A city not far from me that has a significant gang problem is considering this:

Felons (re: violent crimes) would have to apply to A/C (the city's A/C is overseen by the City Council) to own any dog over 20 pounds. The application would be pricey and would cover the administrative costs associated with the new ordinance. "Effective ownership" is dealt with too in the proposal verbiage (so as to minimize the instances of friends or family purchasing and legally owning dogs who they turn over to the effective ownership of the felon).

At first blush, to me, this sounded like a possible way to take a step toward dealing with felons who have guess-what-breeds on heavy chains either walking around with them wearing spiked collars or chained in their yards. If I were in total denial, I might even think it could make a dent in the dogfighting activity, but I'm not that far gone.

What do others think about this? Does it seem like a smart and well-thought-out way to start attacking an existing problem while making zero move toward local BSL? Or am I completely missing something bad that this could morph into?

To me it seems like a waste. The majority of the problem people with the dogs arent going to be felons and the felons would just say its so and so's dog.

I think the enforcement would be pretty difficult. And who would enforce it in the field? Animal control? Not a job I'd want...ranks right behind census taker ... (that's a joke)

Too many live wires to tip toe around in that kind of legislation.
The draft alone probably runs in the thousand page area. Imagine what the final will look like?

Why not just bar all sociopaths (convicted or not) from owning dogs, period.

as pointed out on another post. criminals do not obey the law, this only affects the law abiding

 Quote: Dennis Jones

as pointed out on another post. criminals do not obey the law, this only affects the law abiding

Yeah, I'm having a hard time imagining all the city's felons lining up in front of AC to submit their applications... I wonder how many of the dogs already owned by felons (or other nefarious types) are registered anyway, no matter how big or small... I'm guessing not that many.

~Natalya

I just have to wonder what the intent is. Dog fight prevention? Bite prevention? Revenue raising because not many people are going to feel sorry for a felon? Is there a private company making money off of this?

Felon doesn't equal dog fighter anymore than pitbull equals a ring dog. Odds are in everyone's life there is a felon that you just don't know is a felon. People looking for blood sport will find a blood sport. Recently a canary fighting ring was busted here locally. Seriously, canaries. Passing laws to fight gang behavior without addressing the growth capacity for gangs themselves (poverty, drugs, parent absence) is pointless.

Hmmm...Couldn't we just take all the felons wanting a large dog and give them the already aggressive/handler aggressive dogs, those dogs being euthanized, and see if they can rehabilitate them {secured location}? Community Service project...may the best one win!

 Quote: Melissa Thom

I just have to wonder what the intent is. Dog fight prevention? Bite prevention? Revenue raising because not many people are going to feel sorry for a felon? Is there a private company making money off of this?

Felon doesn't equal dog fighter anymore than pitbull equals a ring dog. Odds are in everyone's life there is a felon that you just don't know is a felon. People looking for blood sport will find a blood sport. Recently a canary fighting ring was busted here locally. Seriously, canaries. Passing laws to fight gang behavior without addressing the growth capacity for gangs themselves (poverty, drugs, parent absence) is pointless.

I didn't even think of that. what does it matter if a former convict who was in for bad checks or grifting wants a big old sheep dog or Lab?

 Quote: Dennis Jones

what does it matter if a former convict who was in for bad checks or grifting wants a big old sheep dog or Lab?

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

... violent crimes

Between the lines is indeed the connection between gangs and a big dogfighting presence in the city.

No private company involved.

Yeah, I do see all the problems. sigh

I was kind of impressed that no breed is mentioned in the proposed legislation, though.