> ** Please FORWARD this message to all dog owners that you know in
> Illinois!**
> > Dear Dog-owning Friend,
> > This is an urgent notice regarding a bill which has been proposed in
the
> Illinois State Senate (SB 1790). If this bill passes, all dogs of the
> following breeds will be declared LEGALLY DANGEROUS in the state of
> Illinois, regardless of temperament or training:
> > 1.) Pit Bull
> 2.) Rottweiler
> 3.) German Shepherd
> 4.) Husky
> 5.) Alaskan Malamute
> 6.) Doberman Pinscher
> 7.) Chow Chow
> 8.) Great Dane
> 9.) St. Bernard
> 10.) Akita
> > Owners of a dog of these breeds would be required to pay a special
> registration fee, have their dog wear an orange "dangerous dog" tag
and
> be muzzled at all times when off the owner's property, and will have
to
> purchase special dangerous dog liability insurance. If this bill
passes,
> all dogs of the above breeds in the state must be spayed or neutered
and
> microchipped. Under current law, no dog can be declared dangerous by
> breed, and if a dog is declared dangerous, the owner can appeal that
> declaration. Under this law, there are no appeals. Your Doberman, St.
> Bernard or German Shepherd may be a certified therapy dog or have a
> Canine Good Citizenship or other obedience title or temperament
testing
> certification, yet still be "dangerous" in the eyes of the law.
> > I can almost guarantee that your current homeowner's insurance will
be
> canceled. It's difficult enough to get homeowners insurance if you
own
> one of these breeds - this will make it nearly impossible, as most
> companies won't give you any insurance at all if you have a
"dangerous
> dog" in your home.
> > All breedings of these dogs will be halted. There are many excellent
> breeders of these breeds in the State. They will have 14 DAYS to spay
> and neuter all of their dogs, or to remove them from the state.
> > Not complying with this law will bring CRIMINAL PENALTIES.
> > What You Can Do!
> > This bill is sponsored (proposed) by:
> > Senator Martin A. Sandoval
> District Office:
> 4843 West Cermak Road
> Cicero, IL 60804
> (708) 656-2002
> (708) 656-7608 FAX
> senatormsandoval@aol.com
> > Springfield Office:
> Senator 12th District
> 118 Capitol Building
> Springfield, IL 62706
> (217) 782-5304
> > He is looking for opinions on this bill.
> > Please - call, write or fax his office immediately and ask him to
> withdraw this bill! This legislation is unfair to responsible owners
and
> does nothing to identify irresponsible owners. Breed-specific
> legislation has been found to be extremely costly, impossible to
> enforce, even unconstitutional. This bill would place a terrible
> financial burden on even the most responsible owners of the most
gentle
> dogs of these breeds. Even if you own a dog that is not of one of
these
> breeds, your breed could be next! The number one biting breed in
> Illinois is the LABRADOR. Even Pomeranians and Dachshunds have been
> involved in fatal dog attacks. Your breed could be next!
> > This bill is scheduled to be heard in committee within the next few
> weeks - let's try to get the sponsor to withdraw it before it gets to
> that point. Your opinion matters!
> > For More Information:
> > To read the entire bill, go to:
> http://www.ilga.gov
> > On the left side of the page is a search field - enter "SB 1790" and
> click "search." You can follow the links on the resulting page for
the
> sponsor's contact information, to read the full text of the bill, and
> contact information for committee members. It would be a good idea to
> send a copy of whatever you're sending to Sandoval to the committee
> members, as well, just in case it gets into a hearing sooner than
> anticipated.
>
-----
Anna
Vegas, Lab/Pointer mix (male)
Nevada, German Shepherd Dog (female)
Shorty, Bassett Hound (male)
The three bad kitties, two crazy ferrets, and all the reptiles, little fuzzies, noisy birds and fish.
