Comments on: Letter Sent by Elgin Resident to the Elgin, Illinois City Council Regarding BSL http://www.nopitbullbans.com/2009/07/01/letter-sent-by-elgin-resident-to-the-elgin-illinois-city-council-regarding-bsl/ When wrongs are pressed because it is believed they will be borne, resistance becomes morality. --Thomas Jefferson Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:29:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Katherine Minard http://www.nopitbullbans.com/2009/07/01/letter-sent-by-elgin-resident-to-the-elgin-illinois-city-council-regarding-bsl/#comment-61964 Katherine Minard Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:08:45 +0000 http://www.nopitbullbans.com/?p=842#comment-61964 Why not inforce the animal control ordinances that are and have been in place for years? The city has been lax for a long time enforcing the laws that are in effect. So, when the "straw breaks the camel's back" as was the case last weekend we need stricter laws? You can't or won't enforce the laws already in place how will you be able to enforce additional restrictions? Why not inforce the animal control ordinances that are and have been in place for years? The city has been lax for a long time enforcing the laws that are in effect. So, when the “straw breaks the camel’s back” as was the case last weekend we need stricter laws? You can’t or won’t enforce the laws already in place how will you be able to enforce additional restrictions?

]]> By: Patricia Rice http://www.nopitbullbans.com/2009/07/01/letter-sent-by-elgin-resident-to-the-elgin-illinois-city-council-regarding-bsl/#comment-60016 Patricia Rice Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:21:49 +0000 http://www.nopitbullbans.com/?p=842#comment-60016 You will sure be hearing from responsible owners now. My stand is, and always has been, make the iresponsible owners pay. Bad dog? no such thing. Bad owners......yes. You will sure be hearing from responsible owners now. My stand is, and always has been, make the iresponsible owners pay. Bad dog? no such thing. Bad owners……yes.

]]> By: Julia http://www.nopitbullbans.com/2009/07/01/letter-sent-by-elgin-resident-to-the-elgin-illinois-city-council-regarding-bsl/#comment-59396 Julia Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:50:49 +0000 http://www.nopitbullbans.com/?p=842#comment-59396 It concerns me that Council Member Prigge used a newspaper article from Texas to illustrate the need for a breed ban in Elgin, because he has pledged that "any correspondence from anyone not living or working in Elgin to me on this issue is being completely disregarded - on both sides of the issue." If he is disregarding correspondence, he should not be relying on newspaper articles from other cities or states. The one thing that I will give Council Member Prigge credit for, is that he is the only City Council Member, including the mayor, who has given me the courtesy of a response to my correspondence. He advises that the plan he is supporting is one where all responsible pit bull owners will support because it initially addresses irresponsible pit bull owners. I would prefer that he support a plan that all DOG owners will support because it holds irresponsible DOG owners responsible for their pets. He also lamented that "it seems we never hear from responsible pit bull owners trying to address animals and owners that give their dogs a bad name...". In my opinion, responsible owners are hesitant to speak up because they often feel that they are not listened to with a critical ear, and instead are summarily dismissed as those people who own those dogs. They may also be concerned with placing a target on themselves and their dogs, ensuring that their doors will be some of the first knocked upon by animal control if BSL prevails. I am also concerned that Mayor Schock has expressed support for breed bans in the past for dogs other than German Shepard Dogs, as he owns one. As informed by Elgin Animal Control Officer James Rog, there were 369 reports involving animal bites in the city from 2006 through Aug. 31 of this year. 90 percent of those bites are attributed to dogs, with 71 of those involving dogs identified as pit bulls. How many of those 71 dogs were misidentified as pit bulls? http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html. What about the other 298 reported bites? How will restrictions on a specific type of dog protect the majority of bite victims? Why isn't anyone concerned that 80% of reported dog bites in Elgin are caused by dogs other than pit bulls? It is well documented that BSL has failed to decrease dog bites and improve public safety. It is also expensive to enforce. The city of Highland Park, Illinois considered BSL this summer, and opted for a non- breed specific solution. I am urging Elgin's City Council to pay attention to the Highland Park ordinance, which place the responsibility where it belong - with irresponsible dog owners. Reading between the lines, some Elgin residents are concerned with changes in demographics that are attributed to increases in crime. If crime, gang and drug activity are the problem, than address those problems. Banning a specific dog is not the solution as criminals will simply replace pit bulls type dogs with another non banned breed. To those of you who support BSL due to misinformation, stereotypes, ignorance and fear, you are treading on a slippery slope. It may be someone else's dog at risk now, but your dog could be next. It concerns me that Council Member Prigge used a newspaper article from Texas to illustrate the need for a breed ban in Elgin, because he has pledged that “any correspondence from anyone not living or working in Elgin to me on this issue is being completely disregarded – on both sides of the issue.” If he is disregarding correspondence, he should not be relying on newspaper articles from other cities or states. The one thing that I will give Council Member Prigge credit for, is that he is the only City Council Member, including the mayor, who has given me the courtesy of a response to my correspondence. He advises that the plan he is supporting is one where all responsible pit bull owners will support because it initially addresses irresponsible pit bull owners. I would prefer that he support a plan that all DOG owners will support because it holds irresponsible DOG owners responsible for their pets. He also lamented that “it seems we never hear from responsible pit bull owners trying to address animals and owners that give their dogs a bad name…”. In my opinion, responsible owners are hesitant to speak up because they often feel that they are not listened to with a critical ear, and instead are summarily dismissed as those people who own those dogs. They may also be concerned with placing a target on themselves and their dogs, ensuring that their doors will be some of the first knocked upon by animal control if BSL prevails.

I am also concerned that Mayor Schock has expressed support for breed bans in the past for dogs other than German Shepard Dogs, as he owns one.

As informed by Elgin Animal Control Officer James Rog, there were 369 reports involving animal bites in the city from 2006 through Aug. 31 of this year. 90 percent of those bites are attributed to dogs, with 71 of those involving dogs identified as pit bulls. How many of those 71 dogs were misidentified as pit bulls? http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html. What about the other 298 reported bites? How will restrictions on a specific type of dog protect the majority of bite victims? Why isn’t anyone concerned that 80% of reported dog bites in Elgin are caused by dogs other than pit bulls?

It is well documented that BSL has failed to decrease dog bites and improve public safety. It is also expensive to enforce. The city of Highland Park, Illinois considered BSL this summer, and opted for a non- breed specific solution. I am urging Elgin’s City Council to pay attention to the Highland Park ordinance, which place the responsibility where it belong – with irresponsible dog owners.

Reading between the lines, some Elgin residents are concerned with changes in demographics that are attributed to increases in crime. If crime, gang and drug activity are the problem, than address those problems. Banning a specific dog is not the solution as criminals will simply replace pit bulls type dogs with another non banned breed.

To those of you who support BSL due to misinformation, stereotypes, ignorance and fear, you are treading on a slippery slope. It may be someone else’s dog at risk now, but your dog could be next.

]]> By: Michelle http://www.nopitbullbans.com/2009/07/01/letter-sent-by-elgin-resident-to-the-elgin-illinois-city-council-regarding-bsl/#comment-55170 Michelle Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:59:18 +0000 http://www.nopitbullbans.com/?p=842#comment-55170 There is an ongoing discussion on this issue, by both sides, at the "Elginite" blog. http://elginite.org/blog/2009/07/01/elgin-considers-pit-bull-measures/ Every point made in this letter to the council is valid and sound, especially the argument for more focus on the gangs, crime, and serious issues that are the real problems. There is an ongoing discussion on this issue, by both sides, at the “Elginite” blog.

http://elginite.org/blog/2009/07/01/elgin-considers-pit-bull-measures/

Every point made in this letter to the council is valid and sound, especially the argument for more focus on the gangs, crime, and serious issues that are the real problems.

]]> By: Elgin Res http://www.nopitbullbans.com/2009/07/01/letter-sent-by-elgin-resident-to-the-elgin-illinois-city-council-regarding-bsl/#comment-53500 Elgin Res Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:11:13 +0000 http://www.nopitbullbans.com/?p=842#comment-53500 The Elgin city council should concentrate on the important issues facing our city and should work at being fiscally responsible. Many of the new council members ran on the platform of being smart with the city's money and we are watching them like hawks to see how they plan to spend the dwindling city coffers. Singling out specific breeds is a waste of time and money and it doesn't work. The Elgin city council should concentrate on the important issues facing our city and should work at being fiscally responsible. Many of the new council members ran on the platform of being smart with the city’s money and we are watching them like hawks to see how they plan to spend the dwindling city coffers.

Singling out specific breeds is a waste of time and money and it doesn’t work.

]]>