The AKC Canine Legislation Department has spoken with Sen. Kilby’s staff who reported that the bill will not be moved forward with the existing breed-specific language. He and his staff are committed to drafting legislation on the dangerous dog issue that protects the public as well as responsible dog owners.
Senator Kilby thanks all those who have contacted his office to oppose the legislation. He very much appreciates the information that has been shared with him and the fact that our fanciers, enthusiasts, and concerned dog owners did so in a polite and respectful manner.
The Canine Legislation Department looks forward to working with Senator Kilby to develop reasonable, enforceable, non-discriminatory laws and to partnering with him on public education and outreach.
UPDATE: TN Breed Specific Legislation Assigned To Committee
[Friday, January 18, 2008]
Tennessee Senate Bill 2738 has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sponsored by Senator Tommy Kilby of Wartburg, this bill proposes to make it a crime to own a “pit bull dog” in the state of Tennessee. It is imperative that all Tennessee concerned dog owners voice their strong opposition to this wrongheaded legislation.
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—not certain breeds—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. The American Kennel Club strongly opposes any legislation that determines a dog to be “dangerous” based on specific breeds or phenotypic classes of dogs.
SB 2738 proposes to:
- Make it a crime for any person to knowingly own a “pit bull dog” in Tennessee.
- Define “pit bull dog” as any American pit bull terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American bulldog, or American Staffordshire Terrier, or any mixed breed dog that contains fifty percent of its lineage from those breeds.
- Force any person found guilty of owning a “pit bull dog” to surrender custody and forfeit ownership of the dog to a humane society.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
It is imperative that Tennessee dog owners contact the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and voice their strong opposition to SB 2738. Let them know that this discriminatory proposal is wrongheaded.
Senator Mae Beavers, Chair
308 War Memorial Bldg.
Nashville, TN 37243-2017
(615) 754-4632
sen.mae.beavers@legislature.state.tn.us
Senator Doug Jackson, Vice-Chair
10 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, TN 37243-0025
(615) 741-4499
(615) 741-8745 FAX
sen.doug.jackson@legislature.state.tn.us
Senator Jamie Woodson, Secretary
309 War Memorial Bldg.
Nashville, TN 37243-0206
(615) 741-1648
(615) 253-0270 FAX
sen.jamie.woodson@legislature.state.tn.us
Senator Diane Black
306 War Memorial Bldg.
Nashville, TN 37243-0218
(615) 741-1999
sen.diane.black@legislature.state.tn.us
Senator James F. Kyle, Jr.
9A Legislative Plaza
Nashville, TN 37243-0028
(615) 741-4167
(615) 253-0221 FAX
sen.jim.kyle@legislature.state.tn.us
Senator Beverly Marrero
11A Legislative Plaza
Nashville, TN 37243-0030
(615) 741-9128
sen.beverly.marrero@legislature.state.tn.us
Senator Mark Norris
303 War Memorial Bldg.
Nashville, TN 37243-0032
(615) 741-1967
(615) 253-0194 FAX
sen.mark.norris@legislature.state.tn.us
Senator Paul Stanley
302 War Memorial Bldg.
Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-3036
(615) 741-1005 FAX
sen.paul.stanley@legislature.state.tn.us
Senator John Shelton Wilder
13 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-2368
(615) 253-0211 FAX
sen.john.wilder@legislature.state.tn.us
For more information, please contact AKC’s Canine Legislation Department at (919) 816-3720, or e-mail doglaw@akc.org.
The AKC Canine Legislation Department has spoken with Sen. Kilbys staff who reported that the…