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mininik

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THE PETITION CAN BE FOUND HERE: http://www.stop-bsl.com/petitions/mo...uncil_1108.pdf

PLEASE PRINT & FAX To (360) 794-4567

Monroe City Council, C/O Mitch Ruth | 19910 Old Owen Road Monroe, WA 98272

> Nov 7, 2008 07:24:13 PM, [email protected] wrote:

>

> Everyone, Please sign and send in this petition ASAP!!!! If

> you can attend the meeting listed- I URGE you to do so! BSL

> can be stopped, we just have to take a stand! I am going to

> send this information to news stations in the area and local

> papers in Monroe. I ask others to please do the same. If

> they get multiple requests to cover the story they might

> actually do it. It worked in Spokane. I was on 2 news

> stations and ended up on 4 radio talk shows as well as a

> result of emailing my opinions to the news people

> directly.

>Please Cross post Information:In Monroe, WA some

> ignorant council members are proposing the addition of breed

> specific language which would make several breeds inherently

> "dangerous" in the city of Monroe. This alert was

> sent out by an informed member of the council who is asking

> for the publics help in stopping this. He is the only reason

> why there is even a public meeting on the matter as other

> council members wanted to forgo it but he motioned to have a

> meeting. Stop-bsl.com has posted a petition which can be

> mailed or faxed to city council member Mitch Ruth. He will

> make sure ALL statements, letters and petitions make it to

> the city council meeting on the 18th of this month at

> 7pm.Anyone in the Monroe, WA area who can attend PLEASE DO!

> This is a big deal, the Snohomish County Council is AGAINST

> BSL and many ALL BREED and even APBT ONLY events are held in

> Monroe at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds. The director of

> the fairgrounds has even spoken out against this. Below is

> the information sent to me from Mitch Ruth.

>Original

> MessageDate: Thursday, October 30, 2008, 1:46 PMGreetings,My

> name is Mitch Ruth; I am a Councilman for the City of

> Monroe. I need your help in rallying those who may also be

> in opposition to breed specific laws. Currently before the

> City Council of Monroe is a new ordinance which would list

> the following breeds as "Potentially Dangerous";

> · Akita· American Pit Bull Terrier· Cane Corso· Dogo

> Argentino· Dogue de Bordeaux· Kuvasz· Pit Bull Terrier·

> Presa Carnario· Staffordshire Bull Terrier· Tosa Inu· Or,

> any mix of dog which contains as an element of its breeding,

> any of the afore mentioned breeds.By ordinance, the

> definition of "potentially dangerous" would mean;

> ".any dog which inflicts bites upon humans or domestic

> animal, or chases or approaches a person upon the streets,

> sidewalks, or any public grounds in a menacing fashion or

> apparent attitude of attack, or any dog with a known

> propensity, tendency or disposition to attack unprovoked, to

> cause injury or otherwise threaten the safety of humans or

> domestic animals. Potentially dangerous dog also means any

> dog that is known by the owner or should be reasonably be

> known by the owner to be an. [insert above list of

> breeds]". In other words, by owning a dog on this list,

> you understand that "it" has a propensity for

> unprovoked attacks and is a danger to humans and domestic

> animals. This law would be very similar to that of Auburn,

> Washington; which in my opinion is the worst in our state,

> and one of the worst in the country.

>This has come about

> because of several recent back to back incidents involving

> one single irresponsible pit bull owner. I do not contest in

> any way that decisive action is needed in these incidents.

> But to penalize every innocent dog/dog owner on this list is

> unwarranted and unjust. I vigorously oppose this law as

> proposed. But I am only one vote. I need your help, and the

> help of others to prevent this from becoming the first step

> in a breed specific ban. I have proposed that any reference

> to specific breeds be stricken, and the individual behavior

> of the dog be sole the guiding factor in determining whether

> a dog is potentially/ actually dangerous. I support stiff

> penalties and strict liability for those dog owners whose

> irresponsible actions threaten the public safety, or cause

> actual harm/damage others and/or their property.

>This should

> be of concern to all dog owners, not just the owners of

> those breeds who have arbitrarily and capriciously made the

> above list. Unjust and unwarranted laws that trample upon

> the rights of owners of specific dog breeds diminish the

> rights of all dog owners. Please spread the word. This is

> likely to become law within the next 30-45 days. Feel free

> to post this email anywhere it might help and to share my

> contact information as well. I will share any/all emails and

> letters of opposition with the entire council. Rather than

> allow this to fly under the radar and be passed without

> public hearing or comment, I have demanded a public hearing

> before this goes to the final vote of the council. I

> encourage as many as possible to attend the public hearing.

> If attendance is out of the question, please make your

> feelings known through emails and phone calls. I will ensure

> that each and every email becomes a part of the public

> record/testimony against the passage of this law. If you

> wish to address the entire council in one email, please use;

> [email protected] Mitch Ruth Councilman City of

> Monroe, WA I may be individually contacted via email at

> either my personal acct at; [email protected] &

> [email protected]

>Response MessageAllie,Thank you for

> your concern and kind offer of help. Obviously beyond the

> issue of potential bad legislation in our community, the

> more cities that adopt this kind of ordinances, the more

> that will tend to do so in the future elsewhere, and the

> more likely more restrictive breed specific language and

> bans will become reality for all dog owners everywhere. An

> interesting point that very few may be aware of is that only

> one person has come forward in support of BSL in Monroe. In

> fact none of the neighbors who were, in their own words

> "terrorized" by a series of incidents relating to

> one single dog owner of three pit bulls, have come forward

> to support the inclusion of breed specific language in the

> ordinance. One of the immediate neighbors gave public

> testimony on the matter and specifically stated that he

> agrees with harsher penalties for irresponsible owners, but

> does not agree with BSL and still has no issues with pit

> bulls as a breed.

>I have contacted the manager of the

> Evergreen State Fairgrounds where numerous all breed and

> specialty shows and events occur. He shared his personal

> opinions against BSL with me and also shared the official

> position of the Snohomish County Council as being against

> BSL. He also shared his professional concerns with me that

> if Monroe does adopt BSL, it would likely have a negative

> economic effect upon the Fairgrounds and Snohomish County if

> other venues for these events were sought by the various

> groups due to BSL in Monroe. This facility is owned and

> operated by Snohomish County. Snohomish County also has an

> Animal Advisory Board. As a result of the research, public

> testimony and recommendations of the Snohomish County Animal

> Advisory Board, the Snohomish County Council did not include

> BSL in their ordinance.

>Currently, I am not overly optimistic

> regarding our ability to stop this from becoming law.

> Currently three councilmember's have stated that they

> are not ready to see breed specific language removed from

> the ordinance. Those currently in favor of BSL are;

> Councilmember's Geoffrey Thomas, Kurt Georing and John

> Stima. Myself and Councilmember David Kennedy have spoken

> out against BSL. Councilmember's Margie Rodriguez and

> Tony Balk have yet to make any statement of position. The

> Open Public Meetings Act prohibits councilmember's from

> speaking with more than two other Councilmember's

> outside of open public session on any given subject. Since I

> have already approached Councilmember's Kennedy and

> Stima, I may make no further direct action to lobby the

> other members outside of open session. Members of the public

> have no such prohibition placed upon them. Anyone wishing to

> contact/lobby any of the Councilmember's will find both

> email and telephonic contact information at the following

> link. http://www.ci.monroe.wa.us/citygov/e..._officials.php

> If anyone wishes to fax letters and or petitions, they may

> do so directly to me and I will ensure that each and every

> one received, whether pro or con, becomes part of the

> official record. My direct office fax number is

> 360-794-4567. My personal business postal address is; Mitch

> Ruth 19910 Old Owen Road Monroe, WA 98272 . You may forward

> this email, or post to news groups, etc, as you feel

> appropriate.The public hearing for the matter is scheduled

> for November 18th at 7:00pm in Council Chambers at the

> Monroe City Hall. It is possible that final action could be

> taken at that meeting. Mitch Ruth Councilman City of Monroe,

> WA http://www.stop-bsl.com/petition.html SIGN AND FAX/MAIL

> PLEASE!!!! Cross post EVERYWHERE!!!! Thanks. . .Stop-BSL.com
 

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