The post is in the OKC forum and not the Pets forum because this issue affects us all, not just pet owners.

from: The Norman Transcript
http://www.normantranscript.com/loca...yword=topstory

"Despite two previous legislative setbacks, state Rep. Paul Wesselhoft confirmed this week he would again author legislation to prevent attacks by vicious dogs."

"This year, the Moore Republican said, he plans to write a proposal which is 'non-breed specific.'"

"Wesselhoft said his new proposal could make a dog's 'first-bite' a felony."

"'If a dog gets off its property and if that dog attacks someone and if that attack is serious -- that is if a prudent person would seek medical help -- then my legislation calls for making that attack a felony offense with a mandatory 20 days in jail,' he said."

"'My bill will make people hesitate when purchasing pit bulls because it would be a felony if the dog bit someone,' he said. 'You will think twice before you buy.'"

"Should the bill become law, Wesselhoft said he hoped it would 'dramatically' reduce the state's pit bull population."

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I'm glad to see that he has finally considered an approach that is not breed specific. However, I'm concerned that this legislation, which will impose a severe criminal penalty, will negatively affect dog ownership in general.

Highly responsible dog owners might double think adopting a dog given this penalty. If this is true, it is likely to have negative impacts on all citizens. Did you know that the animal shelter kills 18,000 animals per year (50 per day). Given that OKC animal control has a $3,000,000/year budget, it costs us taxpayers some $150 per animal killed. If dog ownership is discouraged, the number of shelter adoptions will decrease, and we will have even more animals to kill. Thus, this legislation may severely increase the taxpayer burden!

On the other hand, irresponsible people (who also happen to be pet owners) already ignore hoards of other laws, many with severe criminal penalties. Why would these owners even consider this new penalty when buying an animal? If the stereotypical pit bull owner image is even remotely correct, won't these individuals just wear the potential criminal penalty as a 'badge of honor', flaunting the potential consequences. In other words, a crack dealing dog fighter will just laugh at the potential of 20 days in jail!

What evidence suggests that such a law would reduce specifically the pit bull population? It is just likely to reduce the number of individuals willing to adopt dogs from our over-full shelter.

OKCCrime

Anyone know off hand when Wesselhoff's term is up?

He's a nut, but not term limited until 2016... unfortunately his seat is a very safe republican one, leaving little chance for change.

Oklahoma State House of Representatives - Member's Page

RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS OF THE WESTERN STATES

P.O. Box 1406 Newport, WA 99156

Web Site Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States E-mail US rdows@povn.com

Blog TRUTHS FROM RDOWS E-mail List RDOWS : Responsible Dog Owners Western States



Cherie Graves, Chairwoman, WA, (509) 447-2821

Judy Schreiber-Dwornick, Assistant to the Chair, Director at Large, rdowsdirectoratlarge@gmail.com

Hermine Stover, Secretary, Press Liaison, CA, hermine@endangeredspecies.com

Mary Schaeffer, Finance Director, finedogs@hotmail.com

Arkansas Director, Roger Schnyer cajun9@sbcglobal.net

California Director, Jan Dykema bestuvall@sbcglobal.net

Illinois Director, Elizabeth Pensgard bpensgard@yahoo.com

Indiana Director, Charles Coffman candkcoffman@comcast.net

Iowa Director, Leisa Boysen rdows_iowa@yahoo.com

Mississippi Director, Dan Crutchfield farmer1@telepak.net

Nevada Director, Ken Sondej 4winds@viawest.net

Ohio Director, Tiffany Skotnicky ohdirrdows@yahoo.com

Oklahoma Director, Jade Harris aadrlegislation@yahoo.com

Tennessee Director, Gina Cotton ginacotton@msn.com

Texas Director, Alvin Crow crobx@austin.rr.com

POSITION STATEMENT ON FELONY DOG BITE LEGISLATIONÓ

Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States is opposed to any legislation that criminalizes a person as a felon who did not act out of malice, or intent. A felony is a major crime, such as robbery, kidnapping, murder, arson, rape, child molestation, etc. Each are purposeful acts committed against human beings with intentional malice. Most dog bite are not intentional acts directed by one human being against another, but are the result of an accident, negligence, or carelessness.

RDOWS does support misdemeanor charges to penalize persons whose negligence, carelessness or irresponsibility causes harm to another. RDOWS supports felony laws only when charged against a person who uses a dog as a weapon with the intent to cause physical harm, injury or death when in the act of committing a crime. It is irresponsible law making to create a whole new criminal class out of dog owners, and put them into the same legal category as murderers, rapists, arsonists, robbers, or child molesters.

Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States will support a legal challenge to Texas' First Bite Felony law. It was enacted in haste following on the heels of a fatal dog attack. The law does not consider intent. Intent is when person makes a conscious decision to act for the purpose of reaching a certain, or particular outcome. We, as citizens, must not allow emotionalism to undo our code of law.

Oklahoma Representative Paul Wesselhoft has plans to introduce copycat legislation into the next session of Oklahoma's legislative session. Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States shall work to prevent this legislation from being passed into law. Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States will send information packets , make phone calls, and send faxes to the Oklahoma legislators. Oklahoma has laws on its books right now that address dog bites. Those laws are reasonable, workable, and enforceable. Laws must not be passed that are predicated upon personal vendettas of elected Representatives, Senators, or policy makers. All laws must protect the constitutional rights of citizens of the United States of America.

Any regulations are only as good as their enforcement. Our research shows that lack of enforcement, coupled with irresponsible, negligent, or careless dog ownership is the root cause for the great majority of dog bites. In many instances numerous reports to animal control go unheeded. The result in Louisville, Kentucky was two dog related fatalities. In each instance the dog involved had numerous complaints preceding the fatal attack. Animal control must be accountable to the public that they serve, and to the cities that contract with them. Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States believes that animal control must also be penalized by law for culpability in serious injury, or fatal dog attacks when it is proven that they failed in their duty to protect the public, and to enforce the law.

Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States has a Position Statement on Shelters that is available on RDOWS website, or on request from RDOWS, or from any state Director.

Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States Model Dog Owner Regulations are available on request to any person, or government body that is seeking firm, but fair regulations for dog ownership. The Model Dog Regulations offer equal treatment of all dog owners, and equal protections to the public from all dogs.

Thank Cherie!
If you haven't already, please send Representative Wesselhoft your materials.

OKCcrime