Pit Bull Ban Passes

[Jim O'Bryan]

Just in the...

Pit bull ban passed tonight with a vote of 6 -1.
Only Ward 4 Councilwoman Mary Louise Madigan voted no.

Current dogs will be grandfathered in.

more in moments.



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[Grace O'Malley]

Oh, I feel so much safer.

Thank goodness for those foresighted councilmen who took decisive action on such an important issue.

I bet my house just increased in value and I won't have to pay more income tax now.

[Ed Dickson]

I don't even know what to say. I can recall very few times I've been more disappointed in a group of people than I am at this moment. This isn't at all about what's best for Lakewood.

I know the mayor and some council members read this, please explain your reasoning as to how you came to the decision you did. Please explain how this will help the city.

[Brad Hutchison]

I don't even know what to say. I can recall very few times I've been more disappointed in a group of people than I am at this moment. This isn't at all about what's best for Lakewood.

I know the mayor and some council members read this, please explain your reasoning as to how you came to the decision you did. Please explain how this will help the city.

And please explain your investigative process and all of the information you used. Real information, please, from expert sources. Don't give us "to make the children safer," because you didn't.

[Hope Robbins]

It is with a heavy heart I come here. It is not to admit defeat. Because before I put that old home on the market, Jim.....It's not over.

I can say I have never been more proud of a council member than Madigan. She is not only couragous, but very intelligent. She stated the same thing we all did. There is no reason to pass a ban with all the things we have put in place. And bans are never the answer. Kudos to you, I only wish you were my ward rep. Sadly I missed you by one ward...and am stuck in 4...what rotton luck for me.


I must say after tonight I not only appalled, but I am insulted.

I was one of the residents who stood up at the last council meeting and commited on the record to becoming a task force community member to go our and gather statistics, enter data, help with education, etc. If they didn't pass the ban. They even brought that up in this meeting.

We asked them to please put this on the back burner let us all come together and put ideas on the table and form a commitee.

So after all that, they actually pass a brand new ordinance, even one that both Madigan & Antonio had to question and said they wouldn't vote for, argued about for at least 10 minutes, then votged for...a what.....
community group that will work in tandum with council to educate, micro-chip and put in effect all of our ideas....then passed the ban anyway?


That is a joke to me and an insult.

Council, is your memory that short that you actually forgot who made the offers? The people who own the dogs you just banned? You think we are still going to go out and work to educate people while our dogs are banned? And bear with me here because I feel comfortable saying this analogy which might offend some, but since I am member of the ACLU, in a mixed marriage and my best friend is openly gay, I will put it to you like this.. It's like saying, I am going out to educate the community on the rights of being gay, but my black husband isn't welcome?

I am sorry but that is patronizing. You think because you said your doggie can stay...I am actually going to support this? I am actually going to help cut down your costs of enforcing this or paying for the education of your residents with my blood, sweat and tears? Sorry. The agreement was IF , again IF you didn't pass the ban. But you did.

I don't feel any safer about owning my dog now than I did for just speaking out against this ban...

Nope, in fact...I am already looking over my shoulder....

Because there is now a zero tolerance in effect, out of compliance, out your dog goes?

Do you know the hell owners who have done nothing wrong have already faced? People who don't even own Pit Bulls? Like Missy?
Do you not think that some fanatic won't be happy to call and say my dog was out, or I walked her without a muzzle and it's an outright lie? Then she is gone! Poof just like that? Who are they going to believe really? I mean this is crazy.

I was prepared for this tonight. I am sad to say, from day 1, I knew there was no changing their minds. I hoped with every breath in my body I would be wrong. But sadly I am not. I am sorry Jim. I am not sure, I can stay in a community where I feel like I have to look over my shoulder at everything I do. And God forbid if my 10 year old forgets to lock the screen door, goes out, and my dog decides to go out on the porch to follow him to play...she won't leave the porch, but it won't matter! Dog at large , doesn't matter she is on the porch, no leash , no muzzle. She is out. Having that conversation with my husband now Jim.

I really hope I can fight and overturn this, and BSL altogether, I am a scappy thing...but everyone has thier limit, mine is the heart of my children. I will continue to fight. I will continue to be a good neighbor, but I make no commitments on how long I will be a homeowner, or resident here.

[Ruthie Koenigsmark]

could the city learn from others?

just one of many stories there are many one only needs to research ..........

http://www.nbc4.com/news/5019570/detail.html

and then in Europe

http://network.bestfriends.org/internat ... 26185.html

we need to skip a few steps, like breed bans, and write legislation that addresses the real issue, makes sense and holds bad owners accountable!

[Jim O'Bryan]

It is with a heavy heart I come here. It is not to admit defeat. Because before I put that old home on the market, Jim.....It's not over.

I can say I have never been more proud of a council member than Madigan. She is not only couragous, but very intelligent. She stated the same thing we all did. There is no reason to pass a ban with all the things we have put in place. And bans are never the answer. Kudos to you, I only wish you were my ward rep. Sadly I missed you by one ward...and am stuck in 4...what rotton luck for me.

Hope


Do me and yourself a favor. Please quit the "before I move, I will move, if this doesn't happen I'll move thought process. Too many people in this city play this god awful card. "If this levy isn't passed," "if my mayoral candidate isn't elected," "if they build or don't build..."

Many of us, read that and think, see ya, we are busy over here trying to make positive change. The city does not need the extra drama at this point and time. What we need are dedicated citizens, willing to engage and take part in this community. It is a far greater threat to say, "I am not moving, I will be at every meeting until..." then "I am leaving."

I can feel your frustration. I know your frustration. We all know your frustration. A room full of people watched council roll over for AT&T and make a terrible choice. That night Mike Dever rose to the call of sanity. "Can they be placed underground?" "Why do we have to hurry?"

One of the nice things I have noticed on council over the years. They all take turns as hero and heroines.

Tonight, I would agree, was a bad night, if for no other reason then the costs associated with the legal nightmare that will likely follow. But today it is another day we must continue to make Lakewood better for all of us.

We need good residents like you, like we need good businesses.

Fight the good fight, but please dedicate yourself to do this as a resident that is staying put.

Sorry, long night, just finished looking over the paper, and was assured one more time, it is a good town, a good community. You are one reason why, so is Mary Louise, and you know, like it or not so is Brian Powers.




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[dl meckes]

Hope - there are only four wards in Lakewood. Madigan represents ward four.

I am terribly disappointed that fear and ignorance won tonight. It isn't this first time that has happened and it won't be the last.

What is worse is http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bill ... 127_HB_568.

Owners would have 90 days to turn in their pets to be euthanized.

[Bret Callentine]

Current dogs will be grandfathered in.

Officer: "is that a pit bull?"

Resident: "why yes, yes it is. But I've had him since July 18th."

Officer: "lets see his drivers licence and dog registration."

Resident: "um, did I say pit bull, I meant, terrier, he's definitely a terrier."

Officer: "I'm affraid you'll have to submit him for a canine DNA test. Please have your dog pee in this cup."

Great legislation. I feel safer already.

So, it took over seven years to get the abandon house next to me to finally work it's way through the dysfunctional system, yet Council feels that Pit Bulls is the bigger problem for the city.

Outstanding. Maybe now we can finally move on to the next important issue, like what color to paint the fire hydrants.

[Bret Callentine]

also, I find it curious that we as citizens are able to get a licence to carry a concealed weapon, but a dog on a leash in your backyard is viewed as immenently too dangerous.

[David Anderson]

Brett C. -

You wrote, "Outstanding. Maybe now we can finally move on to the next important issue, like what color to paint the fire hydrants."

To that point, I easily could have missed it but I have not heard much since April regarding Lakewood’s Public Safety Initiative.

This plan, put forth by Mayor FitzGerald three months ago, suggested, among other things, the following:

Ward 1 – Neighborhood office site selection to proceed. Hiring process in motion for new officer in order to assign NPO.
Ward 2 – Neighborhood office site selection to proceed. Hiring process in motion for new officer in order to assign NPO.
Ward 3 – Neighborhood office site selection to proceed. Hiring process in motion for new officer in order to assign NPO.
Ward 4 – Officer in Fedor Manor starting in June 2008.

Can anyone provide an update?

[Hope Robbins]

It is with a heavy heart I come here. It is not to admit defeat. Because before I put that old home on the market, Jim.....It's not over.

I can say I have never been more proud of a council member than Madigan. She is not only couragous, but very intelligent. She stated the same thing we all did. There is no reason to pass a ban with all the things we have put in place. And bans are never the answer. Kudos to you, I only wish you were my ward rep. Sadly I missed you by one ward...and am stuck in 4...what rotton luck for me.

Hope


Do me and yourself a favor. Please quit the "before I move, I will move, if this doesn't happen I'll move thought process. Too many people in this city play this god awful card. "If this levy isn't passed," "if my mayoral candidate isn't elected," "if they build or don't build..."

Many of us, read that and think, see ya, we are busy over here trying to make positive change. The city does not need the extra drama at this point and time. What we need are dedicated citizens, willing to engage and take part in this community. It is a far greater threat to say, "I am not moving, I will be at every meeting until..." then "I am leaving."

I can feel your frustration. I know your frustration. We all know your frustration. A room full of people watched council roll over for AT&T and make a terrible choice. That night Mike Dever rose to the call of sanity. "Can they be placed underground?" "Why do we have to hurry?"

One of the nice things I have noticed on council over the years. They all take turns as hero and heroines.

Tonight, I would agree, was a bad night, if for no other reason then the costs associated with the legal nightmare that will likely follow. But today it is another day we must continue to make Lakewood better for all of us.

We need good residents like you, like we need good businesses.

Fight the good fight, but please dedicate yourself to do this as a resident that is staying put.

Sorry, long night, just finished looking over the paper, and was assured one more time, it is a good town, a good community. You are one reason why, so is Mary Louise, and you know, like it or not so is Brian Powers.




.

I don't believe I said I was moving if something doesn't go my way Jim.
In fact my lead in line was the fight is not over. My last comment was I make no commitment to forever.

I would not stay here if it came between living here and my family's happiness. I said I would not make a commitment to stay forever because if my husband of 14 years and my 3 children came to me and said we respect your fight mom, and we have been by you, but this is too painful to bear....can we please move and just live in peace where you don't have to be the big mouth hero for the down trodden....I will do what my family asks of me, without them I have no "super hero" powers anyway.

I think I did and already have commited to continue to fight against this law, BSL and any other law they try to pass that is as equally moronic.

I certainly hope you realize my content there was not to say I lost, I am moving, pout pout .

You bet your butt I am far from being done in this city. I will continue to go to meetings and fight when they are trying to pass something so ridiculous that is not safe and will in the long run, hurt us all in more than one way. I am not curling up and dying.

Just because this law passed yesterday, that leaves today wide open to change it. That is what makes this country great, what can be done in politics yesterday can be undone today. Those sitting in those seats yesterday, may be removed and replaced today. I certainly hope nobody is sitting there smuggly thinking this is over, they won, and we are going to crawl away now, happy to keep our little demon dogs another day, because they are going to be disappointed.


So please do me a favor so you and I are on the same page, and understand what I was attempting to say. My post was directed at you to let you know I am disappointed, but not defeated and BEFORE I even think about leaving, I am fighting to let you know I am doing what you said which is to not turn tail and run. My last line is to let you know I won't commit to forever because I am first a mom, second a resident of Lakewood, so we are all clear here. If you took it any other way that is not my intention. I don't use idle threats, I have every intention of doing everything I said I would do.

[Valerie Molinski]

Sadly, I am not surprised. Deeply disappointed, but not surprised in the least. I could feel that the council had already made up their minds at the meetings I attended. They were just going through the motions and putting on a show before they knew they were going to vote and pass this anyway.

Kudos to Councilwoman Madigan. She actually listens and weighs all sides. Not just on this, but on other things, it seems. She is a good egg.

This only shows everyone the council's true colors and everyone should be concerned about future issues. They do not listen to the constituents who have put them in their positions. They ignore and do what they want anyway and treat their constituents like children who 'they know better than.' I will be counting the days until some of these people are no longer on council.

[Missy Limkemann]

My heart is just broken. I am so upset. For so many reasons, but the main one I see coming is community war. Plain out war. It happens to me on a daily basis and I don't own a pit. I brought that up to council last night. When walking my approved boxer (ok so the warden here calls him a lab and I am free to walk him as any other dog without muzzle etc etc) I get harassed and my kids are frightened. How many calls to the police and dog warden will it take when they finally tell me "you know we change our minds...it is a pit...do this and this?" You know it will happen.
A one strike thing? What is a "strike?" I don't understand that. I have invisible fence (again for many reasons and 1 was my lab went thru a chain link fence and spent a few nights at the vet's office...) and people walk by and both my lab and beagle run up to their "area" and bark and wag their tail etc etc. Would that be considered one strike as someone would be scared? My dogs barked to say hi and now they are punished. Again not pits, but does that really matter anymore?
Are we allowed to call the police on the spot and report harassment when walking our dogs? Are the cops going to come out every time we do report this or are they gonna say "file a report" and not bother? Do I have to carry a stick with me to ward off those people that threaten me? Do I know have to start beating people? (trust me I will....even more so when I feel threatened)
My heart is just so broken. I have to change my rescues name to All Dogs' Heaven *minus pit bulls or mixes or anything that looks like* Heaven. Maybe I will change it to "Cute Fluffy Annoying Yippy Dogs Heaven"

[Hope Robbins]

Hope - there are only four wards in Lakewood. Madigan represents ward four.

I am terribly disappointed that fear and ignorance won tonight. It isn't this first time that has happened and it won't be the last.

What is worse is http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bill ... 127_HB_568.

Owners would have 90 days to turn in their pets to be euthanized.

Oops! Thanks for pointing that typo out, my apologies .....I AM NOT in WARD 4, or I might be happier, not much but a little. My only important point there was to give a KUDOS to Mary Louise Madigan. Thank you DL for bringing that to my attention so I could make that correction. For the record I know there are only 4 wards.....


DL if I haven't mentioned before, I am a member of CAO and recently accepted the position of CAO representative for Lakewood along with another resident.

So I am very familiar with what is going on with BSL & Bans all over Ohio , well actually the US, Canada, Ireland, England, it goes on and on....

And as far as HB568, have you seen the backtracking Tyrone Yates has done on that one too? Do you know he is now in talks with Shawn Webster in regards to HB366? We have reps all over Ohio we are targeting BSL and Banning on a state level not just Lakewood. But again it starts in my own backyard. I was fighting this before fighting this was "cool" !

http://www.canineadvocatesofohio.org/BS ... HB_366.htm