Texas looks at weight-specific legislation (for dogs)

[The Straight Story]

Texas looks at weight-specific legislation

Two fatal pit bull attacks on infants in Texas has the state legislature taking a look at revising the state’s dangerous dog laws, including breed specific legislation, creating a separate category for dogs that appear they could be ”vicious” and — believe it or not — maybe even weight-specific legislation.

“I think we ought to by state law determine that if you are a vicious dog, we ought to prevent you from going to public parks, to schools where kids congregate and if you live in a city with more than one million citizens, require that any dog that over 40 pounds be enclosed in a fence,” said Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, (D) San Antonio.

Specifically, that section of his proposed law reads: A person who owns or keeps custody or control of a dog weighing 40 pounds or more shall ensure that the dog, at any time the dog is not on a leash in the immediate control of a person, is kept inside a residence or in a secure enclosure on the premises where the dog is kept.

Perhaps the most troubling part of the bill, though, is that, unlike “dangerous” dogs, who are so deemed because of their actions, the criteria for judging a dog “vicious” is based only on appearance — does he snarl, is he jumping at the fence? No aggressive action needs occur, according to the Texas Humane Legislation Network.

http://www.ohmidog.com/2009/04/08/texas-looks-at-weight-specific-legislation/

[Stinky The Clown]

1. But in cities of 998,000, the dogs need only be on a stout chain? How about tiny towns?

Keep 'em on dental floss braided the three plys?

What moronic bullshit

[pnwmom]

2. That's basically a leash law, as far as I can tell, except it only applies

to larger dogs.

I think all dogs are better off if they're not running loose. Leash laws are a good thing.

[KamaAina]

3. Some pit bulls weigh less than 40 pounds

and many gentler breeds, such as Labs and goldens, weigh more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Pit_Bull_Terrier

Traits
Weight Male 35 and 60 pounds (16 and 27 kg)
Female 30 and 50 pounds (14 and 23 kg)

So, if this is back-door breed-specific legislation, "that dog won't hunt".

[The Straight Story]

4. Big dogs = assault dogs

They look scary, therefore they are...

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. my great pyre is a lapdog. He's about 140lbs, and

if I introduce you to him, he may lick you to death, or splatter you with saliva when he shakes his huge head before leaning on you, asking you for a head rub.

Of course, if you are trying to break in and attack me, all bets are off. They are natural protectors of humans, livestock, and their homes. but, the neighbors come and show their babies to him, and he responds with a nudge of the head to their arms, legs and faces.

[OhioChick]

7. I guess my 70+lb Siberian that would lick a person to death...

Would be considered an "assault dog" then. :rofl:

[The Straight Story]

8. Here are my huge dogs:

[OhioChick]

11. Awww.....they're cute!

They don't look that big...how much do they weigh?

[The Straight Story]

12. Buster is 8 lbs, wiggles is about 13

Wiggles though is half Jack Russel (and half miniature dachshund )

[OhioChick]

13. They're so cute and tiny.

They look adorable laying together. My Husky "thinks" she's a lap dog. I often wake up in the morning thinking that I'm paralyzed...only to realize that she's laying on my legs. :crazy:

[The Straight Story]

14. They burrow under the blankets and lay right against me

Have thrown them off the bed before half asleep when trying to roll over :)

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

17. Wieners!

These 2 scare many people:



Ruby is the red and Samson is the black and tan...

[kiva]

6. Not sure that I understand why he finds this troubling.

The law, as he quotes it, simply says that a dog owner needs to be in control of his/her dog when in public, and the the dog needs to be in a house or a fenced yard when at home. Frankly, sounds like a good law for all dogs, particularly in a city--it's not just a question of the dog being dangerous, but the dangers to a dog running loose.

[flvegan]

10. It allows a dog to be declared "vicious" without any rhyme or reason

based on appearance alone.

http://www.thln.org/index.cfm?pageID=11B34BEE-3048-7B4D-7B72240E8254ECE5

[kiva]

15. I agree that's wrong, guess I just focused on the requirements

about leash/fence. A couple of my neighbors let their medium-sized dogs run loose, and I'm always afraid when I see them crossing the fairly busy street, and really wish their people would comply with this sort of legislation. But you're right, size doesn't equal viciousness.

[flvegan]

16. I think EVERY dog, regardless of size or breed needs to be on a leash

or behind a fence/enclosed. That would be proper legislation.

[flvegan]

9. A "democrat" introduced this piece of shit?

HB 1982. Good luck with that, asshole.