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Legal Issues - DANGEROUS DOGS - CHOWS

Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 6:30 pm
by Joe & Robin
A Senator in in Illinois is proposing legislature to (my words - "punish certain breed owners").

Cross post:

Hi,

I've just learned that a bill has been introduced in the Illinois legislature
that would declare Chow Chows to be "dangerous dogs" and require owners to
obtain special licensing and insurance.

The full text of the bill, SB1790, can be read at

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltex ... 94&DocType
Id=SB&DocNum=1790&GAID=8&LegID=20095&SpecSess=&Session=

The Senator sponsoring this bill is:

Senator Martin A. Sandoval (D)
12th District
Springfield Office:
Senator 12th District
118 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-5304

Please do read this bill and express your opinion on it to Senator Sandoval as
soon as possible. If passed, it will have a devastating effect on all of us
whose Chows are an irreplaceable part of our lives.

Senator Sandoval's proposal is a death sentance to the breeds he has choosen (which includes Chow Chows). Please help us in Illinois in stopping Senator Sandavol from passing this ill thought out proposal,

Joe & Robin

Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2005 12:34 pm
by Elaina
Jeff,
I have read IL SB1790 as submitted by IL Sen. Martin Sandoval. The senator is using 10 breeds to determine what a "dangerous dog" is. The dogs listed are Akitas, Pits, Rottys, German Shepards, Huskies, Malamutes, Dobermans, Great Danes, St. Bernards, and Chow Chows. This idiot doesn't seem to realize that even a mutt can be a dangersous dog if mishandled or misused. I am writing Sen. Sandoval to explain to him why his legislation does not make sense.

Chow chows dangerous? I will admit that I am a new Chow parent, but if the breed is anything like my Max-A-Million, they are wonderful chowpersons. In fact, of the breeds listed, none are mean or dangerous -- its the human owner that's the problem. Where is the legislation to get the owners special licensing and insurance?!! I will now get off my soapbox, but this bill is ticking me off!

Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2005 5:08 pm
by Zhuyos mom
Elaina wrote:Jeff,
I have read IL SB1790 as submitted by IL Sen. Martin Sandoval. The senator is using 10 breeds to determine what a "dangerous dog" is. The dogs listed are ...German Shepards....
Joe, I haven't had a chance to read the info from the link. Thanks for posting it and bringing it to our attention. However, per Elaina's quote on the 10 breeds, and chow chows aside for a moment, so what does Senator Sandoval plan to do with all the police dogs in his state. Since most are German Shepards, will they be destroyed and/or be deemed "dangerous dog". Dont' think this is a well thought out plan. He must need some publicity or perhaps was financially back by insurance companies. Reelection coming up?

Cindy (Kodi's Mom), did you ever hear back from the lady in Oregon who was asking for pictures of children and chows for her plea not to have chows declared "dangerous dog".

RE: AKC and the dangerous dog Law

Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2005 11:31 pm
by Jeff&Peks
For some reason I havn't been able to open the bill but for more info the American Kennel club has listed all the people to write and protest.

http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=2439

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 5:43 am
by Guest
Hello Joe and Robin,

The posting about the Senator is awful. I cannot believe that a person can brand dogs like this - Chow Chows aside - Fred and I had Great Danes for years and they were the most gentle giants you can imagine. The Dane we had when Rhiannon was born was a beautiful fawn bitch called Jen and she had a big round basket in the sitting room. When Rhiannon was crawling around, she was indeed a bit like a Chowling and could drop off to sleep in mid crawl. Sometimes, she would crawl over to Jenny in her basket, crawl in and snug up to Jenny with her head on Jen's rib-cage - put her thumb in her mouth and go to sleep.
Jen could get out of the basket so gently that she would leave Rhiannon asleep. Then, having achieved that, she could get back in the basket and curl round Rhiannon without disturbing her.
All our Danes were that gentle.
Our Last Dane called Lizzie was so well loved by all our neighbours in our avenue and beyond. We live in a cul-de-sac - at the bottom - and she would stroll up to the top, watch what was going on.
She died suddenly one Sunday afternoon fourteen years ago - she just walked down to the greenhouse, lay down and died. The news spread like wild fire and two of our neighbours came in to help dig her grave. Before they had finished, the neighbouring children were at the door wanting to see her. We let them through to the garden and they all stroked her and shed their tears and she was sadly missed by everybody.
Danes, vicious!!!!!!!!!
Having said all that, doesn't the stupid man realise that no dog should be totally trusted. That same gentle giant Lizzie, would not let Fred near our granddaughters when they were babies unless either the respective mothers or I were present - she would warn him very quietly deep down in her throat with a barely audible growl.

Men like that senator need to meet a truly vicious dog, then perhaps he would perhaps give the whole subject some serious thought instead of what would appear to be vote catching comments, or whatever.

Judy, Milly and Mabel.

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 7:57 am
by SWANCIN
Lou wrote:
Elaina wrote:Jeff,
I have read IL SB1790 as submitted by IL Sen. Martin Sandoval. The senator is using 10 breeds to determine what a "dangerous dog" is. The dogs listed are ...German Shepards....

Cindy (Kodi's Mom), did you ever hear back from the lady in Oregon who was asking for pictures of children and chows for her plea not to have chows declared "dangerous dog".[/color]
Hi Lou,
No, I never did hear anything new. That had been a cross post I'd read, didn't know the person myself. I hope she did get the pictures and testimonials for the cause!

:shock: This is quite disturbing. :shock:

Yesterday I read about Wisc., USA considering (free roaming or feral) CATS as able to be hunted and shot. There's alot more to the articles, but no matter what I read or how they spin it, it's appalling.

Hugs to all,
Cindy & Kodi

GREAT NEWS

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 4:53 pm
by Joe & Robin
I called most of the Senators on the committee which was going to meet on this tomorrow. The Chairman's office said they had a long list of letters, fax and calls in opposition to the bill. The Vice-Chairman's office said they believed it would be DROPPED from the agenda and not heard. One office said they had yet to receive a call supporting this bill. A few others said the Senators did not support the bill in the first place.

I plan to mail Senator Sandoval a letter nonetheless.

I hope all this sends a message to Senator Sandavol that he can not address this subject in such a reckless manor. If he is truely concerned he will propose laws which will be hard on those who neglect and abuse while protecting those who are responsible and law abiding.

I just could not see Robin walking Mai Tai with a bright orange tag that labels her a "dangerous dog" - NO WAY!

To answer Lou's question. Sen Sandoval exempted law enforcement, assistance dogs - etc from this law (contridicting what he proposed - is all some or none Senator?). I guess he did not want to fight with anyone he thought might give him a challenge.

Also, the problem with the link is that the site only hyper linked half of it. You have to cut and paste each half for it to work. Sorry.

Joe & Robin, and Mai Tai

HERE'S THE LATEST FROM THE AKC

Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 5:02 pm
by Joe & Robin
Update! Sen. Sandoval’s office has told AKC and the Illinois Dog Clubs and Breeders Association that the Senator has reconsidered his position on SB1790 and will no longer support it. Many thanks to the countless dog owners who responded swiftly to our initial alert with calls and e-mails—your efforts made all the difference!

With breed-specific legislation still a hot topic in Illinois and many other animal-related bills yet to be considered, dog owners still have much work ahead of them. However, the defeat of SB1790 represents a second important legislative victory in Illinois already this year. Congratulations!

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS?

Yippppeeee!!!!!

Joe & Robin, and Mai Tai

Well Done!

Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2005 12:40 am
by Judy Fox
:D Well Done, Joe and Robin and everybody else.

Judy, Milly and Mabel.

dangerous

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2005 12:24 pm
by bellatrix
I think in most states Chows are already on the vicious dogs list. In Maryland they certainly are. This is ridiculous as any dog can be made vicious due to the owner's abuse, negligence and training to guard. I just lie on my homeowner's insurance which would not allow me to have my sweet innocent chow chow who wouldn't hurt a fly, i tell them she's a black lab. Really ridiculous!! Instead of branding certain breeds as vicious, all they need to do is actually prosecute the individuals who are abusing their animals and causing dog attacks.

Re: HERE'S THE LATEST FROM THE AKC

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 12:30 pm
by Zhuyos mom
Joe & Robin wrote:Update! Sen. Sandoval’s office has told AKC and the Illinois Dog Clubs and Breeders Association that the Senator has reconsidered his position on SB1790 and will no longer support it....
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS?
:D CONGRATULATIONS! I finally got a chance to read the bill from the link you sent me privately. I am so happy for you and the other dog owners in your state that this did not go through. After reading it, it definitely was a load of (as M&M would say...) BUNDLE! (Zhu & PB would say "crap" as they are Americans). My first post on thinking that there might be a hidden agenda of insurance backing could be true because a good portion of the bill was about obtaining and maintaining canine home insurance. The theme of canine home insurance rang throughout the bill.

So again, congratulations! I think we all have to watch out for politicians who are backed by insurance companies. :twisted: This is a hot topic for that industry because (according to my home owners insurance lady) when a canine incident happens at a home, the law suits, the hospital bills et al are direct losses to the insurance carrier and they ultimately charge higher premiums to its group members to compensate for the financial loss. And, straight from the voice of my nice insurance lady's, "why should others pay for the harm and damage that those breeds do".

My chow or spitz mix?

Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 10:36 pm
by SusanScales
Hey,

I read on your triumph over getting the Chow Chow NOT put on the dangerous dog list. Here in TN they are. We lived her five years ago when we got Rosie and Roxie and there was no problem then. We got sent to Germany for three years and came back and was told NO chows. No one even wanted to rent us a house or insure our house. So we said we have some spitz mixes. I'm not giving up my babies because some NUT thinks they are mean dogs. I mean really, yes, my dog will eat you up if your break into my house but that would be while I'm getting my shotgun.

My aunt had a poodle when I was a little girl. I was four years old and walked by that dog, didn't touch it, and it attacked me. My dad had to pull it off me. A poodle I wouldn't not have, my chows are my pride and joy!

Great Job with all you've accoplished. I wish this state would reconsider.

Susan

What a load of rediculous Bunk!

Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 1:04 pm
by Shan&Kayla
What a moron this senator is! at least is got squashed. I looked up legislation in my state and how cool is this? Gotta love this!

State Status: Pending
WA H.B. 1016 Breed-Specific Insurance Ban
Bill Number: H.B. 1016
HSUS Position: Support

Mandates that insurers may not cancel, fail to renew, or deny application for homeowners insurance based on the ownership of a specific breed of dog.

Washington State residents who have experienced the denial, cancellation or refusal of homeowner’s insurance by an insurance company solely based on the breed of dog that the applicant owns or harbors on the property are urged to email their experience to the HSUS Pacific Northwest Regional office, pnrotemp@hsus.org or call 425-656-9797. Your experiences will be used to support this legislation.

:lol:

Washington & Nutro

Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 1:54 pm
by Jeff&Peks
Washington state has always been one of the more civilized states, wonder if it has anything to do with me being born there or maybe because its so close to Canada..

Also I think you ask a question about which Nutro to buy, I feed Pekoe Nutro Natural Choice, (lamb and Rice dry) I don't know if that's the more expensive one but that's the one we have always fed her.

Thanks!

Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 3:47 pm
by Shan&Kayla
for answering about the food thing :)

Dangerous dogs?

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 1:49 pm
by DButter470
I live in IL and just adopted a Chow three weeks ago. Has this gone through?

DISREGARD - I READ ALL THE POSTS AND SAW THAT THIS IS A NON-ISSUE NOW! THANK GOD!!