Not enough Government intervention in your life? How about the government begins to tell you what type of dog you can own? Can’t believe it? Wouldn’t happen here in Utah? Wrong it’s happening right here in Sandy, Utah…

I am not an animal rights activist. I believe that PETA is one of the most evil organizations on the planet. However I love animals but believe that they are pets and or food for me and my family. Animals should not be abused or mishandled but that they serve a purpose for humans. I am a dog owner. I believe that bad dogs have bad owners not that the breed determines the vicious nature of a dog.

It seems that this is an issue as we 911/Sandy Animal Control have been receiving calls about it. Here is a message that is floating around my work

Urgent-Sandy City Considers Breed Restrictions
No More Homeless Pets in Utah received this urgent information from Millcreek FIDOS (Friends Interested in Dogs and Open Spaces) and we wanted to pass it along to our members. Please take a minute to read this important email regarding proposed breed restrictions. If Sandy City adopts this proposal, other towns could follow.

Sandy City Considers Breed Restrictions & Dog Owners are Encouraged to Respond! All dog owners, especially Sandy City residents, are encouraged to email the Sandy City Council asking that they stop the motion to adopt a breed-based ban. A motion is currently targeting Pitbulls, Rottweilers, and Presa Canarios, but it has been noted that they may widen that in some circumstances. Please email all members of the Sandy City Council at the link below: http://sandy.utah.gov/government/city- council.html

IMPORTANT: Please attend the public hearing for the new animal ordinance July 15th at Sandy City Hall, 10000 Centennial Parkway, Sandy, at 7:00pm. The draft ordinance should be available today, though it may be in paper format only (no electronic copies).

What are the Restrictions?
So far Sandy City has not released the final draft of the ordinance. It should be available today (prior to the Public Hearing next Tuesday). The ordinance has gone through several revisions, from an outright ban of the listed breeds, to grandfathering in existing pets, to special licensing and monitoring of the listed breeds. This website was set up by Sandy City Residents who oppose the ban. It includes yesterday's Salt Lake Tribune article as well as discussions on the subject. http://groups.google.com/group/sandy-residents- against-bsl

Why No More Homeless Pet Oppose the Restrictions
1. It's ineffectual. Owners of fighting dogs have been known to simply move on to a different breed.

2. It's a slippery slope. As the "bad" owners move to different breeds, the Sandy City Council has noted it can just add those breeds to their list. 3. It's easy to see a "Pitbull" or "Rottweiler" mix in any dog. It's a difficult breed to pin down. More than once, we have been asked if a brown Heeler mix we know was part Pitbull, when she clearly has no trace of Pitbull in her. Sandy City plans on restricting mixed breeds, how will this be detremined?

4. It affects neighboring communities. If I live is SLC, can I bring my Pitbull to Sandy? Through Sandy? What are the consequences if I do? What if I bring my brown Heeler mix?

5. The Sandy Animal Control opposes the restrictions.

6. If this passes in Sandy, will your city be next? 7. Look at what happened in Denver: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/200 5-07-20-denver-pit-bull_x.htm

"But I don't even like Pitbulls ..." It may be that you as a dog owner of a non-targeted breed, aren't crazy about Pitbulls. But please remember that there are many in this valley who don't like any dogs, period. If it were up to them, no dogs would be allowed anywhere. You don't want to be judged by the irresponsible actions of some dog owners; neither should innocent dogs pay the price because of a few terrible people. We as a community need to stick together and stick up for each other. We encourage you to do some research about the breed before deciding not to send a letter to the politicians: http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/legis lation.php or check out http://www.rescueeverydog.org/pitbull_breed.html http://www.understand-a-bull.com/ And oddly enough, even Fox News agrees ... http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,215637,00 .html Please do anything you can to help stop this motion before it advances. Thank You, Cara Lingstuyl
Sincerely,
Erin
No More Homeless Pets in Utah
email: erin@utahpets.org
phone: 1-866-UTAHPETS
web: http://www.utahpets.org

Highlights of the Law (>read it yourself pages 31-34 are most relevant)
1. Dog shall be confined in a building or cage which is defined by Sandy City
2. You must post signs about your dangerous dog (Your HOA will love you…)
3. Must register your dog and your dog will have a “highly visible tag on at all times (Scarlett Letter and a silly tax to Sandy INC)
4. You must have on your person a permit to maintain a “dangerous dog or restricted breed”
5. Must notify Animal control of all escapes
6. You may be required to get insurance and or a bond
7. This applies to all visitors of Sandy.
8. Failure to comply with the above is a Class B Misdemeanor

I find it scary when government in America starts acting like governments that have been our enemy and that we have gone to war against. This type of social manipulation is what started communism and socialism. What happens when government starts mandating how many kids you can have? (China) What type of car you drive?(USSR) What kind of gun you can own? (China, USSR) When you can … The revolution has begun… watch for the eroding of your rights as an American Citizen. Soon we will be told what we are and what we will do.

Labels: Sandy Utah Dog Law