Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Bans Dangerous Dog Breeds

Cites "Unreasonable Risk"
Jacksonville, NC - It was announced this week that Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune shifted policy for base housing. The shift comes on the heels of the U.S. Army adopting a similar policy across all RCI privatized housing facilities. From this point forward at Camp Lejeuene, pit bulls, rottweilers, wolf breeds and their mixes are prohibited aboard base. The Lejeune website adds, "Visitors are also banned from bringing these unauthorized dogs onto base."

New Base Order Bans Vicious Breeds from Base
"Past incidents involving domestic animal attacks aboard Camp Lejeune have prompted recent revisions to the existing base order regulating the possession and control of pets.
From this point forward, full or mixed breeds of pit bulls, rottweilers, wolf breeds or any canine breeds with dominant traits of aggression, as determined by the base veterinarian, are prohibited aboard base. Visitors are also banned from bringing these unauthorized dogs onto base and all military sponsors will be held responsible for enforcing this regulation.
Base Order 10570.1D will be signed today by the base commanding officer to prevent unnecessary injuries resulting from potentially dangerous animals on base.
"The reason for this change is clear," said base commanding officer Col. Richard P. Flatau Jr. "To the extent possible, we want to prevent unnecessary injuries resulting from dangerous or potentially dangerous animals. These specific breeds present an unreasonable risk to the health and safety of our residents and are therefore prohibited."

The new policy follows the fatal attack of 3-year old Julian Slack in 2008, a serious attack upon 9-year old Ashley Gaston in 2005, and as Flateau states in the article, "In the past year there have been 12 reported dog attacks on base." The article, penned by the Associated Press, also makes several critical ommissions. DogsBite.org would like to add the following information regarding the number of U.S. cities and military bases with breed-specific laws:

U.S. Cities and States with Breed-Specific Laws

The article states, "12 states and several cities and towns have adopted bans on specific breeds." Anyone familiar with breed-specific laws knows this to be invalid, in that it fails to recognize the scope of U.S. cities that have enacted these laws. By counting up the cities found in the DogsBite.org State-by-State section, which only offers a glance at the number of U.S. cities that have passed breed-specific laws, we can supply the following statistical data:

• At least 29 U.S. states contain cities that ban pit bull type dogs.
• At least 230 U.S. cites have adopted breed-specific laws (excluding Ohio cities).
• The entire state of Ohio has adopted breed-specific laws. Wikipedia lists 254 cities within the state (townships and villages excluded).

U.S Military Bases with Breed-Specific Laws

The article also states, "The Marine base at Quantico, Va., also banned pit bulls and Rottweilers. Several Army bases and at least one Air Force base have done the same." While the statement is true, again it misses the scope of the many military bases that prohibit these dogs. The U.S. Army prohibits dangerous breeds from all U.S. bases (40+ facilities) and the Air Force Space Command does as well (10+ facilities). Please see: Military Breed-Specific Laws

Related articles:
03/17/09: U.S. Army Adopts Breed Restriction Policy for RCI Privatized Housing
05/17/08: 2008 Fatality: Julian Slack's Death Brings Back Bad Memories
05/15/08: 2008 Fatality: Child Dies In Pit Bull Attack At Camp Lejeune
12/08/07: Rottweiler Attack Prompts Military Base to Revisit Pet Policies