Pit Bull Attacks Rise in Pawtucket After State Preemption Law Muted City's Successful Pit Bull Ban

Veteran animal control officer John Holmes, a key proponent of the ban, retired in 2015. Pit Bull Attacks Rise Pawtucket, RI - Five years after Pawtucket was forced to lift its successful pit bull ban, attacks by pit bulls have risen sharply. Today, there are over 10 times more pit bull attacks per year in Pawtucket than there were during the ban years. The city was forced to lift its ban due to the state legislature, which passed a state preemption law in 2013 barring local govern… [Read full blog post]

2016 Legislative Highlights: Local Control Dominates Again; Six States Reject Preemption Bills Prohibiting Pit Bull Laws

Rejection Rate Grows to 90% Since January 2014 DogsBite.org - During the first 5-months of the 2016 legislative season, state preemption bills barring local governments from enacting breed-specific legislation were introduced in eight states. As of May 13, six states have rejected these bills and two remain pending. So far in 2016, this is a 100% success rate for municipalities retaining local control. These states are: Missouri, Kentucky, Washington, Georgia, West V… [Read full blog post]

2015 First Quarter Report: Municipalities and Grassroots Beat Back State Preemption Bills Barring Local Pit Bull Ordinances

A Primer on State Preemption Laws and Charts for Advocates Chart illustrates 35-years of U.S. fatal pit bull attacks in 5-year periods. We added short teal vertical bars to indicate when each state passed a preemption law barring municipalities from enacting pit bull ordinances. We also marked the end of the CDC's 20-year study period, 1998, showing the dramatic rise in fatalities since. DogsBite.org - During the first quarter of the 2015 legislative season, state preemp… [Read full blog post]

2015 First Quarter Legislative Highlights: Local Control Dominates, We Salute You Health and Safety Advocates!

Successes, Lockouts and a Doubleheader in Georgia DogsBite.org - Municipal associations and grassroots advocates are dominating so far in 2015. During the first quarter, all five state preemption bills prohibiting local governments from enacting breed-specific laws were rejected. This is a 100% success rate for cities and counties retaining local control. Grassroots advocates helped make this victory possible -- we salute you! This post is dedicated to each of you a… [Read full blog post]