Consalvo Op-Ed: Let Boston Collar Vicious Pit Bulls

Consalvo was the author of Boston's pit bull-specific laws that being overrode by a state animal welfare law starting in November.

Anyone has the right to own a pet.  But everyone has the right to be protected from other people’s pets - especially when what should be “Man’s Best Friend” turns into “Public Enemy Number One.” In the City of Boston, we continue to have problems with vicious pit bulls wreaking havoc on our city streets. Most recently, in a scene that has replayed itself over and over in every Boston neighborhood, two pit bulls went on a rampage in East Boston that only ended when a police officer had to discharge his weapon on a public street to stop the attacks. Every year data collected from the city’s animal control department consistently shows that pit bulls attack both humans and other dogs at a far greater rate than any other breed. The statistics …

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Should the State Reinstate Boston's Pit Bull Muzzle Law?

A new state law bans animal control laws that target specific breeds, nullifying a Boston regulation for pit bulls. Does the new law go to far?

Boston officials are fuming over a new state law that nullifies the city's pit bull muzzle law. According to the Boston Herald, Mayor Thomas Menino and City Councilor Ron Consalvo are among the city leaders criticizing the new state law, saying the city knows best when it comes to protecting the public from what many consider vicious dogs. The new state rule, supported by animal rights groups, bans breed-specific regulations, like muzzle and leashing laws for pit bulls or other types of dogs the public considers aggressive or violent.  Does the new state law go too far? Should cities and towns get to decide what kinds of dogs need muzzles? Or do you believe the laws supporters when they say there's no data to support breed-specific laws? …

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Pit Bull Attacks Collie Mix on Hyde Park Avenue; Aggressive Dog Will Be Euthanized

A pit bull jumped out of a car and clamped her jaws onto the butt of a collie mix being walked along Hyde Park Avenue. The collie mix is recovering from his injuries, which were severe. The pit bull is scheduled to be euthanized.

Dr. Jane Conlin had finished her run last Wednesday around noon and was leading her dog, Captain, along Hyde Park Avenue when, seemingly from out of nowhere, an unleashed dog attacked. A female pit bull had jumped from the window of a parked car, honed in on Captain and bit him on the rear end. She would not let go. "All of a sudden, there's a dog on top of Captain," Conlin said. "Everyone was screaming." People in Klassy Kuts Barber Shop came out, some with brooms, to separate the dogs. People pulled on the dogs, punched the dogs, anything to end the attack. After about 60 seconds, the pit bull was made to let go. A woman managed to drag the pit bull, named Poka, back to the car. One man from the barbershop, whom Conlin said appeared to …

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Girl Bitten By Two Pit Bulls in Jamaica Plain, Owner Flees With Dogs

A 12-year-old reported that the dogs bit her on the left and right leg after chasing her from a play area outside the Hennigan School.

The owner of two pit bulls who allegedly bit a girl fled with the dogs instead of taking responsibility, according to a police report. A 12-year-old girl said the dogs chased her from where she was playing, outside the Hennigan School, and bit her on both legs. She suffered puncture wounds and her parents told police they planned to take her to the hospital. The incident was reported at 7:38 p.m. on Sunday. Pit bulls are subject to special restrictions in Boston, beyond the requirements made of owners of other breeds. For instance, the dog must be muzzled when outside.

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Family Disputes Animal Abuse Claim About Pit Bull

Investigators had been told a pit bull puppy had been left on a backporch for days without water or food. The owners dispute that, saying the dog was left alone for only a few hours.

Animal Control officers seized a pit bull puppy from the back porch of a Bragdon Street apartment after reports that the dog had been left alone for days without water. But the family of "Jewels," the 6-month old gray and white pup, says it was a misunderstanding and that the dog is loved and well cared-for. "Does it look like she's abused?" said Joanna Richardson, one of the dog's owners, as Jewels sat at her feet during a Friday interview. "You didn't see a dog that was emaciated." According to police reports, Animal Control came to the apartment after a Feb. 12 call for a barking dog. The caller told police the dog had been left outside for days without water or food. Richardson said that's just not so, that the dog was left outside for…

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Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III

8:03 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2012

To My Flock, It's a good thing authorities seized this pit bull puppy. Otherwise the grown pit bull might 'abuse' its owners. In that case we would be subjected to the news quote, "We're shocked, he never did that before. He was so lovable before he mauled our grandson." Your spiritual advisor, Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III   more ›

Q&A: Libby Sherrill, Director of Pit Bull Documentary

Sherrill's first film is already gathering steam as it premieres in cities across the U.S. The film focuses on what she sees as discrimination against pit bulls and other similar breeds.

[Last night the JP-based MSPCA cosponsored a screening of Libby Sherrill's documentary about pit bulls, "Beyond the Myth." One of the dogs forced to fight in Michael Vick's dog pits, Cherry, also attended. Here's a Q&A with Sherrill.] So how did you get interested in this issue? The inspiration for the film came from the first two pit bull mixes that I met, Angus and Boris, who were a friend’s dogs. At the time I didn’t know anything about this issue, but once they became a part of my life I started experiencing discrimination from neighbors who would see them at my house, so that tipped me off that this was happening. I was in grad school at the same time and had to come up with a senior project. I wanted to move in the direction of …

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Nonprofit Spotlight

MSPCA-Angell's Activism Seeks Better Animal Protection Laws

MSPCA's activism touches every animal in the Commonwealth and arguably influences policy around the country.

 [Editor's note: This is the third of a three-part series about MSPCA-Angell. Previous stories have focused on adoption and an overview of the organization.] The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was founded at a time when basic ideas about animal treatment most people now take for granted were not widely held.  Founder George Thorndike Angell's early work to pass legislation around animal treatment helped to establish the very concept of cruelty to animals as an offense.  When you think of MSPCA-Angell, it's easy to focus on the animals being treated with cutting-edge medical techniques and those available for adoption, but MSPCA's activism touches every animal in the Commonwealth and arguably influences …

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