Breed Specific Legislation in Boston
Although beyond the scope of somervilledog.com, pending legislation in the city of Boston may be of interest, given the comments posted to my account of the attack on Strummer last week.
On Wednesday, April 28, 2004, the American Kennel Club issued a legislative alert regarding an ordinance that, they say, would require
residents to register their "pit bulls" with the city at a cost of $50 annually. Pit bulls are defined as American Pit Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, or any mix of those breeds. The measure also limits residents to two pit bulls and requires owners to leash and muzzle their dogs when in public. Additionally, owners must display a sign on their property stating that a pit bull is located on the premises. Violators will be subject to a $100 fine and the pit bull will be immediately impounded. Exemptions are provided for animals participating in contests, shows or exhibitions within city limits, but animals may not remain for more than two weeks.
Boston City Council conducted a public hearing to consider the proposed legislation on Thursday, April 29. Both The Boston Globe and The Boston Herald reported on the hearing in their editions the following day.
Breed specific legislation is not in the interest of those who are subject to the legislation, i.e. people. If Somerville had legislation that targeted some breed of dog and required that anyone who owns a dog of that breed pay an extra fee to register the dog, have a sign on their property warning about the presence of the dog, and muzzle their dog in public, Strummer would still have been attacked. The owner of the dog that attacked Strummer was in violation of the city's leash law, which IS a good law. The owner of the dog that attacked Strummer has escaped prosecution for that violation simply because he or she remains unidentified. If Somerville had a law that targeted some breed of dog, it would be just as easy for irresponsible dog owners to violate that law.
If Somerville cannot enforce existing legislation, like legislation that requires dog owners to license their dogs for $12.00 a year ($6.00 if the dog is neutered or spayed), and legislation that requires dogs to be on leash in the city, Somerville would be no more effective in enforcing legislation that would require owners of dogs of a specific breed to pay an additional fee to the city to register their dogs. And Somerville is clearly unable to enforce existing legislation requiring dog owners to license their dogs. I called the City Clerk's office last month and learned that there are 312 dogs licensed in the City of Somerville, a city with a population of over 77,000 people: That's less than one percent of the population that owns a dog licensed in the city. Less than one half of one percent. Come on people! License your dogs!
Moreover, breed-specific legislation would not protect the people of Somerville or our dogs from attacks perpetrated by dogs of other breeds.
There are two socially responsible ways to reduce the number of dog attacks in the city:
1. Remove vicious dogs from the city. One strike and the dog is out. If a dog attacks a person or another dog, unprovoked, the dog's gotta go.
2. Educate dog owners to be responsible.
Not necessarily in that order.
If you can control your dog on leash (and off leash where permitted), if your fence is high enough and deep enough that your dog cannot jump or dig its way out of your fenced in yard, if your dog is thorougly socialized to behave appropriately around any person, any number of people, any dog, and any number of dogs, in any situation, than you are worthy of owning a dog.
If you fail to take necessary measures to prevent your dog from attacking people or other dogs, the city is simply not safe with your dog in it. Furthermore, if your dog attacks people or their pets unprovoked, your dog is not living a good life. If you want to introcduce another sociopath into the community, have a child.