*ALERT* Washington DC

Councilman Graham pushing legislation to ban pit bulls — again

By Michael Neibauer
Examiner Staff Writer 1/20/09

Year after year, Ward 1 D.C. Councilman Jim Graham has seen his attempt to ban fireworks fizzle, his try to bar pit bulls chewed up by colleagues. But he's back at it in 2009.

Graham has introduced both measures before, numerous times, to no avail. There's a method to the madness, Graham said Monday.

 "I've introduced the pit bull legislation every session, and I am continuing in that determined pattern," he said.

 The pit bull measure bars the possession and sale of the breed in the District. It requires current owners to register their pets with animal control, sterilize the dogs and tag them for quick identification. Any pit bull that doesn't meet those requirements must be impounded and euthanized.

Graham said the bill was inspired by vicious pit bull attacks on people. But the Washington Humane Society opposes any breed-specific legislation "because they just don't work," said Scott Giacoppo, chief programs officer. Dogs can be dangerous because of their owners and their levels of socialization, not their breed, Giacoppo said.

 "We're really surprised that he introduced it again," Giacoppo said, adding that D.C. only last year strengthened its dangerous dog laws. 

http://www.dcexaminer.com/local/012009-Councilman_Graham_pushing_legislation_to_ban_fireworks_and_pit_bulls__again.html

The Council of the District of Columbia

PDF File of contact info:
http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/media/calendar/Council%20Listing-January-2009.pdf

 

Address: John A. Wilson Building, Suite 5, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20004 

E-mail: dccouncil@dccouncil.us

Tel:  (202) 724-8000   

Fax: (202) 347-3070

Click the following link to view the District of Columbia Council Directory in PDF format:
Council Directory 

Council Offices

Vincent C. Gray  - Council Chairman Suite: 504 vgray@dccouncil.us Tel:  (202) 724-8032    Fax: (202) 724-8085
David A. Catania - Councilmember (At-Large) Suite: 404 dcatania@dccouncil.us Tel:   (202) 724-7772    Fax: (202) 724-8087	Phil Mendelson- Councilmember (At-Large) Suite: 402 pmendelson@dccouncil.us Tel:  (202) 724-8064   Fax: (202) 724-8099
Kwame R. Brown - Councilmember (At-Large) Suite: 506 kbrown@dccouncil.us Tel:    (202) 724-8174   Fax: (202) 724-8156	Michael A. Brown - Councilmember (At-Large) Suite: 406 mbrown@dccouncil.us Tel:    (202) 724-8105 Fax: (202) 724-8071
Jim Graham - Councilmember (Ward 1) Suite: 105 jgraham@dccouncil.us Tel:    (202) 724-8181    Fax: (202) 724-8109	Jack Evans - Councilmember (Ward 2) Suite: 106 jackevans@dccouncil.us Tel:    (202) 724-8058    Fax: (202) 727-8023
Mary M. Cheh - Councilmember (Ward 3) Suite: 108 mcheh@dccouncil.us Tel:    (202) 724-8062    Fax: (202) 724-8118	Muriel Bowser - Councilmember - (Ward 4) Suite: 110 mbowser@dccouncil.us Tel:    (202) 724-8052    Fax: (202) 741-0908
Harry Thomas, Jr. - Councilmember (Ward 5) Suite: 107 hthomas@dccouncil.us Tel:    (202) 724-8028    Fax: (202) 724-8076	Tommy Wells - Councilmember (Ward 6) Suite: 408 twells@dccouncil.us Tel:    (202) 724-8072    Fax: (202) 724-8054
Councilmember Yvette M. Alexander (Ward 7) Suite: 400 yalexander@dccouncil.us Tel:    (202) 724-8068    Fax: (202) 741-0911	Marion Barry - Councilmember (Ward 8) Suite: 102 mbarry@dccouncil.us Tel:    (202) 724-8045    Fax: (202) 724-8055

 

 Committee Offices

Committee of the Whole Suite: 410 cmurray@dccouncil.us Tel:    (202) 724-8196    Fax: (202) 724-8085	Committee on Finance and Revenue Suite: 114 jcoudriet@dccouncil.us Tel:    (202) 727-8206   Fax: (202) 724-8023
Committee on Workforce Development  and Government Operations Suite: 111 nsmith@dccouncil.us Tel:    (202) 724-8113    Fax: (202) 724-8071	Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs Suite: 006 jfaust@dccouncil.us Tel:    (202) 724-4902   Fax: (202) 724-8118
Committee on Health Suite: 115 jhutchinson@dccouncil.us Tel:    (202) 724-8170    Fax: (202) 724-8087	Committee on Libraries, Parks and Recreation Suite: 113 nrodgers@dccouncil.us Tel:    (202) 727-8204   Fax: (202) 724-8076
Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary Suite: 109 htseu@dccouncil.us Tel:    (202) 724-7808    Fax: (202) 724-8099	Committee on Human Services Suite: 117 amaier@dccouncil.us Tel:    (202) 724-8191   Fax: (202) 724-8054
Committee on Economic Development Suite: 119 ttompsonmallett@dccouncil.us Tel:    (202) 727-6683    Fax: (202) 724-8156	Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs Suite: 112 dhubbard@dccouncil.us Tel:    (202) 724-8198   Fax: (202) 724-8055
Committee on Public Works and the Environment Suite: 116 shernandez@dccouncil.us Tel:    (202) 724-8195    Fax: (202) 724-7133