Elephant Butte, NM: Repeal Breed Specific Legislation.

[L.R. Kastner]

Elephant Butte, New Mexico implemented Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) in March, 2012. They require special registration, permits, confinement, liability insurance for all Pit bulls, Rottweilers, German shepherds and their mixes

BSL has been ineffective as a method of addressing dangerous dog issues. It forces Animal Control to spend time and money on enforcement rather than focusing on real animal problems in the community as well as forcing officers to become dog breed experts. These laws punish responsible dog owners because of the breed of dog they own and do not insure that irresponsible owners will follow the laws.

The State of New Mexico is fortunate to have the “Dangerous Dog Act” which addresses these issues without breed discrimination.

Let the city know that you will not visit Elephant Butte Lake or the town until this ordinance is repealed.

Please call or write to the mayor and city council 575.744-4892.

[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail],
[e-mail]

AND

Sign the petition:

http://www.change.org/petitions/elephant-butte-new-mexico-repeal-br...

AND

Please help spread the word.

[L.R. Kastner]

Thanks Julie for a great letter and for your support.

My letter to the editor appeared in yesterday's SF New Mexican. Thy would not publish the line I had put in the letter calling for a boycott. I can and do boycott Denver!

I feel it is important not to let BSL gain a foothold in New Mexico!

[Julie L]

I'd boycott Denver too, but unfortunately I have family there, however if I buy gas I try go outside the city limits.  Thankfully the Tattered Cover Bookstore has a store outside the Denver city limits too.  A small community like Elephant Butte would really feel a boycott....

[Julie L]

Thanks for spreading the word and starting the petition and making the emails so easy to copy and paste into an outgoing email.  I don't understand how elected officials can make decisions without listening to the experts. It is indicitive of ignorance and poor judgement and not a leader I would ever vote for. 

Dear Mayor and City Council of Elephant Butte,

I hope you will weigh the costs to your community of your breed specific legislation.  You have made national news and a campaign has started to boycott your community which relies heavily on tourists.

It was tragic what happened to the woman in T or C, but to ban a specific breed of dog shows that you have not done your research and listened to experts on the subject.  The owner of the dogs in question has stated she taught her dogs to attack people.  Please do not punish all owners of similar look alike dogs because of one irresponsible owner. 

I hope you research this topic instead of doing the knee-jerk reaction of blaming the breed.  Please keep your minds open and listen to the experts.  You would do this, I trust, with any other vote or decision.

I will vote with my wallet and avoid Elephant Butte...

Here is Nina's amazing letter:  http://santafescoop.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=2014787%3ABlogPo...