GEORGIA

Athens-Clarke County - proposal set to come up for a commission vote, dogs
would have to be kept inside, in a pen or other outdoor enclosure, on a
leash or on the owner's property and within view - not tied up to a tree or
other stationary object. The proposed ordinance, as it's written now,
requires an enclosure large enough for a dog to "stand up, turn around, lay
down, and make all other normal body movements in a normal and comfortable
position appropriate to the age, size and health of the animal." Some
commissioners have expressed their feelings that the ordinance is vague and
what happens to dogs whose owners cannot afford fencing for a kennel.

Cobb County - The state Department of Agriculture, which oversees shelter
licensing and inspections, informed Cobb it was withdrawing its May approval
of the shelter's gas chamber. Agricultural Commissioner Tommy Irvin tells
Cobb to "begin taking whatever steps are necessary to make arrangements for
alternative means of euthanizing" the animals. New euthanasia methods go
into effective 10/30/07

Rockdale County - no tethering ordinance was adopted by the Board of
Commissioners. Passed 9/25/07

ILLINOIS

Springfield - SB1279 - Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an
insurer issuing a policy or contract insuring against liability for injury
to any person or against liability for injury to or destruction of property,
arising out of ownership or lease of residential one, 2, 3, or 4 dwelling
real property, may cancel, charge, or impose an increased premium or rate
for or refuse to issue or renew that kind of policy or contract based in
whole or in part upon the harboring of a dog found to be vicious under the
Animal Control Act upon the insured property. text available upon request.
Update: Scheduled for third reading on the December Docket

Berwyn - Owners of "aggressive" dogs in Berwyn will now have to take out a
$100,000 insurance policy in case someone is harmed by the animal, according
to a new ordinance. If dogs are found guilty of attacking someone, they can
be banned from the city. The liability insurance would ensure that the
owners of such dogs could pay for medical and other bills resulting from an
attack, officials said. The insurance was one of the stipulations made
within amendments to the city's dangerous dog ordinance. If the dogs show
any aggressive behavior, now they will be dealt with, regardless of breed.
Passed 10/24/07 Effective 11/03/07 Update: Berwyn is imposing new rules and
penalties on residents who own what the city considers to be dangerous dogs.
Mayor Michael O'Connor says a dog must first be declared dangerous by the
police chief who explains a dog is not considered dangerous unless it
menaces a person. City Council will also be discussing mandatory
microchipping at the next meeting.

Burnham - Considering BSL. Update:A local breed advocate called the Burnham
police chief and got him to
pull the BSL from consideration. Even though BSL is off the table, something
just as bad could take its place though so local breed advocates continue to
monitor the situation.

INDIANA

Fort Wayne - The Dangerous Dog Input Group panel held a "public imput"
meeting on how to help prevent dog attacks . The following decisions were
the out come: regarding breed ban such as pit-bulls - no on bred banning,
will consider includes stricter leash laws, and a possible requirement for
some animals to be spayed or neutered, serious repercussions for owners of
pets that do attack, and stepped up efforts to educate the public. Tethering
laws - will also recommend dogs cannot be chained outside from 11 at night
to 6 in the morning. City council will look over the panel's suggestions
and finalize details of the proposal. A vote could come by the end of the
year. Committee's list of recommendations to city - Mandatory spaying and
neutering, regardless of the severity of the bite. . No tethering of dogs
younger than 6 months old. . No tethering dogs between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. .
Tethered dogs must be kept three feet from property lines and public rights
of way, including in fenced yards. . Only three dogs can be tethered at one
house at one time. Fort Wayne residents who want to tether their dogs
outside or whose dogs escape and bite may be forced to have them spayed or
neutered.

New Richmond - at the town council meeting prior to the forum, all three
members voted to approve the amended section of the vicious animals
ordinance to ban pit bull breeds from within the town limits. This was the
third and final reading of the ordinance. Pit bulls already in the
community will be grandfathered in, but no additional animals of this breed
will be allowed in the town. The ban was added as a precautionary measure
for this type dog even though there has never been problem with any Pitbull.
Passed 11/05/07

Wabash - a citizen's proposal before the City Council is calling for tougher
regulations against pitbulls. The Council unanimously agreed to have the
mayor look into the issue. Mayor Bob Vanlandingham, in turn, asked the
Council members to talk to their constituents in an effort to get a feeling
for what the community wants in this arena. In his proposal Dave Monroe
(citizen) wants - Require a permit to own a pit bull - Have owners carry
liability insurance in the amount of $50,000. (He noted that most homeowners
insurance does not cover pit bulls, and, in fact, some insurance companies
will cancel your insurance if they find out you own a pit bull.) - Require
owners to have the pit bull checked by a veterinarian every year. - Require
owners to have a facility to adequately confine the animal(s).

KANSAS

Wichita - City Council - Dogs that aggressively chase people and are deemed
dangerous by city animal officers must have identifying microchips and be
sterilized under rules approved unanimously by the Wichita City Council.
The city will track statistics involving dangerous animals for the next six
months and, at that time, consider whether the ordinance needs even tighter
restrictions. Passed 11/06/07

Wichita - City Council approved the vicious dog ordinance. While they
unanimously supported the changes for dogs, they debated the threat of a
wallaby. The ordinance means owner's of dangerous dogs will pay higher
fines for dog bites. And they'll be forced to sterilize their dogs caught
running at large more than once. "The fees and fines will escalate that
people will fix their fences and take care of being responsible for vicious
pets," The council will get monthly updates on the dog ordinance. After six
months, if it doesn't look like its working, the city will consider stiffer
laws possibly targeting specific breeds. Regarding the wallaby - one clause
focuses on removing fur bearing mammals. Wallabys are not mammals, they are
marsupials . Sounds like another city council who makes laws and are totally
uneducated regarding the topics.

KENTUCKY

Independence - city council has decided to amend their current animal
ordinance to one of breed specific restrictions of 'pit bulls' by: 1.
Spaying/neutering. 2. Microchipping. 3. Muzzling whenever outside of home or
kennel and on a 3 foot leash. 4. Obtaining $100,000 insurance. 5.
Registering each year with at least 2 photos on file. 6. Outside enclosure
specifically defined. 7. Signage visible from nearby road. 'Pit bulls' are
defined as "Any dog that exhibits those distinguishing characteristics which
substantially conform to the standards established by the American Kennel
Club for American Staffordshire Terrier, or Staffordshire Bull Terriers, or
substantially conform to the standards established by the United States
Kennel Club for American Pit Bull Terriers, including any mixed breed of dog
which contains as an element of its breeding as the breed of Staffordshire
Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, or American Pit Bull Terrier."

Independence - UPDATE - dog owners are advised to maintain close supervision
of their pets following city council's first reading on a vicious dog
ordinance. Ordinance, which will go into effect following a second reading
during the Dec. 3 meeting, owners will be fined $500 if a dog bite is
reported. The animal must also be registered with the city as a vicious
animal. Council elected to remove specific dog breeds from the ordinance in
hopes of avoiding court challenges. Ordinance lists four criteria in
defining a vicious dog, including: Any dog that has caused death or serious
injury to a person engaged in lawful activity. Any dog that has attacked or
bitten, without provocation, a person engaged in lawful activity. Any dog
that has killed or injured another animal after the owner has been given
written or verbal notice to keep the animal confined or muzzled. Any dog
that has been declared to be vicious by a physician attending to a person
who has been bitten or attacked by said dog. Passed 11/05/07