When the wording of the "compromise" began all Pit Bulls will continue to be deemed dangerous, I knew this wasn't a compromise at all. As it stood previously Elgin, IL public officials wanted to restrict Pit Bulls - for starters - by instantly deeming each one dangerous (without temperament testing) and mandating $500,000 of insurance. The compromise is changing that to $100,000 in insurance.
Why would any insurance carrier take you on if you have a dog that's being called dangerous (even if the dog isn't in actually a danger)?
And if you somehow could find coverage, even at $100,000 of coverage for a dangerous dog, that's a very expensive proposition to pay for. Another compromise, is lowering the mandatory fencing for yards where there is a Pit Bull from 6-feet to 4-feet high. But what if the subdivision where you live doesn't allow any fencing?
definition of the word compromise: a middle way between two extremes) (n) an accomodation in which both sides make concessions
Listen, I don't doubt that Mayor Ed Schock, Councilman John Prigge and other Elgin public officials - a nice enough community - want what is best. However, they are woefully misinformed. Why don't they listen to what veterinarians say about breed bans? The American Veterinary Medical Association is opposed, and so are all major national animal welfare organizations. Best Friends Animal Society has been trying to help, and Ed Fritz of Best Friends even flew in all the way from Utah to testify, and he was totally ignored at a hearing. What kind of hospitality is that?
I was told not to bother to show up either. I've testified in many places concerning breed bans, and I'm a dog behavior consultant, certified by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. However, because I don't reside in Elgin, I am told any comments I have will fall on deaf ears.
In the past 48 hours, I've left four messages for the Elgin public
information officer - not a single call returned.
I called the Mayor also, and emailed - so far, no reply. I invited these elected
representatives of the people to appear on my WLS Radio show, Steve Dale's Pet World, this Saturday (March 6) 6 a.m.So far, those requests ignored.
The Mayor and Councilman explain they will listen
to people who live in Elgin. Well, it seems they need to have their
ears checked. For starters all my email (100%), and each and every
caller who phoned in last week (all the calls we took on air and the
many we didn't have time to take on-air) each opposed to the proposal.
How about experts like dog trainers or veterinarians in Elgin?
Saturday (March 6), there will be a protest at Elgin City Hall, 150
Dexter Court, starting at 9 am. Please show up - particularly if you
live in Elgin.
Breed bans have not worked anywhere I know in
America. Why do Elgin officials believe that profiling dogs will work
any better in their community?
Jim Borgelt of Lake Shore Animal
Shelter happens to also be a student of history and constitutional law.
Jim, who will be on my WLS radio show show Saturday, says BSL (breed
specific legislation) is unconstitutional!
I live in Elgin and am horrified that my community would propose such a ban and at the way that experts were treated at the hearing. Simply stated, it is not the dog or breed, it is the owner.
It is sad that they are choosing not to something that will really help. If you look at their crime statistics, they have problems that are so much bigger than a pit bull problem. They have a people problem, and rather than fixing it, they are going to blame dogs.
Informed you have hit the nail on the head,BSL is a law that is ideal for failing politicians.it highly controversial.there is plenty of media hype and this the politico aims at the "Stupid Masses".Suddenly people who have never seen a pitbull start hating them,basically people like Prigge sell "FEAR",Fear of the unknown can sometimes be the most Scary,some of the "stupid masses" do not mind being raped,hi-jacked,having drug-dealers in their neighbourhood,even murdered "but please Mr Prigge protect us from the bogeyman the pitbulls."
Solution Vote imbeciles like Prigge out,have him removed,from what I understand he has been conspiring with PETA without consent of his constituents,this should be deemed DISHONEST.smarock10@yahoo.com
Not only is this ban bad for pit bulls, but as more pit bulls are relinquished to shelters, the number of non-pit bull dogs being euthanized due to overcrowding will increase too. This is not something that just affects pit bulls and Elgin - it will have a domino affect on other breeds and rescue groups in neighboring communities as well. It is uncomprehensible why the public officials of Elgin are so determined to do this in the face of such clear opposition and evidence that BSL doesn't work.
I've been designated the AKC lead on this. I've taught obedience in the Elgin area for nearly 30 years. I was called to testify (didn't testify) in a PA bite incident. AKC and ASCA judge. I've helped some of the local police depts. Yada, yada, yada.
THE most frustrating part of this. Prigge and the mayor have told me a couple of times that they'd like to talk to me and then no calls. In an email to Prigge I explained the importance of getting EXPERT opinions on WHY dogs bite.
As Steve says, they only want to hear from Elgin residents, even if those residents have no expert knowledge in this area.
Thank God they're not building a nuclear reactor.
It's very apparent that Prigge and Gilliam, who've pushed this type of thing for about 10 years that I can see, feel they now have the votes to push it through. Why Schok and Warren got on the bandwagon is beyond me.
Unsubstantiated rumors that one or two lawsuits will be filed.
The arrogance of these four is truly amazing.
Courier News is supposed to run an article tomorrow. Mike Danahey. He interviewed me for an hour. Caveat. He kept saying he wanted to have a balance article. He tried to get Prigge to call me. I'm just concerned that Danahey will bow to Prigge.
wallyobrien,Prigge and the Mayor KNOW BSL does not work,they know that to enforce this law will cost Elgin costituents plenty,this is the very reason that they do not wish to meet with you or any other BSL experts,this law is not about Dogs.
Look at what has taken place,3 weeks ago I would not have been able to find Elgin on a map,certainly would have never heard of a neo-Nazi with the name of Prigge.Prigge is now known in the political arena albeit notoriety and that is what it is all about POLITICS which means POLI=Many
TICS=Blood Sucking Parasites.
Elgin constituents have the right to vote,Vote Prigge out,he has been DISHONEST with his constituents by forming an alliance with PETA.smarock10@yahoo.com
I live in Elgin. I also have been a dog trainer for 13 years and worked as a veternary tech for 13 years. I also worked at an area shelter as did my husband. I did e-mail John. Tried to explain the other side of things. Gave him examples of what a true dangerous dog is, offered to lend him reading material on the subject of pit bulls and their true history. He wanted none. His response was both arrogant and ingnorant. I was told that in order to hold owners responsable for their dogs actions, you had to wait for them to attack, and that was not going to happen here! Um no. There are already laws in place that would stop that, it is the enforcement of those laws that is not happening. So I would ask, if our town can not enforce a simple law as your dog must be on a leash when away from your home, then how is this the next logical step?
DJS read my comment of my reply to Wally'Obrien.These neo-Nazis do not want it on record that this Law has Failed everywhere it has been introduced,starting with the Originator of this FOUL law,Adolph Hitler who created it to rid Europe of the Jewish nation.
The Animal-Lovers(Decent Human Beings) of Elgin must start Voting again and the Mayor and Prigge must be the first to be replaced.
smarock10@yahoo.com
They are punishing people and animals that haven't done anything!!! Every pitt that I have fostered has been absolutely unbelievable!! The most gentle, loving dogs ever!!! I love to know how many of Elgin's government officials have ever been around them? This is insane!! What breed next? German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Great Danes????
Debi625,
It will never happen with Schok. HE owns a German Shepherd.
One of the Elgin council members owns a Dobe.
They apparently, just don't get how BSLs work.
I prefer Ledy VanKavage's term, "breed-discriminatory regulation". BDL does not work, costs taxpayers money, and gives the public a false sense of security. Good dangerous dog laws control free-roaming dogs and take into account the behavior of *all* dogs, not just those wearing pit bull-like suits. Bane and Hera, who fatally mauled Diane Whipple in San Francisco, were not pit bulls, but had a long history of aggressive behavior toward humans. Legislation that will limit irresponsible owners like the ones who had these dogs will go far further toward eliminating dog bites than locking up or killing every short-haired, muscular dog, no matter how they behave.
The ASPCA is against BDL as well - here's why: http://www.aspca.org/about-us/policy-positions/breed-specific-legislation-1.html
BSL IS BSL ho matter how you look at it.........Banning guns does not stop the criminal element from owning hand guns. It will not stop them owning fighting dogs they will just go deeper underground. More suffering for these unfortunate animals that no ones doing anything about now. If they think animal at large are a problem wait till irresponsible people can't or don't want to comply with the new ordinances, let their dogs loose. With all deemed dangerous do we now have to worry about vigilante types or cops shootinging them down in the street after all they are "dangerous" and if a shepard bite some on will we ad it to the list next........food for thought.
BSL IS BSL ho matter how you look at it.........Banning guns does not stop the criminal element from owning hand guns. It will not stop them owning fighting dogs they will just go deeper underground. More suffering for these unfortunate animals that no ones doing anything about now. If they think animal at large are a problem wait till irresponsible people can't or don't want to comply with the new ordinances, let their dogs loose. With all deemed dangerous do we now have to worry about vigilante types or cops shootinging them down in the street after all they are "dangerous" and if a shepard bites some one will we ad it to the list next........food for thought.
In the correspondence with Prigge (A LINE of which he's put up on his website) he focuses on my comment about him being for BSLs for years. Funny how he didn't post anything about my stating that Prigge didn't want to hear from any experts on WHY dogs bite. All of his counter arguments have been google links to incidents that have happened through out the country. As we're all aware, those links never give the background of the dog.
He also states that 91% of the comments are from outside the area.
Doesn't mention how many of this 91% KNOW about why dogs bite. I guess these guys feel that Elgin has "experts" in every field on which they make decisions. Nuclear reactor anyone?
Right now Warren appears to be their weakest link.
http://www.cityofelgin.org/archives/44/3-10-10%20CC%20Agenda%20Packet.pdf
"Final" proposal.
Appears that they haven't changed anything.
Only hope now appears to be one of the pro guys change their votes.