This is not good news - Page 1

 City officials in Hornbeak, TN took the second and final vote on a breed specific ordinance at last night�s council meeting. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, the term �vicious dog� and the regulations that accompany that designation, shall be applied to ALL bull terriers, Staffordshire terriers, American pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, dobermans, rottweilers, German Shepherds, akitas and chows, as well as any mixes thereof. 

 

Seriously? And I suppose the usual geniuses are responsible for deciding who is mixed with what? 

I grew up in Tennessee and I never heard of Hornbeak .. I think it's in West Tennessee and I lived in Memphis and West Tennessee for several years .. this is what I found out though

Hornbeak is a town in Obion County, Tennessee. The population was 435 as of the 2000 census. It is part of the Union City, TN–KY Micropolitan Statistical Area. The racial makeup of the town was 99.31% White, 0.23% African American, and 0.46% from two or more races.

The dangerous part of the "dangerous dog" laws is that once you have a list approved adding another breed of dog is easier than getting the list approved with just the Pit Bull as a starter breed. 

Hornbeak is predominately white and in a predominately white county in Tennessee.  You must remember the use of the GSD on civil right protesters in Alabama and other Southern states during the marches and civil rights protests did nothing to endear the GSD to the black population and televised the picture of the GSD as a savage breed biting helpless protesters with many Americans of all races.  A lot of southerners now of senior age grew up with those dogs and fire hose pictures in their heads from television in the 60's.

Does that only affect that county though?

Bubba, I know. I had to look it up (on my trusty Rand McNally) too. It's up there in the NW corner of the state and with only 465 ( according to RM, 2000) they must be overrun with all the breeds mentioned. :-/

Gsdguy, mat be just that town. I dunno, maybe you could find out and let us know.
If it happens in one place, it can happen anywhere, especially if revenue can be generated.....you know, through fines.

That area of TN is very rural and low population so they likely have lots of free roaming dogs that no one claims to own so the law may be an effort to remove those larger breeds from running around loose in the little town of Hornbeak and the area nearby.  Also in the mixed farming and hobby farm areas close by cities like Memphis you get a lot of strays and dropped dogs from people who thought they wanted a large dog and then either couldn't manage or afford the dog and they dump Fido out in the nearest open field to be one with nature.  A lot of farmers and land owners in these areas must then capture and dispose of the dogs in the best way available or they chase the livestock and try to take up residence at the land owners house or barns.

Seems like if that was the intent, (to eliminate large breeds from roaming) they would just pass a leash law, instead of breed specific vicious dog law.

Town of less than 500 .. little or no enforcement.  Illegal to own then illegal to roam .. the cop or cops can shoot or capture on sight.

Yeah, I'll have to find out. I know a number of Shepherd owners here, including multiple police officers who also have Shepherds, one of them who is a client of mine.