Louisiana Parish Passes Ban on Pit Bulls
The issue of breed specific legislation is an extremely touchy one. These efforts have received mixed success wherever they have been introduced. One parish in Louisiana has now passed an ordinance banning pit bulls.
St. Mary's Parish in Louisiana passed the ordinance during the parish council’s meeting this week. According to the ordinance, it is illegal to own, keep or sell pit bulls within unincorporated areas of St. Mary's Parish. The bill, which will go into effect on 1 July 2010, also places restrictions on current owners of pit bulls.
The ordinance was passed by unanimous vote, and was preceded by intense debate at public hearings. One of the issues that came up during the hearings was the requirement that pit bull owners obtain an annual pit bull license for a one-time fee of $50 per license. After several pit bull owners protested that provision, it was struck off from the ordinance. Besides, the signs that pit bull owners will now be required to place outside their properties were changed from ”Beware Dangerous Dog” to “Beware Dog.”
Pit bull owners in St. Mary's Parish must meet the following conditions.
- · The dog must have a license tag on the collar, and must be micro-chipped for identification.
- · Pit bulls must be placed in a secure 4' x 7' pen, with a 2 ½ inch thick concrete floor
- · The pen must be surrounded by 6-feet fencing.
- · Violations will be fined not less than $500 for a first offense, and between $300 and $500 for second offense.
Scott Grossman is a New Jersey dog bite lawyer representing injured victims of dog bites in Monmouth, Bergen, Passaic, ocean Counties and across the state of New Jersey.