PA Residents: is PA House Bill 671 cause for concern? - Doberman Forum : Doberman Breed Dog Forums

**Tess-a-boo** · 03-17-2009, 09:18 AM

I was just emailed a petition about some proposed changes to the PA Dog Law, in particular where local municipalities and their individual interpretations of a "dangerous" dog might be concerned. What do you think?

I did a bit more research online and found this blog entry, which is a pretty good explanation: Pennsylvania HB 671 - Cause for concern? « Bless the Bullys Blog

Text of this proposed amendment to the Dog Law can be found here: The Pennsylvania General Assembly

And the petition that was forwarded to me: Love dogs? Then Ask your PA Reps to oppose H 671. - The Petition Site

**dax0402** · 03-17-2009, 09:46 AM

Thanks for this post tess-a-boo. This has become a concern of mine since all this craziness has started about "ficious breeds". That is why I was so adament about Baron getting his CGC. We have the appointment for him to take the TDI on March 29th. Don't know if this would make a difference but you would hope it would. What makes me really crazy is who decides what breed is ficious? Our neighbors along the back of our property have a Chocolate Lab that has gone after me 3 or 4 times with teeth showing, hackles up and also poor Dax a few times. I know it would have bitten me if the people would not have finally intervened. Couldn't catch Dax. We finally had to put a fence up along the back of our property to stop it. The neighbors next to us had a Jack Russsell that was the nastiest dog around. Would never have tried to pet it. So thats my point. Who decides. We are looking to relocate in the near future to north central PA, Columbia County area, and we looked at some property which had deed restrictions and one of them was "no ficious dogs". Didn't say "breed" just ficious. Asked the real estate person who decides this and he couldn't give me an answer. This random generalization of certain breeds cannot be tolerated.

**Tess-a-boo** · 03-17-2009, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dax0402

Thanks for this post tess-a-boo. This has become a concern of mine since all this craziness has started about "ficious breeds". That is why I was so adament about Baron getting his CGC. We have the appointment for him to take the TDI on March 29th. Don't know if this would make a difference but you would hope it would. What makes me really crazy is who decides what breed is ficious? Our neighbors along the back of our property have a Chocolate Lab that has gone after me 3 or 4 times with teeth showing, hackles up and also poor Dax a few times. I know it would have bitten me if the people would not have finally intervened. Couldn't catch Dax. We finally had to put a fence up along the back of our property to stop it. The neighbors next to us had a Jack Russsell that was the nastiest dog around. Would never have tried to pet it. So thats my point. Who decides. We are looking to relocate in the near future to north central PA, Columbia County area, and we looked at some property which had deed restrictions and one of them was "no ficious dogs". Didn't say "breed" just ficious. Asked the real estate person who decides this and he couldn't give me an answer. This random generalization of certain breeds cannot be tolerated.

That's pretty much what I said when I signed the petition. And here I thought we lived in an "enlightened" state because our Dog Law specifically forbids BSL and has since it was written in the '80's. Now this can throw all that up in the air?

**velmadobe** · 03-17-2009, 10:54 AM

I just read it and don't see anything to really complain about. I did follow up on one of the other bills......... about the cropping part, so I'm waiting to see what happens with that.

It really has gotten to the point of being stupid when our economy is falling apart but animal rights organizations like PETA and HSUS is more worried about making it difficult for reputable breeders to continue to breed truly quality dogs - and making it a crime to walk around with a cropped dog without having a vets statement proving who cropped the dog on them. I mean lets stop and think a minute - how can lawmakers be so stupid as to sponser some of these bills?

**crazyinluvwithmydobes** · 03-17-2009, 07:32 PM

Im not quite sure what the post means? What will happen if the state classifies a doberman as dangerous? Will we have to register somewhere...what about house insurance...what will happen?

Im so confused with legal mumbo jumbo lol

**Tess-a-boo** · 03-17-2009, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyinluvwithmydobes

Im not quite sure what the post means? What will happen if the state classifies a doberman as dangerous? Will we have to register somewhere...what about house insurance...what will happen?

Im so confused with legal mumbo jumbo lol

It doesn't sound like the state will name any breed to be dangerous. Our state law as it currently stands prohibits BSL, which makes me proud to be a Pennsylvanian.

However, the concern, according to all of the explanations I've read, is that the new wording would leave a loophole for municipalities to enact bans on "dangerous" dogs. We all know that the best-case scenario would be for "dangerous" dogs to be considered any dog who has bitten...however, the reality is often that breeds are judged rather than individual dogs or circumstance.

**crazyinluvwithmydobes** · 03-17-2009, 08:54 PM

Oh OK. So we are "safe" for now as long as a municipality doesn't say something. I live so far out in the middle of no where though that I don't think anyone would even know we have them except for a few of our far off neighbors who drive by. But still it's not right to leave a loop hole that can be twisted by people to accomidate their beliefs.