An appeal to EFA - Long and important for dogs in Ohio.

OK EFA-ers this is a long post, mostly from Dawn who needs as many people as possible to write (yes I mean joined up writing NOT emails) to your representatives if you are in the USA and write as an out-of-towners if you are not. I have put small elements in bold (my bold not Dawn's) that are important if you are rushed. Then take five, sit down with a pen, paper and stamp and save a dog's life - read the paragraph in BLOCK CAPITALS - this is true - these days people realise that if someone sat down and wrote a letter (which takes time) then they mean it!! If Representatives start getting letters - they sit up and take notice!!!

Dawn says :-

Dear Friends,

I found out yesterday that a Bill has been proposed by Ohio Representative Tyrone Yates that would prohibit ownership of pit bull type dogs in the state of Ohio. Within 90 days of the proposed Bill being passed as law, all guardians of these dogs would have to turn them in to be euthanized. I happen to have a "pit bull type" dog myself....he is currently snuggled in his favorite pink blankie on the sofa. If this Bill passes I, and thousands of other responsible dog guardians, will be forced to move out of Ohio in order to keep our dogs safe.

Please see the email from Shana below for information about how to contact your representatives about this proposed ban. And please do check out the article for more information on the ban, and why such bans do not work and are not necessary. Stricter laws are needed to punish irresponsible dog guardians. Bans don't work. They alienate the responsible guardians and drive dog fighters further underground. Punish the
deed, not the breed.

As you read this, please keep in mind that even if you're not big on pit bulls, breed specific legislation is a danger to *all* dogs. There have been bans proposed in other areas against shepherds, labs, even pugs! Not to mention that fact the if all a dog has to do is *look* like a pit bull, many non-pits will be euthanized as well. Volunteering at the Ashtabula APL I see first hand how any dog with a wide head and a big smile is thought to be a pit, even by the dog warden!. Ontario has had a ban like this for a while, and apparently it is a nightmare to be a dog guardian there now. People can't walk their big-headed purebred labs down the street without being harassed.

And, honestly, you don't even have to *like* dogs to see the dangerous impact such a ban would have on our personal freedom.

Please do spread the word about this atrocity in the making. Feel free to forward this email or post from it on blogs, forums, anywhere you can reach people that can help. And above all, please use the instructions below to contact your Representative and let him or her know that you oppose this Bill.

Thank you,
Dawn

To see a copy of the Bill, please visit:
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=127_HB_568.

We heard from Webster's Aide earlier today and she indicated that the
Bill has been assigned to a committee. Until I am informed of the
committee considering the Bill, there are a few things each of us can
do. Please DO NOT WAIT to do the following: please remember to be
polite and respectful in all correspondence!

Ohio Residents:

Contact Your House Rep as follows:

(1) Draft a PERSONALIZED LETTER to your house representative. Ifyou do not know who your representative is, please visit here:

In the letter, indicate that you are a constituent, that you oppose Bill 568, that you will leave Ohio if this passes (if that is
the case) and that you want your representative to oppose the Bill.

Please try to send this letter out immediately.

(2) Call your representative to express your opposition and to urge your representative's opposition. Tell him/her that you will fight this all the way. Remember to leave your name, city of
residence and phone number. You will most probably get your reps voicemail. Please plan what to say prior to making the call.

ALTHOUGH EMAILS ARE EASIER, PLEASE FOCUS ON SENDING LETTERS AND CALLING. THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AT THIS POINT!!!!! TAKE 15 MINUTES TO WRITE A LETTER AND MAKE SURE TO PERSONALIZE IT. OUR REPRESENTATIVES NOTICE WHEN THEY RECIEVE FORM LETTERS.

(3) Send an e-mail to your representative urging him/her to vote
against the Bill. Tell him/her that you will leave Ohio if this
passes.

***For additional talking points for your letters, please visit:
http://www.animallawcoalition.com/breed-bans/article/524.

Contact the Leadership: (contact information below)

(1) Use the LETTER you sent to your representative and revise it
slightly. Although you may not be a constituent, leadership has a lot
of power and expects to hear from the residents of Ohio. So, please
send letters.

(2) Call each member of the leadership. You will probably get
voicemail but please leave your name, city of residence and phone
number. Please plan what you will say prior to making the call.

****At this point, we do not want emails sent to leadership.*************

IF YOU CAN, PLEASE LET ME KNOW ONCE YOU'VE SENT THE LETTER, LEFT A
VOICE MAIL AND EMAILED. WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT
EVERYONE'S DONE AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIGHT THIS AS A UNIFIED GROUP SO
YOUR COOPERATION IS APPRECIATED!

Out of State Individuals Wishing to Voice Opposition:

Until we determine to which committee the Bill has been assigned, if
you would like to voice your opposition, the best thing to do is to:

(1) Send LETTERS to House Leaders (contact info below) and voice
your opposition.

(2) Call the leadership and leave messages voicing your opposition.


Leadership Contact Information:

John Husted
Speaker of the House
77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 644-6008
Fax : (614) 719-3591
Email Address: district37@ohr.state.oh.us

Kevin DeWine
Speaker Pro Tempore
77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 644-6020
Fax : (614) 719-3970
Email Address: district70@ohr.state.oh.us

Larry L. Flowers
Majority Floor Leader
77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-4847
Fax : (614) 719-6958
Email Address: district19@ohr.state.oh.us

Jim Carmichael
Assistant Majority Floor Leader
77 S. High St
12th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-1474
Fax : (614) 719-0003
Email Address: district03@ohr.state.oh.us

Michelle G. Schneider
Majority Whip
77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 644-6023
Fax : (614) 719-3589
Email Address: district35@ohr.state.oh.us

Shannon Jones
Assistant Majority Whip
77 S. High St
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 644-6027
Fax : (614) 719-3967
Email Address: district67@ohr.state.oh.us

Joyce Beatty
Minority Leader
77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-5343
Fax : (614) 719-3581
Email Address: district27@ohr.state.oh.us

T. Todd Book
Assistant Minority Leader
77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-2124
Fax : (614) 719-6989
Email Address: district89@ohr.state.oh.us

Fred Strahorn
Minority Whip
77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-2960
Fax : (614) 719-6940
Email Address: district40@ohr.state.oh.us

Mike Foley
Assistant Minority Whip
77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-3350
Fax : (614) 719-3910
Email Address: district14@ohr.state.oh.us

************************************
Shana Klein, President
P.O. Box 19081
Cleveland, Ohio 44119
www.canineadvocatesofohio.org