Advocacy

Breed-Specific Legislation in Minnesota

Since the 2008 Minnesota legislative session convened in February, no action has been taken on breed-specific legislation. Rep. Lesch did not introduce his bill to ban five breeds of dogs; instead, he proposed several changes to a bill introduced in the House on Feb. 14 by Rep. Michael Paymar (DFL-St. Paul), which addresses the issue of dangerous dogs. Paymar’s bill, HF 2906, was referred from the House floor to the Public Safety and Civil Justice Committee. The bill was introduced to the Senate, SF 2876, on Feb. 20 by Sens. Anderson, Torres Ray, Murphy, Koering, and Dille and referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Veterans. It was re-referred to the House and, as of Feb. 25, is in the Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Committee, where it is scheduled for discussion on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 12:30 p.m.

The bill seeks to amend Minnesota Statute 2006, sections 347.50-347.56 as follows (from Senate summary):

“Modifying provisions regulating dangerous dogs, defining the term provocation; transferring registration and enforcement responsibilities to animal control authorities; requiring owners to disclose dog relocation addresses, requiring dog sterilization; allowing local governments to regulate dangerous dogs, providing for disposition of seized animals, specifying restrictions on dog ownership, prescribing penalties, modifying circumstances requiring dog destruction (rt)”

On Feb. 19, Rep. Dennis Ozment (R-Rosemount) introduced HF 3245 seeking further amendment to MN Statute 2006, sections 347.50, 347.51, and 347.54. The bill would require obedience training classes for owners of dangerous dogs, would create a Better Animal Responsibility and Knowledge Task Force to study standards and best practices for breeds of dogs, and would change the wording of section 347.51, subdivision 8, to allow local municipalities to make recommendations to the task force regarding specific breeds of dogs and possibly overturning the state mandate against breed-specific legislation. The bill was referred to the Public Safety and Civil Justice Committee.

Pet Haven’s Stop BSL in Minnesota task force will continue to monitor this legislation and provide updates as changes occur.

 

Action Needed:
Support the Puppy/Kitten Mill Bill

Please call now....

The puppy/kitten mill bill – S.F. 2292 – will be scheduled to be heard in the Senate Agriculture Committee (as soon as we have a date we will post it). Please call the members on the committee now and ask them to vote in favor of this bill and not to accept any amendments to weaken it. We need to protect Minnesota dogs and cats who are forced to live in substandard and deplorable conditions.

Below is a list of the members and their phone numbers. If you are a constituent of a committee member listed below, be sure he/she knows that and also please try to meet with that person in the next couple of days.

To learn more about puppy/kitten mills in Minnesota, go to www.animalfolksmn.org

Thanks for all of your help!

Senate Agriculture Committee

  • Senator Jim Vickerman (Chair) – 651-296-5650
  • Senator Sharon L. Erickson Ropes (Vice Chair) – 651-296-5649
  • Senator Steve Dille – 651-296-4131
  • Senator Satveer S. Chaudhary – 651-296-4334
  • Senator Joe Gimse – 651-296-3826
  • Senator David W. Hann – 651-296-1749
  • Senator Bill G. Ingebrigtsen – 651-297-8063
  • Senator Paul E. Koering – 651-296-4875
  • Senator Gary W. Kubly – 651-296-5094
  • Senator Keith Langseth – 651-296-3205
  • Senator Tony Lourey – 651-296-0293
  • Senator Steve Murphy – 651-296-4264
  • Senator Rod Skoe – 651-296-4196
  • Senator Dan Skogen – 651-296-5655
  • Senator Betsy L. Wergin – 651-296-8075

Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) is a statute or regulation that is directed toward one or more specific breeds of dogs. The majority of BSL is focused on breeds traditionally known as "dangerous," or those that have demonstrated particular propensities for aggression and violent behavior.

In June, 2007, Representative Lesch (DFL- St. Paul) announced he would introduce BSL to the February 2008 legislative session. His bill will propose targeting akitas, chows, rottweilers, pitbulls and wolf-hybrids.

To view the WCCO press release on Lesch’s press conference click http://wcco.com/local/dog.attack.breeds.2.368167.html.

Pet Haven’s Stop BSL in Minnesota Task Force kicked off in July, 2007. The objective of the task force is:

  • to EDUCATE people about breed specific legislation (BSL), better effective alternatives to BSL, the causes of dog aggression, and prevention of dog bites to humans
  • to PROMOTE responsible dog ownership and safer communities
  • to ADVOCATE on behalf of dog breeds affected by BSL

Why does BSL not work?

  • BSL targets a specific breed and fails to adequately address the dog-bite epidemic. It disregards both past behavior and conduct of the dog, and owner
  • BSL ignores 3 basic facts:
    • All dogs can and do inflict injury, regardless of breed
    • Breed alone is not a dispositive of human aggression, even in historically dog-aggressive breeds
    • Any dog can be trained and any breed can be bred to be aggressive
  • BSL creates a false sense of public security through oversimplification of the problem and under-inclusiveness in the solution
  • BSL, though designed to decrease the threat to public safety, may have the perverse effect of increasing the risk of serious attack
  • BSL is an inefficient allocation of limited financial and human resources
  • BSL does not differentiate between vicious and docile members of the target breed

Source: “Attacking the Dog-Bite Epidemic: What Breed Specific Legislation won’t solve the dangerous dog dilemma”, Fordham Law Review, April 2006

If you would like to join the task force or would like more information, please email advocacy@PetHavenMN.org.

Resources:

Downloads:

  • Petition
  • Anti BSL Poster

    • Duncan

    Duncan, a pit bull puppy rescued by Pet Haven, would be targeted if BSL is passed

    Missy

    BSL being proposed would also target mixed breeds. Missy, a 3 yr old lab/pit mix, would be on the list too!

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