Massachusetts House Bill 1948, sponsored by Representative Bradford Hill, seeks to establish non-discriminatory, workable methods by which to deal with vicious and potentially dangerous dogs. It has been assigned to the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, which will consider the bill on Monday, May 14, 2007. It is vitally important that dog owners contact the members of the Committee to express their support.
The American Kennel Club supports reasonable, enforceable, non-discriminatory laws to govern the ownership of dogs. We support laws that: establish a fair process by which specific dogs are identified as “dangerous” based on stated, measurable actions; impose appropriate penalties on irresponsible owners; and establish a well-defined method for dealing with dogs proven to be dangerous. HB 1948 satisfies those desired qualities. For example, the bill provides that:
- Any dog, regardless of breed, breeding, type, or appearance, can be classified as a “potentially dangerous dog” or “vicious dog”.
- No dog may be declared potentially dangerous or vicious if any injury or damage is sustained by a person who was:
- committing a willful trespass or other tort;
- teasing, tormenting, abusing, or assaulting the dog;
- or was committing or attempting to commit a crime.
- committing a willful trespass or other tort;
- No dog may be declared potentially dangerous or vicious if the dog was protecting or defending a person or itself from an unjustified attack.
- No dog may be declared potentially dangerous or vicious if the injury or damage to an animal was sustained while the dog was working as a hunting dog, herding dog, or predator control dog.
- Prescribes a reasonable system by which a dog considered potentially dangerous can have that designation removed.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Contact the members of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government who will consider this bill and express your support.
Senate Committee Members:
Senator James E. Timilty, Chair
James.Timilty@state.ma.us
Senator Patricia D. Jehlen, Vice-Chair
Patricia.Jehlen@state.ma.us
Senator Steven A. Baddour
Steven.Baddour@state.ma.us
Senator Jarrett T. Barrios
Jarrett.Barrios@state.ma.us
Senator Susan C. Fargo
Susan.Fargo@state.ma.us
Senator Richard R. Tisei
Richard.Tisei@state.ma.us
House of Representatives Committee Members:
Representative Vincent A. Pedone, Chair
Rep.VincentPedone@hou.state.ma.us
Representative Martin J. Walsh, Vice-Chair
Rep.MartinWalsh@hou.state.ma.us
Representative J. James Marzilli
Rep.JamesMarzili@hou.state.ma.us
Representative Douglas W. Petersen
Rep.DouglasPetersen@hou.state.ma.us
Representative Matthew Patrick
Rep.MatthewPatrick@hou.state.ma.us
Representative Stephen R. Canessa
Rep.StevenCanessa@hou.state.ma.us
Representative Denis E. Guyer
Rep.DenisGuyer@hou.state.ma.us
Representative Sarah Peake
Rep.SarahPeake@hou.state.ma.us
Representative F. Jay Barrows
Rep.FJayBarrows@hou.state.ma.us
Representative Todd M. Smola
Rep.ToddSmola@hou.state.ma.us
For more information, contact:
- The Massachusetts General Court website: http://www.mass.gov/legis/legis.htm.
- The Massachusetts Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Owners website at www.massfeddogs.org.
- The AKC Canine Legislation Department at (919) 816-3503, or e-mail doglaw@akc.org.
Massachusetts House Bill 1948, sponsored by Representative Bradford Hill, seeks to establish…