HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2007-140 Vicious Dogs RESOLUTION 2007-140
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DANIA
BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF
FLORIDA TO CREATE BY EXECUTIVE ORDER A SPECIAL STATEWIDE
PANEL OF INTERDISCIPLINARY EXPERTS TO STUDY THE RECENT RISE
IN VICIOUS DOG ATTACKS; REQUESTING THAT THIS SPECIAL PANEL
EXAMINE THE EXTENT OF THE VICIOUS DOG PROBLEM THROUGHOUT
THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AS WELL AS CONSIDER THE CAUSES AND
IDENTIFY POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO THE RECENT INCREASE IN DOG
ATTACKS; SPECIFICALLY URGING THE PANEL OF EXPERTS TO STUDY
THE EXTENT TO WHICH DOG OWNERS MAY BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE
FOR INJURIES AND DAMAGE CAUSED AS A RESULT OF DOG BITES;
URGING THAT THE SPECIAL PANEL BE COMPRISED OF INDIVIDUALS
OF VARIOUS RELEVANT BACKGROUNDS AND DISCIPLINES, AND
ASKING THAT THE PANEL HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS TO SOLICIT THE
INPUT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC; REQUESTING THAT THE PANEL
MAKE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR, THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, COUNTY COMMISSIONS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE AS WELL AS CITY COMMISSIONS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE IN AN EFFORT TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY
WHILE ENSURING THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF DOG
OWNERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE; OFFERING THE CITY OF DANIA
BEACH, FLORIDA AS A TEST VENUE TO INITIATE THE STUDY BY THE
STATEWIDE PANEL OF EXPERTS; DIRECTING THAT THIS RESOLUTION
BE FORWARDED TO THE GOVERNOR, MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA
LEGISLATURE, THE BROWARD COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION,
THE BROWARD COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES, THE FLORIDA LEAGUE
OF CITIES, AND THE BROWARD COUNTY COMMISSION; PROVIDING
FOR CONFLICTS; FURTHER, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Code of Ordinances of the City of Dania Beach, Florida, provides a
rational and prudent mechanism for the regulation of vicious dogs in the City; however, it is a
reactionary provision that only allows the City to regulate vicious dogs after a dog has been given
such a distinction; and
WHEREAS, the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, a subdivision of the
Center for Disease Control, in conjunction with the American Veterinary Medical Association, has
issued its Community Approach to Dog Bite Prevention, recognizing and detailing the problem of
dog attacks throughout the United States; and
WHEREAS,the Center for Disease Control, the American Veterinary Medical Association,
and the United States Postal Service designated the third week in May as Dog Bite Prevention
Week in an effort to raise awareness of the dangers of dog attacks and to educate Americans about
dog bite prevention; and
WHEREAS, among its numerous initiatives, the National Center for Injury Prevention and
Control, a division of the Center for Disease Control, helped fund the Georgia Department of Public
Health's campaign to promote dog bite prevention in a number of Georgia Counties; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission is seeking to obtain a better understanding of the issues
surrounding vicious and dangerous dogs, and believes that a statewide study will better enable local
governments to grasp the complexities surrounding the regulation of such animals; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission, in an effort to protect the health, safety, and welfare of
the citizens and residents, deems it to be in the best interests of the City to consider a policy
regulating vicious dogs within the City's municipal boundaries; and
WHEREAS, in an effort to effectuate such a policy, the City Commission deems it to be in
the City's best interests to urge the Governor to convene a special statewide panel of
interdisciplinary experts to specifically examine the various issues related to vicious and dangerous
dogs; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission, in an effort to better protect the health, safety and
welfare of the citizens and residents of the City, further deems it to be in the City's best interests to
offer the City as a test venue, allowing such a special panel to examine the numerous issues related
to the regulation of vicious dogs;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF DANIA BEACH,FLORIDA:
2 RESOLUTION#2007-140
Section 1. That the foregoing "WHEREAS" clauses are ratified and confirmed as being
true and correct and they are made a specific part of this Resolution.
Section 2. That the City Commission of the City of Dania Beach urges the Governor of
the State of Florida to convene a special statewide panel of interdisciplinary experts to examine the
extent of the vicious and dangerous dog problem throughout the State of Florida. The City
Commission specifically requests that this special panel examine the causes of these dog attacks and
the possibility of holding dog owners liable for injuries caused by their animals, among other things.
The City Commission further offers the City as a test venue to allow such a panel of experts the
opportunity to initiate an examination into the various issues related to the regulation of vicious
dogs.
Section 3. The City Clerk is directed to provide a certified copy of this Resolution to
the Governor, the members of the Florida Legislature, the Broward Legislative Delegation, the
Broward League of Cities, the Florida League of Cities, and the Broward County Commission.
Section 4. That all resolutions or parts of resolutions in conflict with this Resolution
shall be repealed to the extent of such conflict.
Section 5. That this Resolution shall be in force and take effect immediately upon its
passage and adoption.
PASSED and ADOPTED on August 14, 2007.
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c ' )G�iGC.4 ✓ ( MAYOR—COMMISSIONER
LOUISE STILSON, CMC
CITY CLERK APPROVED AS TO 74 AND
CORRECTNESS:
BY:
TH MAS . AIEI RO
CITY ATTORNEY
3 RESOLUTION #2007-140