UPDATE: Cumberland County Rejects Proposed Breed Ban; Plans to Implement Restrictions for Adopters
While most cities around the country are realizing the ineffectiveness and injustice of breed bans (and repealing them), some are still operating based on antiquated assumptions. Cumberland County, North Carolina, is considering banning the adoption of the following breeds: Rottweilers, American Staffordshire terriers, pit bulls, chow-chows, Presa Canarios or any mix of the above.
“We’re looking at a list of animals used as attack animals,” County Commissioner Charles Evans said. “It has been suggested that something needs to be done about those.”
Evans needs some education. Breeds aren’t the problem – the owners are the problem. And these animals aren’t “attack” dogs. Breed bans are notoriously ineffective and don’t reduce dog bite incidents whatsoever.
According to the National Canine Research Council:
“Spain, Italy, Great Britain and the Netherlands have all reported that their breed specific regulations have not produced a reduction in dog bites. The Toronto Humane Society surveyed health departments throughout the province of Ontario, and reported that the breed ban enacted in 2005 had not produced a reduction in dog bites. In Winnipeg, Manitoba, after the city banned one type of dog, dog bites actually rose, just involving other types of dogs. Reports from Denver, Colorado, Miami-Dade County, Florida, Prince George’s County, Maryland and Omaha, Nebraska all tell the same story.” You can read more about the ineffectiveness of breed bans here.
In addition, such a regulation would lead to a death sentence for these breeds. While the Director of Animal Services claims they’re looking at other options for these dogs, we all know the reality of the situation. They simply won’t be able to transfer or relocate enough dogs without local adoptions, and the rest will have to be killed. After 72 hours – dead.
Injustice at its best.
Luckily, there’s been an outcry from animal advocates about the possibility of this ban. Please add your voice to the chorus, and let Cumberland County know that this is not an acceptable solution. Their individual contact information for the applicable officials is below. Or, you can copy and paste all their email addresses here:
mayor@ci.fay.nc.us, jlauby@co.cumberland.nc.us, kedge@co.cumberland.nc.us, wmfaircloth@co.cumberland.nc.us, jcouncil@co.cumberland.nc.us, cevans@co.cumberland.nc.us, jkeefe@co.cumberland.nc.us, bking@co.cumberland.nc.us, emelvin@co.cumberland.nc.us
Mayor Anthony G. Chavonne
433 Hay Street Fayetteville, NC 28301
910-433-1992, 910-433-3401
Fax 433-1948
mayor@ci.fay.nc.us
Dr. John Lauby
Director of Animal Services
Cumberland County Animal Control
4704 Corporation Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28306
Animal Control Phone: 910-321-6845, 910-321-6844, 910-321-6826, 910-321-6827,910-321-6945, 910-321-6965, 910-321-6852
Fax: 910-223-3357
jlauby@co.cumberland.nc.us
Kenneth S. Edge
Chairman
Mailing Address: PO Box 1829 Fayetteville, NC 28302
Office:910-678-7771
Home:910-425-0918
kedge@co.cumberland.nc.us
Marshall Faircloth
Vice Chairman
Mailing Address: PO Box 1829 Fayetteville, NC 28302
Office: 910-678-7771
Work: 910-323-1040
wmfaircloth@co.cumberland.nc.us
Dr. Jeannette M. Council
Mailing Address: PO Box 1829 Fayetteville, NC 28302
Office:910-678-7771
Home:910-488-0691
jcouncil@co.cumberland.nc.us
Charles Evans
Mailing Address: PO Box 1829 Fayetteville, NC 28302
Office:910-678-7771
Home:910-978-6643
cevans@co.cumberland.nc.us
Jimmy Keefe
Mailing Address: PO Box 1829 Fayetteville, NC 28302
Office: 910-678-7771
Work: 910-323-1791
jkeefe@co.cumberland.nc.us
Billy R. King
Mailing Address: PO Box 1829 Fayetteville, NC 28302
Office: 910-678-7771
Work: 910-822-6676
bking@co.cumberland.nc.us
Edward Melvin
Mailing Address: PO Box 1829 Fayetteville, NC 28302
Office: 910-678-7771
Cell: 910-391-4028
emelvin@co.cumberland.nc.us
Breed bans serve no purpose. This is no solution; please reconsider your position. This is not a good idea.
I’M TIRED OF THESE DOGS GETTING A BAD WRAP! IT’S THE OWNER NOT THE BREED AND WHEN WILL YOU PEOPLE REALIZE THIS! I THINK IT’S TIME PEOPLE LEARNED TO THINK AND STAND UP FOR THESE POORLY JUDGED ANIMALS. THIS IS NO LONGER THE USA I KNEW, BUT A CRUEL, HEARTLESS, MONEY HUNGRY, TAKE THE EASY WAS NATION! IT’S REALLY DISGUSTING! THIS PUBLIC IS MISINFORMED AND MUST KNOW ALL THE FACTS!
i am a fellow resisdent of north carolina and i own 2 rottweiler and i can’t imagine you telling me i have to get rid of my rotties that would be like someone walking in and saying we are banning all children no more are to be born and all children you have will be picked up and put to sleep or you have to get you and your children and move to another state that is wrong the rottweiler is a very smart loving and just an all around great family pet best friend and loyal breed not an attack dog a dog is what the owner makes him if you cuss and drink and smoke in front of your children 90 percent will do the same things i don’t think you should ban any breed of dog what do we expect to acomplish by banning certain breeds of animals you could take a poodle and make it vicious the whole breed banning idea is insane if you think the rottweiler is a big bad mean dog you need to come to my house and actually see what the rottweiler breed is instead of stereotyping off of ignorant peoples comments that are scared of them because they are a large breed to even think of people doing this makes me dissgusted in my country to think someone who has no clue of this breed would even have the power to ban them all anyone ever sees is the bad in everything when some one is good no one notices them but be bad and watch out everyone sees you then please reconsider this bann stuff and go out and be informed on the breeds you are wanting to ban and most important go get you some one on one time with the breed you are trying to ban but make sure it is some one on one time with a responsible owner and not some low life you are use to seeing that made his animal a problem
When I first heard of this “consideration” I had to check my calendar as I thought it was 1860. Breed bans employ the same dynamics as racism – the same justifications, the same warped ideology, the same type of junk-science responsible in supporting racism. Any person who seriously considers the killing of an animal based on its breed (which can only be known through a DNA test in any case) in the day and age of supposed reasoned and enlightenment should have their ability to lead seriously questioned. I seriously question the ability for any individual who supports a breed ban to lead anything more than the Hokie Pokie.
What a horrible idea! Breed bans punish all animals for the mistakes that are made by a few. Any kind of dog can be aggressive and vicious if it is raised with cruelty or evil intent. It would be more useful to ban the dog owners of vicious animals….. Some people shouldn’t be permitted to raise anything larger than a goldfish!
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