Massachusetts, state-wide

LAWMAKERS LOOKING AT BAN ON DANGEROUS DOGS

By Jim O'Sullivan
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, MAY 1, 2007..Beacon Hill lawmakers are exploring
whether to ban lethal dogs and planning to hear testimony later this month on prohibitions based on breeds and training techniques.

Worried by recurring stories of dogs' violent attacks on children, legislators say they are considering different versions of a ban, which opponents insist lands on the wrong wide of the "nature versus nurture" debate, and violates owners' rights.

A committee bill could emerge from a May 14 hearing where the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government will hear testimony on related bills, and question advocates about banning pit bulls and other breeds, and dogs schooled to fight, said House chair Rep. Vincent

Pedone (D-Worcester) and House vice-chair Rep. Martin Walsh (D-Dorchester) .
"We see, firsthand, problems that exist with dogs that were bred to fight, bred as nothing more than weapons, and he and I are both interested in hearing testimony on the matter," Pedone told the News Service Tuesday.

Opponents of banning certain breeds, including animal rights activists and
veterinarians, argue that owners should be held to tougher standards and
that restricting specific canines is counterproductive and violates ownership rights.

"It doesn't really work," said Scott Giacoppo, spokesman for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Properly raised pit bulls can be "wonderful companion animals," he said.

Regulations on how owners train their dogs, or placing an outright ban on certain breeds, could prove difficult to enforce, Pedone admitted. And, he said, the Senate side of the committee would likely have problems with the legislation.

Sen. James Timily, Senate chair of the municipalities panel, said any breed-specific bans were "not good public policy" that would result in "a pretty wild hearing."

Pedone said lawmakers have been frustrated by perennial stories of toddlers being mauled by out-of-control dogs. A strict in-town crackdown on pit bulls won approval at Canton town meeting Monday night. A bill (H 1993) filed by Rep. Robert Spellane (D-Worcester) allowing municipalities to impound dogs deemed dangerous during owners' appeals could be strengthened to include the ban, Pedone said.

"We very well could, if testimony goes a certain way, amend his bill to include a ban on certain dogs," he said.

Opponents of the bill said lawmakers should emphasize more responsible ownership over targeting specific types of dogs. Timilty said, "It's good that we're starting it now in that there hasn't been a tragedy, so we're not being reactive."

Giacoppo said the state needs to conduct a more comprehensive review of animal control laws, and should pursue legislation (S 512) proposed by Sen. Patricia Jehlen (D-Somerville) . "Basically, these laws haven't been rewritten for years and years and years, and it updates those laws," he said of Jehlen's measure.

Walsh said the problem of violent dogs particularly plagues urban centers like the ones he and Pedone represent: "You see young kids walking around with dogs they can't handle . I don't see where a 15-year-old kid who barely can take care of himself and is out there owning a pit bull - I don't know how we can impose training there."