Safe, humane communities are important. So are a dog owner/guardian's right not to have his pet declared "dangerous" without notice, a hearing, or an appeal process. HB 169 lacks all of those constitutional protections.

The "dangerous" defintion, in addition to the lack of due process, is troubling. For example, if my dog went to a dog park and another dog attacked him and my dog fought back, it could be deemed "dangerous" without a notice or a hearing.

HB 169 would require any dog who was automatically deemed "dangerous" because it killed or inflicted severe injury on a domestic animal while it was off its owners property to be confined at home or in a pen, and the owners would have to provide $300,000 worth of liability insurance to keep their pet.

The bill is scheduled to be heard February 10. Please sign the petition and oppose this bill unless it is amended.