On Sept 6th, 2007 a press release was held to introduce an extensive community-wide partnership to curb dog fighting and related violence, the Dog Advisory Work Group (D.A.W.G), the Alliance for Community Peace, the Chicago Police Department, and other municipal agencies, organizations, and community advocates announce the Safe, Humane Chicago initiative - an aggressive city wide campaign set to tackle the abhorrent practice of the dog fighting and other associated violence that exists in many Chicago neighborhoods. The CVMA legislative committee volunteers and executive officers fully support and applaud this effort and are excited to watch this campaign unfold. The following is a portion of the press release.

To stop the violence and to foster a safe, humane city, Chicago needs a grassroots effort movement to stop dog fighting and other forms of animal abuse in our communities and to provide education about responsible dog ownership and beneficial activities. With animals that engender the respect our children and young adults seek. This can be achieved with an alliance among local government, animal advocates and humane organizations, and the faith-based community. The alliance would conduct animal education programs for both adults and children: develop youth intervention programs to stop the crimes before they are committed; and create open communication lines for community members to report these violent crimes to trusted allies that will assist law enforcement in stopping the violence. Ongoing, such a campaign would create safer, more humane neighborhoods in the City of Chicago.

The campaign consists of three main segments, each addresses a different segment of society and all based on ongoing education, training, positive opportunity and responsibility.

*"Kids, Animal and Kindness", an educational and participatory program for children
*"It's all Connected" an educational and participatory program for adults
*Direct Intervention by government, community-based groups and community members, which will accommodate multiple approaches such as "Faith Leaders for a Safe, Humane Chicago"

D.A.W.G invites any veterinarians or qualified animal experienced individuals interested in being educators to help the movement to contact them directly by web or phone. Together we can make a difference!

We have all been hearing the word on the street about allowing our canine companions to join us out on the town. The CVMA received the detailed scoop on the new Chicago City ordinance from the city clerk's office which was passed on Sept 6, 2007.

If you are not sure if your canine friends meets Chicago registration standards, see your veterinarian for assistance. The CVMA looks forward to seeing this social benefit that Europeans have been enjoying for years extended to our canine friends here in Chicago!

The Chicago Veterinary Medical Association is the largest regional veterinary association in the nation with nearly 1000 veterinarians and 4000 support staff who lovingly assist more than one million Chicago area pets and their families. As undisputed authorities in matters pertaining to animals, we would like to express our concerns and visions on local animal legislation. We understand that there is a current push to ban "pit bulls" and "pit bull type" dogs within the City of Chicago, and we do not support breed specific legislation. We would like to become a springboard for information. As highly educated animal experts, we are an invaluable resource for local City Councils and County Boards when legislative matters involving animals arise.

POSITION STATEMENT: The Chicago Veterinary Medical Association supports proper training and socialization of pets, as well as spaying/neutering. Since any dog can be trained to be aggressive, responsible ownership is the key to this issue. The CVMA does not support breed specific legislation. Forcing responsible pet owners to surrender well-behaved dogs is both unfair and unnecessary. The CVMA strongly supports enforcing leash laws, vaccination requirements and the implementation of programs to teach responsible dog ownership. In addition, we advocate setting clear guidelines to manage dangerous dogs on an individual basis.

The Chicago Veterinary Medical Association is prepared to offer expert opinion and assistance in developing more successful bite prevention legislation. We thank you for your time and consideration.

Respectfully Yours,

Dr. Joanne Carlson, DVM
President

The Center for Disease Control has reviewed national bite statistics and concludes from this data, no specific dog can be labeled the most aggressive, therefore statistics used to support breed bans are inappropriate. http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/biteprevention.htm

Because all types of dogs can inflict injury, bans do not diminish violence. The bite statistics of individual cities that have banned pit bulls, such as Winnipeg, which has for 14 years, are not reduced, only changed in breed to German Shepherds and Rottweilers. CVMA wants to see legislation that will protect the public for years to come. http://www.doglegislationcouncilcanada.orgstatistics.html

The population that is responsible for breeding and training the aggressive pit bulls is underground. These criminals will simply go further underground or switch breeds to continue their elicit activity.

Imposing a breed ban is extremely difficult for: 1) Identifying and differentiating from similar breeds/mixes; 2) High cost of support staff to uphold ban; 3) Loss of revenue to city from relocation of families refusing to relinquish pit bulls; 4) Creating an overwhelming burden on local shelters and neighboring cities to handle relinquished pit bulls. Some cities, such as Cincinnati, have even revoked their pit bull bans.

Education on socialization, bite prevention, pet selection and pet responsibility are long-term reasonable solutions to enhance public safety. Stronger enforceable non-breed-specific dangerous dog laws, as well as leash laws, are also very important.
http://www.avma.org/pubhlth/dogbite/dogbite.pdf
http://www.avma.org/policies/poldangr.asp
http://www.akc.org/canine_legislation/position_statements.cfm#dangerousdog

Please contact your alderman to voice your concerns.

Below is a link to find your alderman of the City of Chicago
http://www.chicityclerk.com/citycouncil/alderman/find.html