The new law makes it a class B misdemeanor punishable by up to three months in jail and a $500 fine. Repeat offenders face up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Just one more step in the right direction…
Originally the city had planned to clear “illegally-raised dogs” from its downtown area after a spate of canine attacks led to a higher incidence of rabies. Dog owners were ordered to bring their pets to special stations where they would be either put to sleep or given to new owners in the countryside. Dogcatchers were readying to team up with police to search for “illegal dogs”, with any strays destined to be killed on the spot.
However, there was outraged reaction among local residents, with large numbers criticising what they said was inhumane treatment of otherwise innocent canines. “The key problem is to educate people to raise dogs in a civilised way rather than simply ban dogs,” local resident Wang Yubin said.
And although city officials have backtracked from a full-scale canine massacre, the rules are still pretty harsh.
From now on, pet dogs are banned from public places such as parks, squares and shopping malls. Residents who take dogs to public venues “would be advised to leave”. And in the case of attacks, dog owners would be responsible for all medical bills, lost wages and other compensation, a report on the official Xinhua news agency said.
If you own a dog in Jiangmen, you have about three weeks to get your dog licensed with local authorities. One nagging problem: nobody’s sure how residents will do that. *sigh*
I’d take away the guns: I’m sure there’s a perfectly good reason why animal shelters in Los Angeles double as armories. Details at the LA Times.
Meet Pennsylvania’s new first pups: Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett and First Lady Susan Corbett introduced the press to the state’s new First Dogs. Penny (short for Pennsylvania) and Harry (short for Harrisburg, the state capital) are 11 week-old Airedales. They’re also quite cute. Thanks to our pal Amy at Philly Dawg for the link.
Post-conference coverage: Since last week’s successful No Kill Conference at The George Washington University, the pet blogging world has been buzzing. Brent Toellner of KC Dog Blog has great rundown of the conference with some of his thoughts. Shirley at YesBiscuit wrote three different post-conference posts, the first of which is here. The comment thread the real draw, though. Media coverage included the Toledo Blade. Finally, Ryan Clinton, the driving force in Austin, Tex., is featured in a guest post on Nathan Winograd‘s blog.
A new day in Florida: Meanwhile, great news out of Manatee County, Fla: a new commitment to become a No Kill community.
The power of social media helps Willow: The most heartwarming stories involve the power of love to strengthen the human-animal bond. So it is with this remarkable story of Willow. Born with deformed back legs that made normal walking impossible, Willow was adopted by a woman who did everything possible to give her a better life, including telling her Facebook community about her beloved kitten. That’s when Willow really started to benefit from the kindness of strangers. The details can be found on Canidae Pet Food’s blog.
Bad news from Scotland: One of the great legends of the companion animal world is the the tale of Greyfriars Bobby, the Skye Terrier who epitomized the concept of a pet’s loyalty. One big problem: Time Magazine says it was a hoax.
Cats and raptors: I remember Edward Lear’s classic poem “The Owl and The Pussycat,” but I don’t think it was supposed to look like this video of the week.
I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories. Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet, send me an e-mail.
Image credit: First, nydailynews.com. Second, independent.co.uk.
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