More info here – will keep updating this as it comes to light:
http://bit.ly/cP8ZQC
Need Garland residents to contact their city council members NOW (contact info below). ***I do not recommend e-mails*** Please call and write snail mail. PLEASE be RESPECTFUL, brief and courteous. Better yet, set up a meeting and bring your family dog pictures, ribbons and certificates.
Also, please urge your friends and neighbors to NOT get rid of their dogs because a) Garland is violating state law and b) it’s not in effect until August anyway.
Beginning August 1, 2010, Dogs considered to be “American Staffordshire Terriers, pit bull dogs, American Bull Dogs, or crossbreeds thereof” must be kept within fences that are at least six feet tall and constructed of wooden planks at least ½ inch thick or 11 gage chain link fencing with no gaps or openings larger than 2 inches. In addition, the fence.must be firmly attached to brace posts buried no less than 18 inches deep, and gates must have a locking mechanism that keeps the gates securely closed.
While I would certainly recommend that anyone with a large dog has a fence that meets these requirements, it is against state law to pass “additional requirements or restrictions” on a certain breed or breeds. Fort Worth recently passed a fence law that applies to all dogs. It started out as BSL in disguise but became more reasonable during the public hearing process (as far as I know for Garland, there was no hearing or city council vote).
The requirements apply to dogs regardless of whether or not they are declared dangerous, been the source of complaints, or have been found running at large. There are no exceptions for elderly dogs or for indoor pets that only go outside with the owners’ supervision.
The city has conveniently left out on the website what the consequences will be for owners who do not meet the requirements:
Fencing Requirement for Pit Bull Dogs
http://www.ci.garland.tx.us/Home/Departments/Community+Services/Animal+Services/as09Pitbull_Landing.htm
Complete directive language:
Fencing Requirement – Pit Bull Dogs
http://www.ci.garland.tx.us/NR/rdonlyres/9F14B7F0-2676-41AD-9C23-B09E38300D7F/0/PitBullFencingPolicy.pdf
Fencing Requirement – Pit Bull Dogs (Spanish Version)
http://www.ci.garland.tx.us/NR/rdonlyres/46B38EDE-A1DA-4AE0-81C1-6471F4739DE5/0/PitBullFencingPolicySpanishVersion.pdf
Garland is the largest city in Texas still using the gas chamber, rather than injection, to euthanize animals. Garland’s policy of not adopting out “pit bulls” is well-known. Also, the city of Garland passed a resolution asking the state legislature to allow cities to pass breed-specific legislation — I guess they just couldn’t wait. It’s time for responsible owners in Garland to stand up and be counted!
Please contact your elected officials and oppose this ordinance:
mayor@ci.garland.tx.us
Mayor Ronald Jones
972-205-2400
council1@ci.garland.tx.us
Councilmember Doug Athas, District 1
972-205-2121
council2@ci.garland.tx.us
Councilmember Laura Perkins Cox, District 2
214-364-9319
council3@ci.garland.tx.us
Councilmember Preston Edwards, District 3
972-271-1908
council4@ci.garland.tx.us
Councilmember Larry Jeffus, District 4
972-686-5698
council5@ci.garland.tx.us
Councilmember John Willis, District 5
214-957-7979
council6@ci.garland.tx.us
Councilmember Barbara Chick, District 6
972-276-2524
council7@ci.garland.tx.us
Councilmember Rick Williams, District 7
972-495-9545
council8@ci.garland.tx.us
Councilmember Darren Lathen, District 8
972-465-0435
Write the Mayor and Council Members:
Garland City Hall
200 N. 5th Street
Garland, Texas 75040
Garland has passed illegal Breed-specific legislation
**please forward and cross-post, especially to people who live in Garland**
More info here – will keep updating this as it comes to light:
http://bit.ly/cP8ZQC
Need Garland residents to contact their city council members NOW (contact info below). ***I do not recommend e-mails*** Please call and write snail mail. PLEASE be RESPECTFUL, brief and courteous.
Also, please urge your friends and neighbors to NOT get rid of their dogs because a) Garland is violating state law and b) it’s not in effect until August anyway.
Beginning August 1, 2010, Dogs considered to be “American Staffordshire Terriers, pit bull dogs, American Bull Dogs, or crossbreeds thereof” must be kept within fences that are at least six feet tall and constructed of wooden planks at least ½ inch thick or 11 gage chain link fencing with no gaps or openings larger than 2 inches. In addition, the fence.must be firmly attached to brace posts buried no less than 18 inches deep, and gates must have a locking mechanism that keeps the gates securely closed.
While I would certainly recommend that anyone with a large dog has a fence that meets these requirements, it is against state law to pass “additional requirements or restrictions” on a certain breed or breeds. Fort Worth recently passed a fence law that applies to all dogs. It started out as BSL in disguise but became more reasonable during the public hearing process (as far as I know for Garland, there was no hearing or city council vote).
The requirements apply to dogs regardless of whether or not they are declared dangerous, been the source of complaints, or have been found running at large. There are no exceptions for elderly dogs or for indoor pets that only go outside with the owners’ supervision.
The city has conveniently left out on the website what the consequences will be for owners who do not meet the requirements:
Fencing Requirement for Pit Bull Dogs
http://www.ci.garland.tx.us/Home/Departments/Community+Services/Animal+Services/as09Pitbull_Landing.htm
Complete directive language:
Fencing Requirement – Pit Bull Dogs
http://www.ci.garland.tx.us/NR/rdonlyres/9F14B7F0-2676-41AD-9C23-B09E38300D7F/0/PitBullFencingPolicy.pdf
Fencing Requirement – Pit Bull Dogs (Spanish Version)
http://www.ci.garland.tx.us/NR/rdonlyres/46B38EDE-A1DA-4AE0-81C1-6471F4739DE5/0/PitBullFencingPolicySpanishVersion.pdf
Garland is the largest city in Texas still using the gas chamber, rather than injection, to euthanize animals. Garland’s policy of not adopting out “pit bulls” is well-known. Also, the city of Garland passed a resolution asking the state legislature to allow cities to pass breed-specific legislation — I guess they just couldn’t wait. It’s time for responsible owners in Garland to stand up and be counted!
Please contact and oppose this ordinance:
mayor@ci.garland.tx.us
Mayor Ronald Jones
972-205-2400
council1@ci.garland.tx.us
Councilmember Doug Athas, District 1
972-205-2121
council2@ci.garland.tx.us
Councilmember Laura Perkins Cox, District 2
214-364-9319
council3@ci.garland.tx.us
Councilmember Preston Edwards, District 3
972-271-1908
council4@ci.garland.tx.us
Councilmember Larry Jeffus, District 4
972-686-5698
council5@ci.garland.tx.us
Councilmember John Willis, District 5
214-957-7979
council6@ci.garland.tx.us
Councilmember Barbara Chick, District 6
972-276-2524
council7@ci.garland.tx.us
Councilmember Rick Williams, District 7
972-495-9545
council8@ci.garland.tx.us
Councilmember Darren Lathen, District 8
972-465-0435
Write the Mayor and Council Members:
Garland City Hall
200 N. 5th Street
Garland, Texas 75040