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Dangerous Dogs in Margate
• State law bans Margate from prohibiting the breed
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Monday,
April 20, 2009
How many people and pets need to be attacked by Pit Bulls in Broward County before elected officials do something about it? More than 500 incidents involving Pit Bulls have been reported in Broward County since 2005, at least 200 of which have been credited to Bit Bulls biting humans.
Although Florida State Representative, Perry Thurston is doing his share by introducing his Dangerous Dog Bill (HB 189) for the second year in a row this year, he’s not sure if it’ll be heard by Congress. With less than two weeks left in the session, says Legislative Assistant, Ella Phillips, House Bill (HB) 189 has yet to be considered.
“It’s not moving on either side, the Senate or the House,” said Phillips. “They’re still hung up on the budget, so a lot of bills aren’t going to be heard.”
HB 189 had a first reading on March 3rd. From there, it needs to go to committee and then onto both the House and Senate for a vote. If HB 189 passes, individual municipalities in Broward, including Margate, will be able to legislate dangerous dog laws at the local level as they see fit.
“An act relating to dangerous dogs, amending s. 767.14 F.S. (Florida Statute); eliminating the prohibition of breed-specific local government regulation of dangerous dogs…” reads the Bill.
The passing of HB 189 will enable Margate to regulate the possession, registration and restrictions of dangerous dogs, including but not limiting a ban on the Pit Bull breed.
Why can’t Margate ban Pit Bulls now?
Florida State Law currently prohibits municipalities from passing laws that target specific canine breeds. Although laws are in place in Margate and standards set for what constitutes a dangerous dog attack, Margate cannot legally outlaw Pit Bulls.
How can Miami Dade County ban Pit Bulls but not Broward?
Miami-Dade County – and Broward cities Hollywood, Sunrise and Tamarac – had either banned or regulated Pit Bulls before the State of Florida prohibited municipalities from doing so circa 1990. For instance, Tamarac’s current law is specific regarding Pit Bull enclosures. Tamarac requires Pit Bulls to be registered and Pit Bull owner’s to carry $1 million in liability insurance. There are no similar laws in Margate.
How bad is the Pit Bull problem in Margate?
Despite recent, aggravated attacks by Pit Bulls in Hollywood, Tamarac and Boca. The number of dog attacks in Margate has changed little over last year, according to Margate Police records. This doesn’t necessarily mean that Pit Butt attacks aren’t happening, said Lynette Davis with Broward County Animal Care & Regulation, just that some residents might not be reporting them for one reason or another. Davis expressed concern that since Pit Bulls are illegal in Miami-Dade County owners may be housing them in Broward and bringing them back to Miami to fight for profit in brutal dog fights, many of which are to the death.
What happens now?
Thurston’s HB 189 may be heard this year or not. He presented a similar Bill last year and was overlooked. Phillips said her office has received resolutions from Broward cities such as Dania, Ft. Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines and Lighthouse Point in support of House Bill 189, but nothing from Margate.
Although Phillips expressed optimism over the bill’s passing; if it doesn’t get heard this year, she said, Representative Thurston will need all the support he can get next year when introducing the bill again. Including the support of Margate.
Resident Opinion
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Copyright Cassius Group 2009
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