The City of Red Bay, Alabama has a proposal that seeks to restrict ownership of “pit bull” dogs and prohibit new pit bulls from coming into the city.
Residents are encouraged to contact the mayor and city council members to respectfully state concerns, and to attend city meetings where the ordinance will be discussed.
Meeting information: A recent news report stated the proposed ordinance will be on the agenda of the next city council meeting, June 15, 3:30 p.m., at Red Bay City Hall. However, city staff indicated the ordinance possibly could be discussed at a special meeting convened on an earlier date, and that the June 15th meeting might be rescheduled.
Therefore, concerned residents are urged to contact their elected officials or city staff to confirm dates and times of meetings where the proposed ordinance will be considered.
The issue: Breed-specific legislation is sometimes proposed by lawmakers in response to an attack by dangerous animals, as tragically happened in Red Bay. However, such laws fail to address the problems of at-large dogs or of irresponsible owners who may simply turn to a different breed of dog.
A better solution is to address the actions of specific dogs and their owners, rather than regulating or banning dogs based solely on their appearance. Enforcement of breed-neutral animal control laws will hold all owners accountable for their animals – regardless of a dog’s breed or appearance.
The AKC Government Relations Department (AKC GR) provides resources and talking points on breed-specific/dangerous dog issues. AKC GR is also available to help communities develop fair and effective dangerous dog policies that both protect citizens and the rights of responsible dog owners.
For additional information, please contact AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org.