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BSL Awareness
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!
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!
