Setting the Record Straight on County Supervisors & Pit Bulls

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is NOT currently considering an ordinance to ban pit bull dogs. Unfortunately, some misinformation has been circulated about this issue. The Supervisors have been and are being flooded with calls and e-mails about an issue that is not on the table. If you receive such an e-mail, please DO NOT forward it to your lists and please do not encourage a flood of calls and e-mails to the Board of Supervisors. This hurts the credibility of the Animal Protection Community and our ability to work with policy-makers when animal issues are being considered.

The Real Story:

On August 4, Dr. Rodrigo Silva made a presentation to the Maricopa County Supervisors and County Manager that was essentially a status update of recent activities. A number of folks from the Animal Protection Community were in the Audience including Bari Mears from PACC-911, Sonia Hernandez and myself (Stephanie Nichols-Young) from the Animal Defense League of Arizona and its Spay/Neuter Hotline, Cheryl Weiner of Altered Tails, Heather Allen from HALO Animal Rescue, Melissa Gable of Friends of Animal Care & Control and a number of Administrative Staff People from Animal Care & Control. ( I am relying on my memory. I apologize if I have forgotten anyone!).

After the presentation, individual Supervisors made comments and asked questions. Supervisor Andy Kunasek asked what people thought about pit bulls. I do not believe he specifically asked about a breed-specific ban, but my impression was that was what he was asking about. No other Supervisor expressed any interest in the question. Supervisor Kunasek stated something to the effect that he may be asking an inappropriate question or a question that no one wanted to hear. Again, no other Supervisor showed any interest in supporting the question. The Supervisors left quickly (as I believe they were continuing the meeting in an executive session). On his way out, Bari Mears and I spoke to Supervisor Kunasek, and expressed our and our organizations' opposition to a breed-specific ban.

At the Alliance for Companion Animal Meeting on August 12, those present discussed Supervisor Kunasek's question. The Alliance took a vote, and decided to respond to Supervisor Kunasek's question and let him know that the Alliance had discussed the issue and voted unanimously against a breed-specific pit bull ban.

There is no ordinance or agenda item pending before the Board of Supervisors on this issue. It was simply a question by one Supervisor.