WI: Help make Abbotsford a safe and humane community today!

Share on your favorite social network:

Tell the city officials that all dogs are individuals.

Pit Bull Image Legislative Alert

Did you hear the troubling news out of Abbotsford, Wisconsin? The council there recently voted to prohibit a long list of dog breeds from being allowed within the city limits. They decided to tear families apart by taking away loving pets from their responsible owners. What’s more, the list of prohibited breeds goes way beyond the usual list of banned dogs. This one includes Rottweilers, mastiffs, Rhodesian Ridgebacks and similar mixed breeds.

It’s time we let the city know that we disagree with its decision and we want to see them make a change. The focus on any public safety ordinance should be on the behaviors of both dog and owner.

Please take action now to let the City Council and mayor know that Abbotsford, along with the rest of the state, should treat all dogs as individuals. The more of us that act, the better our chances will be to save these innocent pets and repeal this discriminatory ordinance. So please share this message on Facebook, Twitter and any other social media you use.

Thank you for your support and your help. Together we will Save Them All.

Recipients

Alderman, Ward 4 Gerry Anders
Alderman, Ward 2 Brent Faber
Alderman, Ward 2 Jessica Grambort
Alderman, Ward 4 Dennis Kramer
Mayor Dale Rachu
Alderman, Ward 1 Lori Voss
Alderman, Ward 1 Loren Voss
Alderman, Ward 3 Roger Weideman

Contact

*Required fields

* Title:

* First Name:

* Last Name:

* Your Email:

* Address 1:

Address 2:

* City:

* State / Province:

* ZIP / Postal Code:

* Phone Number:

Yes, I would like to receive email from Best Friends Animal Society

Remember me. What's this?

Message

* Subject:

Dear [Decision Maker],

As a Wisconsinite, I urge you to repeal the recently enacted overly-broad dog ordinance. Breed discriminatory ordinances fail to enhance public safety, are expensive to enforce and interfere with responsible dog owners' property rights. They have no place in our state and go against the tenets of community policing.

Instead of punishing innocent dogs, let's hold owners accountable and responsible for animals that are actually dangerous. Our communities deserve comprehensive dog laws that demand responsible ownership.

* Personalize your message

Community safety benefits everyone. Unfortunately the recently enacted ordinance does nothing to make the community safer. Outdated provisions like this violate the property rights of responsible dog owners and run afoul of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

At the same time, your ordinance is not supported by science. Every credible scientific study has shown that breed-discriminatory laws like this are completely ineffective at keeping us safe. Add to that the tremendous cost of enforcing the law (and the inevitable litigation costs to defend it in court, including DNA testing), and you can see why laws like these are being repealed all across the state and all around the country.

In fact, in addition to the 20 states that have already prohibited breed-discriminatory ordinances like the one you just passed, respected organizations such as the American Bar Association (ABA), the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the National Animal Care and Control Association, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and many others have all publicly repudiated the type of law that is on Abbotsford's books.

Experts and researchers recognize that dog laws should focus on the behaviors of both dog and owner. Please repeal and replace your antiquated ordinance with a comprehensive generic dangerous dog ordinance that includes a provision that prevents reckless owners from having pets. We want to protect people and pets through a culture of safety, personal responsibility, and individual accountability.

This is America. Every American who follows the right safety rules as responsible dog owners should be allowed to own whatever breed of dog they choose. It's that simple.

Sincerely,