Broward County Pit Bulls Won't Be Banned, Sharief Now Says

By Terrence McCoy Tue., Feb. 26 2013 at 9:05 AM

The Broward County Commission will discuss possible pit bull regulations today.

Following a tense weekend that one local city commissioner described as "mass hysteria," Broward County's vice mayor amended her proposal Monday afternoon, thereby allowing all resident pit bull owners to keep their dogs.

Late last week, Barbara Sharief, vice mayor of the Broward County Commission, was set to propose a motion that, upon approval from the state Legislature, would restrict Broward County residents from "owning and keeping" pit bulls. But now, Sharief has struck the word keep from the motion -- and added the word additional -- eliminating plans to take away anyone's pit bulls.

The amended version reads:

"People can keep their pit bulls," Sharief said. She's now only calling for a ban on acquiring additional pit bulls.

Over the past weekend, her office was deluged with angry messages from the pit bull community. Michele Lazarow, Hallandale Beach city commissioner, called it "mass hysteria."

"People are frightened," Lazarow said. "And they're angry. They're seeing what has happened in Miami-Dade County, and they're frightened that it could happen here." The City of Hollywood too will ask the state Legislature for permission to ban pit bulls -- if that need arises.

When Sharief first crafted her proposal, she said she lifted the exact words from Miami-Dade's and only after panic swept the county did she realize a clarification was needed.

"We just don't want anyone to have additional pit bulls," she said. Some things in her proposal have remained the same: Sharief still wants to slap anyone training pit bulls to fight with a fine of $500 for every occurrence, as well $300 for a failure to vaccinate the dogs.

The subcontext behind the proposal also hasn't changed. Pit bulls are dangerous, Sharief said, refuting scientific research that has found the dogs less aggressive on average than other breeds.

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jesred topcommenter

Good job Broward County / South FLorida on speaking Up and Coming Together Fast!!! Proud to be a resident of the Fort again!

jesred topcommenter

For now....

bestuvall

I disagree with science.. well now that says it all ..

grizzily

3 Like

Makes it seem all the more like a publicity stunt, playing to alliance of closet racists and ignoramuses who hate 'pit bulls', but she initially underestimated the blow back from sensible people, so now she's going to water it down. But what evidence is there that the state legislature would seriously entertain giving Broward an exception to the state anti-BSL law, either in the original or watered down form? None, AFAIK.

pascalefmoffet

so are you saying Miami is only full of ignorant racists? The public just voted to uphold the ban.

The public is against these animals. The public is sensible and fears for their safety. They are terrified of pit bull owners and their dogs - both are terrifying and unstable. there isnt any county in the USA where the public wouldnt vote to ban these death machines.

bestuvall

@pascalefmoffet if you live there the the answer is YES..

joemamma

1 Like

its not the dog, its the owner. -well then lets fine and jail the owner for attacks.

this seems about like the same as assault weapons.

pascalefmoffet

@joemamma I agree. you should have to serve time for assault with a deadly weapon, and murder if the victim dies due to your animal's attack

smdrpepper topcommenter

3 Like

Pits are not any more aggressive than any other breed of dog, they just get more press when they get aggressive because they are scary looking. You are MUCH more likely to be attacked by those small lapdogs, but no one mentions those attacks.

joemamma

3 Like

@smdrpepper that and they do more damage than other dogs. a lot more damage.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P68grQOab80/TXQs56zXotI/AAAAAAAAACA/Np69SEgDYu8/s1600/pitbull-attack-1.jpg

apacheco2005

3 Like

and not just pitbull community has spoken but people with common sense and who own other breeds of dogs

pascalefmoffet

@apacheco2005 not true. people, especially with other breeds of dogs, hate pit bulls. They are bred to kill dogs, and we are sick of your beast's aggression at the dog park and in our neighborhoods

apacheco2005

1 Like

@pascalefmoffet @apacheco2005

my dog is a German shepherd and ive seen more little accessory dogs attack her than large breeds. if a dog is violent than simple fix dont bring it to the dog park

gatita_bonita_sensua

1 Like

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/198/515/746/stop-bsl-in-broward-county/

Today the fate of thousands of pit bulls will be decided on my county please sign and share ty

onlywic

1 Like

@gatita_bonita_sensua glad to speak against those who want to ban pitt-bulls It is the owners fault that the pits are out of control....If they would be more responsible , the media and governments wouldnt be this way....It is the humans that own the pit-bulls that is at fault not the breed of dog.......................