UPDATE: Pit bull ordinance takes center stage in Butte
By Aslan Hodges
A recently proposed pit bull ordinance took center stage at the Butte-Silver Bow Health Center Wednesday evening. The ordinance, proposed by county commissioner Terry Schultz, was discussed by fellow commissioners, members of animal control and concerned residents. All parties involved found common ground on removing the tethering and pit bull specific facets of Schultz's proposed ordinance. There was also approval to look further into registering dogs upon their rabies vaccination to get a more accurate grasp on the number of dogs in the county. The drafting of the new ordinance now hinges on the proposed list of dangerous breeds and defining what is considered a vicious animal. Director of Animal Service Ed Randall hopes to have an ordinance over to the county commission for a vote within 90 days. Also, pit bulls will be the center of attention Thursday at the Butte Public Library when a couple of them show up to educate people about how to act around dogs. Pit bulls, Titan and Chloe, will be at the library to teach the public about approaching dogs, asking the owner before you touch a dog and other ways to behave around the animals. Their owner says last time they did a dog education session at the library more than 150 people showed up, and they are hoping for that outcome again. "Education for me is huge to teach owners owner responsibility and people to be save around dogs and our dogs to be safe too," dog owner Sam Collier said. The event is at the library from 2 to 3 p.m. ___________________________________________ So all parties involved decided that Schultz’s tethering ordinance at all times while outside is ridiculous; they struck it down. That is good news because that was just plain stupid. Now they get to decide who lives and who dies by drafting the new ordinance, which will consist of a dangerous dog list; they will also define what a vicious animal is in their eyes.
The jury also convicted Anthony D. Hunt, 34, of four of the counts and acquitted him of two of the counts. VanLanHam, who lives across the street two houses south of Amos’ former house on the Buena Vista Township side, came to the aid of his life-long friend and was attacked.
Because Boes did not remand Amos to jail prior to her sentencing, it’s unlikely Amos will be sent to prison.
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Here is an update on the Butte pit bull tethering proposal.
Pit bull meeting to be held tonight
Posted: Jun 22, 2010 4:03 PM Updated: Jun 23, 2010 8:42 AM
Schultz has proposed a $100 fine on a first offense and $250 fine and loss of animal on the second offense. The proposed ordinance has been moved to the judiciary committee who will discuss it at tomorrow night's meeting.
And Samantha Collier, owner of All About the Dawg dog daycare, has arranged tonight’s meeting for people to share their feelings and ideas and she says it's not just for pit bull owners but all dog owner.
"We’ll talk about different solutions people might have to the dog problems here in Butte. It's not just a pit bull problem, we have a dog problem at large looking for suggestions and what we can take to the commissioners to make Butte a stronger community especially for our animals," she said.
The meeting is tonight from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Butte Plaza Mall in the room across from the office and restrooms.
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Town orders DOG to be euthanized
Actually, that is not what the title says on this article but it should. The article states, “18-month-old pitbull and black lab mix named Peter.” That is not a pit bull. They probably don’t even know what it is mixed with. This is the kind of stuff that irks me.
In Alabama, a woman used her pit bull/chow mix dog to deter the police from taking her to a mental evaluation; it bit one officer. I think these officers handled the situation appropriately though. Instead of shooting and killing the dog they used another means to subdue the animal—A TRANQUILIZER GUN. The woman sounds very unsound and obviously doesn’t need a pet of any kind.
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(Source: The Montana Standard)By Justin Post, The Montana Standard, Butte
District 4 Commissioner Terry Schultz said his proposed ordinance is in response to what he sees as a growing number of pit bulls attacking other animals.
He said animal control in the city-county responds to a large number of pit bull complaints, and he would like to take action before a person is injured.
"I'm really concerned about that because if it's a small child you've got a problem," Schultz said Monday.
Schultz plans to present the matter to commissioners during this week's meeting, but says it would be sent to committee for further discussion.
He is proposing to require all pit bulls leashed when they are within 100 yards of any place where people gather, including homes, businesses, churches and schools.
A first-time offense would cost the owner $100, followed by a $250 fine and forfeiture of the dog on a second offense.
As his ordinance is proposed, pet owners would be forbidden from having a pit bull unleashed, even in a fenced yard on their property if another home is within 100 yards.
"I don't want them out in the backyard without a tether," said Schultz, who owns no pets.
Schultz said he also is proposing this ordinance after a pit bull attacked another dog in his district.
"We just had an incident in my district and I just think it's time to stop it," he said.
Yet Erin Wall, director of the city-county's animal shelter, said she disagrees with any ordinance that would require owners to keep an animal tied outside.
"Would any person like to be tied up when they were outside?" she asked.
Wall says pit bulls are her favorite breed, and says the animals are wrongly stereotyped as being vicious, aggressive dogs.
"I would have a pit bull in a second," she said. "I think they are amazing. We sensationalize their aggressiveness."
She believes any dog can be aggressive in the hands of the wrong owner and argues that pit bulls, when treated and cared for properly, are great pets.
"Any breed can be mean; it doesn't matter if it's a pit bull or a Chihuahua," Wall said.
Commissioners meet at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday on the third floor of the courthouse, 155 W. Granite.
-- Reporter Justin Post may be reached at Justin.post@lee.net or by telephone, 496-5572.
Copyright (c) 2010, The Montana Standard, Butte
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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OK this commissioner in Butte Silver Bow is an idiot. According to reporter Justin Post, one commissioner proposes the city should “mak[e] it illegal to have the dogs unleashed in residential areas -- regardless of whether they are on private property.”
Now, I don’t disagree, as I am a firm advocate for leash laws; however, Commissioner Terry Shultz states, “… [Per his proposed ordinance], pet owners would be forbidden from having a pit bull unleashed, even in a fenced yard on their property if another home is within 100 yards.”
A non-pet owner Shultz insists they should be tied up even if they are in the backyard. That’s just stupid, not to mention it violates several county anti-tethering laws in Georgia.
“Schultz said he also is proposing this ordinance after a pit bull attacked another dog in his district.” Yes, that is usually when bogus proposals come to light- when something happens.
The article says, “Critics of breed bans argue it's not the animals but their owners who are responsible for attacks like that on Cathy.” Owner irresponsibility causes most dogs to attack — no matter the breed. The owner should have made sure his fence was escape proof and if he wasn’t home when the attack happened, the dogs should have been inside.
The victim’s son, Tom Kovak, says, “"I just hope that he's punished for what happened and pit bulls are banned from Sterling Heights" The owner should be punished but banning pits isn’t going to improve the city’s said pit attack problem. Every dog has the potential to bite; it is a natural canine reaction. My bite is much worse than my dog’s bite ever could be so you might want to proscribe me too.
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Another pit bull shot by an officer this week. The cop was off duty and said the dog aggressively came running up so he shot it; it didn’t bite him. The shot missed any vital organs but he is now deemed a DANGEROUS DOG, which I think is bogus. Granted I wasn’t there but the dog didn’t bite him and some people that are scared of dogs often have a different opinion of what is considered aggressive. The officer wasn’t bit but if this is true, “Hadley told police that the dog has a reputation of running loose and for attacking small dogs in the neighborhood.” Then the owner should be charged and should be dealt with accordingly.
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13-year-old confesses to beating pit bull with a rock
In Baltimore, a 13-year-old girl confessed to the April 2010 beating of a female pit bull. This sadistic child continuously struck the dog in the head with a rock while it was tied to a pole. Lock her up NOW and throw away the key!! This story is cacophonously comparable to one that happened in Baltimore last month involving 3 children, all boys around age 12; however, that dog wasn’t so lucky. What is going on with your children, Baltimore?
By Justin Post, The Montana Standard, Butte 