Sample Letters to email your Council

I am writing this letter with respect to the CITY/TOWN/VILLAGE of XX Bylaw #XXX which contains and enforces breed specific legislation. 

I would like an opportunity to present my concerns and offer a solution with respect to breed specific legislation (BSL). 

In order to establish a safe and humane community we need to put the focus on owner accountability and responsibility. It is necessary to have laws in place that provide protection against dangerous dogs and this can be done without breed specific legislation. The protection of the public health, safety and welfare can be achieved through acts such as the “Dangerous Dog Act” and the “Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw”, neither of which entails BSL.

BSL punishes dogs based off of their appearance and presumed breeds. Breed Specific Legislation is expensive, ineffective, provides a false sense of public safety, and punishes dogs that are not dangerous and their owners. BSL deprives responsible owners the right to demonstrate that we are indeed responsible and accountable for our dogs. 

BSL fails to realize that all breeds of dogs have the ability to be dangerous and that there are co-occurrences which are present in most dog attacks. These co-occurrences all fall under a lack of owner responsibility and accountability.

Dog bites are a community responsibility and we all need to become aware of the dangerous dogs in our communities and more importantly ensure that the owners of these dogs do their due diligence and keep the public safe from their pets.  The best way to reduce dog bite related incidents is to focus on improved ownership, a better understanding of dog behavior, education of parents and children regarding safety around dogs, and consistent enforcement of dangerous dog owner ordinances in the community. 

Research consistently shows that BSL is not effective and often is a waste of community’s resources, time and budgets.

I would like to suggest that the current bylaw be repealed and replaced with a Responsible Ownership Bylaw and a Dangerous Dog Act that are both breed neutral.

I would like to thank you for taking a moment to read my concerns, and look forward to hearing back from you. I hope that CITY will join the hundreds of proactive communities in North America that have abandoned BSL and moved towards responsible dog ownership bylaws that have proven to be effective.  

 

Regards, 

NAME

EMAIL ADDRESS 

Additional sample letters and correspondence: 

http://dogbitefacts.org/resources/communication-templates/correspondence-to-mayorcouncil/

 

https://animalfarmfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Communications-and-Media-FINAL.pdf