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BSL Awareness
AMENDMENT TO HB2553 - A VICTORY FOR THE UNDERDOG
Today is a great day for Pennsylvania. Representative John Galloway has
amended his bill that would have previously lifted our state level
protection from BSL! To view the amendment, please click here. (The
original bill can be viewed here.) In short, Galloway is no longer seeking
to remove the line "A local ordinance otherwise dealing with dogs may
not prohibit or otherwise limit a specific breed of dog."
Here is Hello Bully's official statement on the amendment:
As an organization that supports responsible ownership of Pit Bulls, it is
important to us that dangerous dogs are appropriately dealt with, and
that owners are held accountable for the actions of their dogs. We have
always supported dog laws that base judgment on individual actions of
owners and their dogs.
Because our focus is on Pit Bulls, we know all too well that a few bad
apples can ruin the reputation of a breed. It is because of this unfair
reputation that laws singling out breeds of dogs are such a concern to
responsible Pit Bull owners. In the past three months we have collected
over 4,000 signatures from Pennsylvania residents in protest against any
change in our state laws that would allow breed specific legislation.
Hello Bully is happy to support HB2553 with the amendment that does
not remove the state level protection we have from BSL. We thank John
Galloway for amending his bill.
To our volunteers and supporters who have been working so hard to
educate others about the dangers of BSL... Over 4,000 of you let us
know that you are willing stand up for the rights of the underdogs, and
that you will not stand for BSL. Your voices were heard and we can't
thank you enough.
BSL ARCHIVE ITEMS...
PLEASE HELP. SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!
You can help by collecting signatures from your friends and family in
Pennsylvania. You can either mail the petitions to us (at the address
listed on our contact page) or bring them to the rally.
Click here to print out the petition against HB 2553
Click here for a general petition against BSL
Please send in your petitions by July 31st to:
Hello Bully
4885-A McKnight Road #197
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
THINK BSL "DOESN'T REALLY HAPPEN"?
Too often we hear people say that BSL "can't happen in the USA." Or
"They can't just TAKE your DOGS." Tell that to the residents of Colorado.
And look at what's going on right next door in Ohio.
Click here for news from Denver
Click here to view news stories from Aroura Colorado
Click here for news from Osceola
PA BSL ALERT
Hello Bully is sad to report that BSL is now a realistic threat for those of
us living in Pennsylvania. PA currently has laws at a state level that
prohibit municipalities from enacting Breed Specific Legislation.
Pennsylvania HB 2553 seeks to amend the "Dog Law" act of 1982, and
remove the following language. "Those provisions of local ordinances
relating to dangerous dogs are hereby abrogated. A local ordinance otherwise
dealing with dogs may not prohibit or otherwise limit a specific breed of
dog." Click here to view the bill
If this happens we will no longer have state level protection from BSL.
Municipalities will be able to pass their own laws about what breed of
dog you are allowed to own. BSL is not about Pit Bulls, it's about all dogs
- and your right to own the breed you choose.
Breed Specific Legislation doesn't work. Unlike non-breed specific
“Dangerous Dog” laws, BSL targets dogs based on appearance, not
actions or temperament. It offers a false sense of security by claiming to
target irresponsible owners and criminals. But who do they go after first?
Licensed dogs owned by responsible people just like you. Criminals don’t
license their dogs. Like a stray bullet, BSL hits all the wrong targets,
while criminals fly under the radar, or just move on to the next breed.
BSL isn't just about Pit Bulls. Many large breed dogs are often targeted.
Akitas, Chow Chows, Dobermans, German Shephards, Mastiffs, and
Rottweilers are right along side Pit Bulls when it comes to BSL.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION
Please contact members of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee. Let them know that BSL is not an acceptable means of
regulation. Tell them you support non-breed specific "Dangerous Dog"
laws. Please be polite and courteous.
Contact members of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee
Sample letters and tips can be found here:
Stop BSL Letters
Sample Letters from Rott-n-Chatter
Hello Bully is planning a BSL AWARENESS RALLY we will have more
information on this as soon as we have a date and time.
UPDATE 5/26
Representative John Galloway, who introduced the bill has made the
following statements on his home page.
"I believe local officials, not the state legislature, know best how to protect
residents from dangerous dogs. I have introduced a bill (H.B. 2553) that
would allow municipalities to pass their own dangerous dog ordinances and
not have them superseded by state law.
In some communities, irresponsible owners of dangerous dogs do not take
the necessary steps to ensure that their dogs are kept from running loose
throughout the neighborhood. Recently a beagle named Luna was attacked
by a pit bull that had wandered out of its yard.
Many municipal officials, including Bristol Borough Council President Ralph
DiGuiseppe, have complained that our state's current dog law is too weak
and they want the ability to pass their own laws with more bite."
To contact John Galloway, click here. However, please make it a priority
to contact the members of the House of Representatives Agriculture and
Rural Affairs committee, as well as Representatives in your area. Phone
calls, faxes and letters are preferred over email.
For contact information for you local Representative, click here.
Pennsylvania DOES have laws that protect citizens from dangerous dogs.
We also have leash laws that would seemingly apply in the situation
mentioned above. Irresponsible owners should be held accountable for
the actions of their dogs. It seems we do not need more laws, but to
enforce the laws we already have.
UPDATE 5/30 - UPDATE FROM EASTERN PA
John Galloway held a press conference on Thursday to publicly unveil
legislation that would allow municipalities to pass their own dog laws,
including BSL.
Our friends Jewels and Jackie attended the press conference and said
that there was a fairly even split of people for and against. Galloway was
not interested in answering to those who are not residents of Bristol
county - even though his bill would effect all of us in the state of
Pennsylvania.
Jewels said, "He dodged most of what we had to say. He said they don't
know what these laws will be if they are awarded this bill, but they will
be discussed and decided on later down the road. He said they are not
trying to outlaw a breed - just have stiffer penalties for irresponsible
owners. He also told people from outside of Bristol county that if we are
concerned about our local municipalities we should go speak to them. "
It seems that Galloway is in denial about what his bill would do if it were
to pass. Although he claims he has no intention of creating breed
restrictions or bans in his community, he is not willing to concede that his
bill will lift the protection that Pennsylvanians have from legislators doing
just that. This is like using a missile to try and kill a fly. The harmful side
effects greatly outweigh any positives.
If you are in the Philadelphia area and want to get involved, please email
Jewels at veggiegirl1217@hotmail.com
UPDATE - HB2553 STILL A THREAT
Although there are rumours circulating that John Galloway is going to pull
or change his bill, this is apparently not the case. Michele from Hello Bully
has been in close contact with his office over the past two weeks. Here is
what she shared with us today, 6/14.
"I spoke with Representative Galloway's office and it has been
confirmed that HB2553 will be submitted as originally proposed. I
will continue to track HB2553 in an effort to keep everyone accurately
informed."
We spoke with Galloway's office again today, 6/17. There has been no
change. His office can only confirm that the bill will go ahead as planned.
YOUR EFFORTS ARE WORKING! KEEP IT UP!
HB 2553 had 16 sponsors just a couple of weeks ago. That number has
dropped to 13! Great work. Thanks to all of you who have taken the time
to write, email and call. Keep up the great work!
Today is a great day for Pennsylvania. Representative John Galloway has
amended his bill that would have previously lifted our state level
protection from BSL! To view the amendment, please click here. (The
original bill can be viewed here.) In short, Galloway is no longer seeking
to remove the line "A local ordinance otherwise dealing with dogs may
not prohibit or otherwise limit a specific breed of dog."
Here is Hello Bully's official statement on the amendment:
As an organization that supports responsible ownership of Pit Bulls, it is
important to us that dangerous dogs are appropriately dealt with, and
that owners are held accountable for the actions of their dogs. We have
always supported dog laws that base judgment on individual actions of
owners and their dogs.
Because our focus is on Pit Bulls, we know all too well that a few bad
apples can ruin the reputation of a breed. It is because of this unfair
reputation that laws singling out breeds of dogs are such a concern to
responsible Pit Bull owners. In the past three months we have collected
over 4,000 signatures from Pennsylvania residents in protest against any
change in our state laws that would allow breed specific legislation.
Hello Bully is happy to support HB2553 with the amendment that does
not remove the state level protection we have from BSL. We thank John
Galloway for amending his bill.
To our volunteers and supporters who have been working so hard to
educate others about the dangers of BSL... Over 4,000 of you let us
know that you are willing stand up for the rights of the underdogs, and
that you will not stand for BSL. Your voices were heard and we can't
thank you enough.
BSL ARCHIVE ITEMS...
PLEASE HELP. SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!
You can help by collecting signatures from your friends and family in
Pennsylvania. You can either mail the petitions to us (at the address
listed on our contact page) or bring them to the rally.
Click here to print out the petition against HB 2553
Click here for a general petition against BSL
Please send in your petitions by July 31st to:
Hello Bully
4885-A McKnight Road #197
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
THINK BSL "DOESN'T REALLY HAPPEN"?
Too often we hear people say that BSL "can't happen in the USA." Or
"They can't just TAKE your DOGS." Tell that to the residents of Colorado.
And look at what's going on right next door in Ohio.
Click here for news from Denver
Click here to view news stories from Aroura Colorado
Click here for news from Osceola
PA BSL ALERT
Hello Bully is sad to report that BSL is now a realistic threat for those of
us living in Pennsylvania. PA currently has laws at a state level that
prohibit municipalities from enacting Breed Specific Legislation.
Pennsylvania HB 2553 seeks to amend the "Dog Law" act of 1982, and
remove the following language. "Those provisions of local ordinances
relating to dangerous dogs are hereby abrogated. A local ordinance otherwise
dealing with dogs may not prohibit or otherwise limit a specific breed of
dog." Click here to view the bill
If this happens we will no longer have state level protection from BSL.
Municipalities will be able to pass their own laws about what breed of
dog you are allowed to own. BSL is not about Pit Bulls, it's about all dogs
- and your right to own the breed you choose.
Breed Specific Legislation doesn't work. Unlike non-breed specific
“Dangerous Dog” laws, BSL targets dogs based on appearance, not
actions or temperament. It offers a false sense of security by claiming to
target irresponsible owners and criminals. But who do they go after first?
Licensed dogs owned by responsible people just like you. Criminals don’t
license their dogs. Like a stray bullet, BSL hits all the wrong targets,
while criminals fly under the radar, or just move on to the next breed.
BSL isn't just about Pit Bulls. Many large breed dogs are often targeted.
Akitas, Chow Chows, Dobermans, German Shephards, Mastiffs, and
Rottweilers are right along side Pit Bulls when it comes to BSL.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION
Please contact members of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee. Let them know that BSL is not an acceptable means of
regulation. Tell them you support non-breed specific "Dangerous Dog"
laws. Please be polite and courteous.
Contact members of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee
Sample letters and tips can be found here:
Stop BSL Letters
Sample Letters from Rott-n-Chatter
Hello Bully is planning a BSL AWARENESS RALLY we will have more
information on this as soon as we have a date and time.
UPDATE 5/26
Representative John Galloway, who introduced the bill has made the
following statements on his home page.
"I believe local officials, not the state legislature, know best how to protect
residents from dangerous dogs. I have introduced a bill (H.B. 2553) that
would allow municipalities to pass their own dangerous dog ordinances and
not have them superseded by state law.
In some communities, irresponsible owners of dangerous dogs do not take
the necessary steps to ensure that their dogs are kept from running loose
throughout the neighborhood. Recently a beagle named Luna was attacked
by a pit bull that had wandered out of its yard.
Many municipal officials, including Bristol Borough Council President Ralph
DiGuiseppe, have complained that our state's current dog law is too weak
and they want the ability to pass their own laws with more bite."
To contact John Galloway, click here. However, please make it a priority
to contact the members of the House of Representatives Agriculture and
Rural Affairs committee, as well as Representatives in your area. Phone
calls, faxes and letters are preferred over email.
For contact information for you local Representative, click here.
Pennsylvania DOES have laws that protect citizens from dangerous dogs.
We also have leash laws that would seemingly apply in the situation
mentioned above. Irresponsible owners should be held accountable for
the actions of their dogs. It seems we do not need more laws, but to
enforce the laws we already have.
UPDATE 5/30 - UPDATE FROM EASTERN PA
John Galloway held a press conference on Thursday to publicly unveil
legislation that would allow municipalities to pass their own dog laws,
including BSL.
Our friends Jewels and Jackie attended the press conference and said
that there was a fairly even split of people for and against. Galloway was
not interested in answering to those who are not residents of Bristol
county - even though his bill would effect all of us in the state of
Pennsylvania.
Jewels said, "He dodged most of what we had to say. He said they don't
know what these laws will be if they are awarded this bill, but they will
be discussed and decided on later down the road. He said they are not
trying to outlaw a breed - just have stiffer penalties for irresponsible
owners. He also told people from outside of Bristol county that if we are
concerned about our local municipalities we should go speak to them. "
It seems that Galloway is in denial about what his bill would do if it were
to pass. Although he claims he has no intention of creating breed
restrictions or bans in his community, he is not willing to concede that his
bill will lift the protection that Pennsylvanians have from legislators doing
just that. This is like using a missile to try and kill a fly. The harmful side
effects greatly outweigh any positives.
If you are in the Philadelphia area and want to get involved, please email
Jewels at veggiegirl1217@hotmail.com
UPDATE - HB2553 STILL A THREAT
Although there are rumours circulating that John Galloway is going to pull
or change his bill, this is apparently not the case. Michele from Hello Bully
has been in close contact with his office over the past two weeks. Here is
what she shared with us today, 6/14.
"I spoke with Representative Galloway's office and it has been
confirmed that HB2553 will be submitted as originally proposed. I
will continue to track HB2553 in an effort to keep everyone accurately
informed."
We spoke with Galloway's office again today, 6/17. There has been no
change. His office can only confirm that the bill will go ahead as planned.
YOUR EFFORTS ARE WORKING! KEEP IT UP!
HB 2553 had 16 sponsors just a couple of weeks ago. That number has
dropped to 13! Great work. Thanks to all of you who have taken the time
to write, email and call. Keep up the great work!
