Missouri Has Good News For All Pit Bull Lovers In The State
4 years ago
Want more stories like this? Follow Us!
I already have<\/div>
<\/div>
I already have<\/div>
<\/div> <\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>';
jQuery('body').append(popup);
jQuery('div.close').click(function () {
disablePopup();
});
jQuery('div.close1').click(function () {
disablePopuplike();
});
var userHasScrolled = false;
var hasPoppedUp =false;
function getLastOffsetTop(el) {
if(el) {
if (el.lastOffsetTop) {
return el.lastOffsetTop;
}
else {
return el.offsetTop;
}
}
return 0;
}
window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {
var scrollTop = window.pageYOffset;
var el = document.getElementById('creditsbox_element');
var tOffsetTop = totalOffsetTop(el);
if (scrollTop > tOffsetTop-window.innerHeight+200){setTimeout(function(){
clickcallpopup();
},60000);
hasPoppedUp = true;}
});
var totalOffsetTop = function(element) {
var top = 0, left = 0;
if(element) {
do {
top += element.offsetTop || 0;
left += element.offsetLeft || 0;
element = element.offsetParent;
} while(element);
}
return top;
};
Last month, Missouri’s General Laws Committee unanimously passed a bill, HB 1811, that would prohibit BSL from being enacted or enforced anywhere in the state. Dog lovers are wagging their tails at the prospect of Missouri putting an end to breed-specific legislation, laws ban or regulate dogs by type or breed, most often targeting Pit Bulls.
The next step is for the bill to be scheduled for a vote on the House Floor. Rep. Ron Hicks (R), the bill’s sponsor in the House, said HB 1811 is designed to end breed-based discrimination against dogs and their families in favor of breed-neutral dog safety laws that punish irresponsible owners.
“Let’s hold the owner of the animal responsible, not the animal itself,” Hicks said to The Missouri Times.
Pit bans and other forms of BSL are condemned by groups like the ASPCA, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Bar Association, the American Kennel Club, and even the White House as bad for families, bad for dogs, expensive to enforce, and ineffective at promoting public safety.
Nineteen states have so-called “preemption” laws, like the one now proposed in Missouri. Utah, the 19th, enacted its law in 2015. Brent Toellner, co-founder and board president for the KC Pet Project — the nonprofit which manages Kansas City, Missouri’s animal shelter — said he is feeling hopeful that Missouri will become the 20th.
“Because of the strong support for the bill, and the limited opposition, I remain optimistic about our chances,” he said.
While a number of Missouri jurisdictions have scrapped BSL in recent years, it persists in some 60 cities and counties around the state. A lot of dogs land in the shelter because of breed bans and then many can’t be adopted into families who want to give them loving homes, because those homes are in areas where blocky-headed dogs aren’t allowed.
Said Toellner:
“If we’re going to be a society that recognizes pets are a part of the family — and most people do consider them that — then our laws should reflect that desire to preserve the human/canine bond versus split it apart. Until the laws change, that’s not going to happen.”
Representative Hicks said in an email that he feels confident that the bill has enough support to pass in the House at this point. The Senate, he said, seems less certain now, “but I certainly hope so.”
(Source)
If you know someone who might like this, please click “Share!”
Prev Article Next Article
About The Author