FL-Broward County Considering Pit Bull Ordinance

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Pit bulls: If you can’t ban them, muzzle them, commissioner says

Posted by Anthony Man on October 27, 2009 04:09 PM

County Commissioner Lois Wexler wants Broward County to consider an ordinance that would require owners of pit bulls, and possibly other potentially dangerous breeds, to keep their dogs muzzled and on leashes.

Her colleagues agreed today to have the county’s Animal Care Advisory Board examine the issue and report back. Wexler also asked the County Attorney’s Office to figure out just what the commission’s authority is to act in this area.

Wexler said she was responding to a Sunrise resident Kelly Fiterman whose nine year old mixed breed dog, Chino, was attacked twice by a pit bull and required surgery.

The constituent wanted to know why Miami-Dade County has a ban on certain breeds, which Wexler said is allowed because it was grandfathered in before a state law that prevented additional local bans.

Commissioner Kristin Jacobs objected to singling out pit bulls.

“A larger factor is the way the animal has been raised,” Jacobs said. “I don’t think we should just choose one. There should be a range of animals in that category.”

Wexler said she’d like to see something modeled after rules in Sunrise, where pit bulls have to be muzzled and leashed. The Sunrise ordinance is the reason why pit bulls in the county’s Markham Park must be muzzled and on a leash no longer than six feet.

But she fears the county commission doesn’t have the power to impose such a rule outside the small areas of Broward that aren’t part of a city, town or village. She said she’d be willing to work with the League of Cities on the issue depending on what the animal care board comes up with.

Pit bulls: If you can’t ban them, muzzle them, commissioner says

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Posted on October 28, 2009 by stopbsl.com


Florida State Law:

767.14 Additional local restrictions authorized.–Nothing in this act shall limit any local government from placing further restrictions or additional requirements on owners of dangerous dogs or developing procedures and criteria for the implementation of this act, provided that no such regulation is specific to breed and that the provisions of this act are not lessened by such additional regulations or requirements. This section shall not apply to any local ordinance adopted prior to October 1, 1990.

Contact info for Broward Co. Commissioners

Ilene Lieberman – District 1
Broward County Governmental Center
115 S. Andrews Ave., Room 417, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
(954) 357-7001
Fax (954) 357-7295
ilieberman@broward.org

Kristin Jacobs – District 2 (against BSL)
Broward County Governmental Center
115 South Andrews Ave., Room 421, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: 954-357-7002
kjacobs@broward.org

Stacy Ritter – District 3
Broward County Governmental Center
115 S. Andrews Ave. Room 413, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Telephone: 954-357-7003
Fax: 954-357-7319
sritter@broward.org

Ken Keechl – District 4
Broward County Governmental Center
115 S. Andrews Ave. Room 412, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Telephone: 954-357-7004
Fax: 954-357-7798
kkeechl@broward.org

Lois Wexler – District 5 (pushing BSL)
Broward County Governmental Center
115 S. Andrews Avenue Room 414, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: (954) 357-7005
lwexler@broward.org

Sue Gunzburger – District 6
Broward Governmental Center
115 S. Andrews Avenue, Room 421, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Telephone: 954-357-7006
sgunzburger@broward.org

John E. Rodstrom, Jr. – District 7
Broward County Governmental Center
115 S. Andrews Ave. Room 416, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301
Tel: 954-357-7007
Fax: 954-357-8088
jrodstrom@broward.org

Diana Wasserman-Rubin – District 8
Broward County Governmental Center
115 S. Andrews Ave. Room 410, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: 954-357-7008
dwassermanrubin@broward.org

Mayor Josephus Eggelletion, Jr. – District 9
Broward County Governmental Center
115 S. Andrews Ave., Room 413, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
(954) 357-7009
jeggelletion@broward.org

The County Commission meets in formal session on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. in Room 422 of the Broward County Governmental Center. Public Hearings begin at 2 p.m. as designated on the meeting schedule. The County Commission schedules workshops as needed on specific topics that require additional discussion. Individuals who wish to address the Commission at a Commission Meeting or Public Hearing may do so, subject to the rules and procedures established in the Broward County Administrative Code.

Broward County Attorney’s Office
Jeffrey J. Newton, County Attorney
115 South Andrews Avenue, Suite 423, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301
954-357-7600