@state.or6.us

Senator Margaret Carter
Party: D District: 22
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1722
Interim Phone: 503-282-6846
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-209, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: PO Box 3722, Portland, OR, 97208
Email: sen.margaretcarter@state.or.us

Senator Peter Courtney
Party: D District: 11
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1600
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-201, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.petercourtney@state.or.us

Senator Richard Devlin
Party: D District: 19
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1700
Capitol Address: 900 Court6 St. NE., S-223, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.richarddevlin@state.or.us

Senator Jackie Dingfelder
Party: D District: 23
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1723
Interim Phone: 503-493-2804
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-407, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: PO Box 13432, Portland, OR, 97213
Email: sen.jackiedingfelder@state.or.us

Senator Ted Ferrioli
Party: R District: 30
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1950
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-323, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.tedferrioli@ state.or.us
Sen6ator Larry George
Party: R District: 13
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1713
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-307, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.larrygeorge@state.or.us

Senator Fred Girod
Party: R District: 9
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1709
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-421, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.fredgir6od@state.or.us

Senator Mark Hass
Party: D District: 14
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1714
District Phone: 503-641-2742
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-419, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.markhass@state.or.us

Senator Betsy Johnson
Party: D District: 16
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1716
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-215, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.betsyjohnson@state.or.us

Senator Jeff Kruse
Party: R District: 1
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1701
Interim Phone: 541-673-7201
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-316, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 636 Wild Iris Lane, Roseburg, OR, 97470
Email: sen.jeffkruse@state.or.us

Senator Rick Metsger
Party: D District: 26
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1726
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-315, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.rickmetsger@state.or.us

Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson
Party: D District: 25
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1725
Interim Phone: 503-618-3071
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-413, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: PO Box 1531 , Gresham, OR, 97030
Email: sen.lauriemonnesanderson@state.or.us

Senator Rod Monroe
Party: D District: 24
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1724
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-409, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.rodmonroe@state.or.us

Senator Bill Morrisette
Party: D District: 6
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1706
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-207, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.billmorrisette@state.or.us

Senator Frank Morse
Party: R District: 8
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1708
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-311, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.frankmorse@state.or.us

Senator David Nelson
Party: R District: 29
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1729
Interim Phone: 541-278-2332
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-211, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 1407 NW Horn Ave., Pendleton, OR, 97801
Email: sen.davidnelson@state.or.us

Senator Floyd Prozanski
Party: D District: 4
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1704
Interim Phone: 541-342-2447
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-417, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: PO Box 11511, Eugene, OR, 97440
Email: sen.floydprozanski@state.or.us

Senator Diane Rosenbaum
Party: D District: 21
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1721
Interim Phone: 503-231-9970
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-405, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 1125 SE Madison St., Suite 100B, Portland, OR, 97214
Email: sen.dianerosenbaum@state.or.us

Senator Martha Schrader
Party: D District: 20
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1720
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-425, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.marthaschrader@state.or.us

Senator Bruce Starr
Party: R District: 15
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1715
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-411, Salem, OR, 97302
Email: sen.brucestarr@state.or.us
Senator Chris Telfer
Party: R District: 27
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1727
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-423, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.christelfer@state.or.us

Senator Joanne Verger
Party: D District: 5
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1705
Interim Phone: 541-756-4140
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-401, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 3696 Broadway PMB 344, North Bend, OR, 97459
Email: sen.joanneverger@state.or.us

Senator Vicki L Walker
Party: D District: 7
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1707
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-309, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.vickiwalker@state.or.us

Senator Doug Whitsett
Party: R District: 28
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1728
Interim Phone: 541-882-1315
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE., S-303, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 23131 North Poe Valley Rd., Klamath Falls, OR, 97603
Email: sen.dougwhitsett@state.or.us

Senator Jackie Winters
Party: R District: 10
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1710
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-301, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.jackiewinters@state.or.us

Come together now!

Another headline, another reason for ALL Pit Bull owners to pull up their socks and get back to work. Time to get out there and show your community that there is more to this breed than what they see on the news.

Mission Attack

Also this is another reason for any and all Pit Bull owner that can, to come out and join us on March 22nd at Burnaby Lake Sports Complex. We are going to go over how everyone of us can help to change the negative stereotypes.

Hope to see you there.

Mange Maddess & Victories

Back in 2007 a group of dogs opened our eyes to the serious effects of neglected manage. The 4 Lovely ladies had us all wondering, how on earth someone could let this go untreated? Sadly 3 years later, the cases of untreated manage are becoming more and more common and even more shocking.

LOVELY

RIP

Lovely was emaciated, completely bald, covered in oozing sores, and swollen all over, particularly in her legs and feet. As though she knew we were there to help, Lovely used her last vestiges of energy to lick the assessor's face and lean into her for comfort, before trying to take a few steps after her to the car. It was the last time she would be semi-aware and stand up to try to walk on her own. Lovely was let go in peace on the afternoon of May 24th, 2007.

From Lovely, came The Lovely Fund a fundraising plan to help get dogs like Lovely the help they need.

Currently Mason is in our program, neglected beyond comprehension it broke our hearts to see this senior in the shelter. His eyes completely swollen shut, missing hair, itching mess of allergies and covered in open sores. This boy was a mess but his heart was as clean, soft and warm as any we have ever seen. Mason is now recovering, his eyes are open (although we believe he is slightly blind) his hair is slowly starting to grow back and his temperament as solid as a rock.

Mason Before:

Mason Now

Mason still has a long way to go but if you want to help Mason recover please donate to The Lovely Fund.

HSUS - It's about time!

After 145(?) Pit Bulls including Pit Bull puppies were "put to sleep" at the request of the Humane Society of the United States. This same organization has now FINALLY decided that maybe it's time to take a look at their policies, escpeially those concerning the handing of Pit Bulls taken from fighting busts and change them.

"The Humane Society of the United States on February 23 issued an interim policy recommending all dogs be evaluated as individuals, and is calling a meeting of leading animal welfare organizations concerning dogs victimized by dog fighting."


To continue reading...


The Best Bits:

"The new interim policy announced by the HSUS, pending the outcome of the meeting, recommends that local law enforcement and animal control evaluate such dogs as individuals rather than as a category before any decision is made regarding their future. "

"Julie Castle, director of Community Programs and Services for Best Friends said, “There had been more than enough airing of feelings and outrage that the dogs were not evaluated prior to being summarily euthanized. It was time to hit the reset button on this in order to move things forward in a constructive way. Mr. Pacelle was open and receptive to what we had to say and we are looking forward to our meetings in April.”

Whatever the reason, whether it be the negative response from the public on the handling of this case, the quick response and strong presence of Best Friends or maybe just maybe the big wigs of the HSUS all woke up with a conscience.

Either way this news comes too late for the dogs from Wilkes County .

Amazing or Common Sense?

Calgary Herald

Is whats happening in Calgary so amazing or is it all just common sense?

Reading though this article makes me smile because it is a shining example of the results you can get by stepping up to the plate and holding people accountable for their actions.

What Calgary has done is what every municipality should be doing and we have no more excuses, we know that these changes work, the numbers don't lie.

Wake up BC! it's time for us as a Province to start thinking proactive rather than reactive.

Click to read the City of Calgary's RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP BYLAW

Something To Smile About!!

Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone that donated funds to help get our case heard at the Supreme Court level. Because of all of you that donated The Dog Legislation Council of Canada will now have another chance at having Bill 132 overturned. We will keep you posted on the progress. Keep your fingers and paws crossed.

Come Meet With Us!

HugABull Advocacy & Rescue Society Orientation & Information Session

Sunday March 22, 2009
Burnaby Lake Sports Complex West
3677 Kensington Avenue Room # 1 (same location as last year)
7:00PM - 9:00PM
Refreshments & Snacks Provided

Topics of Discussion:

• Who is HugABull and what do we do


• New additions to the team


• The Pit Bull - Brief overview, Breeding Practices, Identifying a Backyard breeder and Finding a Reputable Breeder.


• Who is a Responsible Owner?


• Dog Aggression Vs. Human Aggression - There is a difference,


• Acknowledgements – giving thanks,


• Community Events Past and Present,


• Spreading the Positive Pit Bull Word and how you can get involved – Volunteering Opportunities, BSL - What is it, Where is it and who does it affect?


• Update on Ontario's BSL


• What the Future holds for us and our dogs

This meeting is open to everyone, new and current volunteers, dog owners and dog enthusiasts. Whether you have a Pit Bull or are thinking about getting a Pit Bull this meeting will have a little something for everyone.

If you are interested in attending please email hugabull@gmail.com with your name and how many guests will be attending with you.

Also keep your eyes open for your upcoming poster; it will be hanging around town in no time