Village repeals dog ban
After hearing, board votes to rescind law on pit bulls and Rottweilers
The Rockville Centre Board of Trustees threw dog fanciers a bone on July 20, voting unanimously to repeal Local Law 9, enacted on June 8, which banned pit bulls and Rottweilers in the village.
The move came during a board meeting held in the Recreation Center instead of its usual Village Hall venue, to accommodate an overflow crowd of about 500 people, almost all of whom voiced opposition to the ban.
Along with those filling the bleachers and folding chairs were two pit bull-type service dogs, a mother and daughter named Wrinkles and Cinnamon, which were initially denied entry to the building.
Mayor Mary Bossart told the crowd that the board would be voting to repeal the controversial law, which has been the subject of much media coverage in recent weeks. The trustees had already suspended it at their June 29 meeting.
At the beginning of a public comment period that lasted about two hours, during which only one of 30 or so speakers said she supported the ban, Bossart said that controlling dogs in the village continues to be a vexing issue. "We are sworn to uphold the constitution," she said, "and that is why I'm voting to repeal [the law]."
Bossart suggested that the board might work to craft another law that "meets the needs of village residents" —- one that could force large dogs or dogs of certain breeds to wear muzzles in public.
But speaker after speaker called on the five board members to consider any dog restrictions on a case-by-case basis, and argued that dog laws already on the books are sufficient. Many also said that breed-specific legislation is ineffective and unconstitutional, violating the due process and rights of residents and dog owners, and that such legislation is ultimately costly to the municipality.
Others voiced concern that if allowed to stand, dog bans could spread to other communities. A number of speakers made the point that owners need to be held accountable for neglect or abuse — treatment that can harm their dogs and turn them vicious. "It's the deed, not the breed," more than one person told the board.
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