SCHENECTADY Council sets rule on dog dangers Insurance required for dangerous animals BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
Residents whose dogs are declared dangerous will have to get special insurance — or go to jail, the City Council has decided. By a vote of 6-1, the council decided Monday to require these dog owners to carry insurance that would pay for medical expenses if their dog hurt someone. Owners convicted of two loose-dog offenses, or one dangerous-dog offense, must get the insurance. The insurance must cover all dogs the owner ever has, even if the owner gets rid of the dog whose offense led to the sanction. Dog-bite liability insurance is included in many homeowners’ and renters’ insurance policies, but residents who already have charges against them may have difficulty buying a policy. Insurers could consider them too risky and refuse to provide coverage. In that case, owners can get rid of their dogs. But if they ignore the law, they face up to 90 days in jail. Councilwoman Marion Porterfield was the only one to vote against the law. She said the penalty was too severe. Dog owners could lose their job while in jail, she said. “I would prefer this to be ‘removal of the animal’ rather than going to jail,” she said. “I agree that we need to do something, and there has to be some measure of accountability from the owners.” The law was proposed after several city residents were badly mauled by loose dogs. The owners did not have the means to pay for the medical expenses, so the victims were left to pay for it themselves. ...................>>>>.................>>>>........................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00901&AppName=1
Good luck enforcing this. Instead of hiring more animal control officers and making sure someone is available 24 hours more nothing from the brain dead DEM morons. City Court is overwhelmed with dog cases as the City DEMS continue to go to the dogs. Dog owners should avoid Central Park which has become a pit bull run. Close that pit bull accessory store on Broadway. The City Jerk is now writing new laws for pathetic McCheese and his 6 running dogs,
This is yet another 'law to nowhere'!! Pitbull owners have been and this will only continue and excellerate when approached.....this is what they say.....'Ain't my dog. Belongs to someone else who lives out of state'...............or............'don't know where the dog is, the owner came, took it, and they live out of state'.............'i'm just babysitting the dog, don't know where the owner is'!!!
These dogs are just being transferred from one location to another............like from the city to, uh let's say, rottENdam, nisky etc...........
Happens ALL the time.
The evil genius' are always one step ahead of law enforcement. Ya think they would have figured that out by now!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Well, she obviously will get SOME votes in the primary!
This is a council rep who is supposed to be representing the residents??????
Read this story in a different order and pay attention to the "important" words and phrases:
Quoted Text
The law was proposed after several city residents were badly mauled by loose dogs. The owners did not have the means to pay for the medical expenses, so the victims were left to pay for it themselves.
Residents whose dogs are declared dangerous will have to get special insurance — or go to jail, the City Council has decided. By a vote of 6-1,... require these dog owners to carry insurance that would pay for medical expenses ...Owners convicted of two loose-dog offenses, or one dangerous-dog offense, must get the insurance. ... Dog-bite liability insurance ... but residents who already have charges against them may have difficulty buying a policy. Insurers could consider them too risky and refuse to provide coverage. In that case, owners can get rid of their dogs. But if they ignore the law, they face up to 90 days in jail.
Porterfield: “I agree that we need to do something, and there has to be some measure of accountability from the owners" "The penalty was too severe.” "Dog owners could lose their job while in jail,"
The brains of a city dem who is "representing" the people of Hamilton Hill, right?
Most of the dog owners who have (raised them to be) dangerous dogs are people who do not have them licensed, probably don't take them to the vet, probably don't even have the approval of their absentee landlord (who lives far from Schdy) to have a animal.
The people who get mauled, scarred for life, and have huge medical expenses (often that we taxpayers have to pay), well, this dem thinks the penalty of "insurance or jail" is too severe?
While she says she has no problem with the animal being taken away, that is NOT a penalty for the majority of these owners. These are not pets to these people, they couldn't care less if they lost the dog.
Oh yeah, and most of these dangerous-dog owners, they don't have a job to lose anyway
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
There is legislation that requires all guns to be registered.........that ain't happening! There is legislation that forbids the sale of illegal drugs...........that ain't happening! There is legislation that forbids prostitution.............................that ain't happening! There is legislation that forbids cell phones while driving...........that ain't happening! There is legislation that forbids texting while driving..................that ain't happening!
And since most of these folks don't even have the money for rent....they ain't paying for 'dog insurance'! And there is no more room in the jails! And the courts are already backed up!
And the dogs will just be moved around the county like they are now!
Legislation with 'no thought'!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
The people who get mauled, scarred for life, and have huge medical expenses (often that we taxpayers have to pay), well, this dem thinks the penalty of "insurance or jail" is too severe?
This should be a civil matter.
Dog bites someone, the owner gets sued.
Repeat offense, dog gets put down.
We have a system in place already.
Mandatory dog insurance would change the system and allow dangerous dogs to stay.
Mandatory dog insurance would change the system and allow dangerous dogs to stay.
OK L4L Civil matter, huh?
Even WITH insurance, the victim CAN incur thousands in expenses even if he has health insurance, e.g. a $5,000 annual deductible on hospital in-patient, a $1,000 annual deductible on doctor bills (surgeon, radiologists, anesthesia, etc) followed by maybe a 75% reimbursement rate on everything over the deductible. Then perhaps there are several prescriptions and maybe the victim ha a $50 co-pay per perscription. And then the victim is most likely going to be disfigured. Now, granted, reconstruction of an ear by a plastic surgeon is going to be viewed as "necessary" plastic surgery, but many other things in plastic surgery will be considered cosmetic and therefore the plastic surgery is not covered by the victims health insurance. Or maybe the expenses have more to do with dental related stuff and since health insurance rarely, if ever, covers dental services, that would be totally out of pocket of the victim.
So, we'll say the victim incurs $10,000 in out of pocket costs.
Civil matter, huh?
Could potentially be beyond the amount allowed in small claims court. Beyond small claims court, the victim must have an attorney and that could be a costly depending on whether it's the typical one-third, or just charging $250 an hour. Perhaps the victim was a secretary/typist, or a data entry person which requires keyboarding and obviously use of all fingers on both hands, but the dog severely mauled the hand/wrist, whatever, rendering the hand unable to perform the duties in the job which would mean loss of job, loss of income, and loss of health insurance.
Face it, the vast majority of people who have pit bulls are people who use the dog to protect their turf. And these people most likely do not own a home, do not have a job, or maybe they have a low wage job. Or their income is from drugs (and not one of them would ever admit the support themselves, pay the rent, etc via drug money.
Civil matter, huh?
Judge says to the dog owner upon finding in favor of the victim in civil court.
Tell us how the victim is going to receive the money to pay his/her medical expenses? Attach a judgement to the dog owner in their part time minimum wage job? Victim will collect maybe $20 a week (10% wage garnishment). Dog owner quits job. Hello. NOW how does victim support him/herself and/or pay the medical expenses?
And what happens when the hospital/doctor sues the victim for the cost of services and the victim has a lien put on their car or home?
Victim is screwed while the owner of the dangerous dog gets off scott free, no paying for liability insurance, no going to jail, might keep dog, and does not have on "on the records" income or assets that can be seized.
Now, if the victim has a low income or otherwise qualifies for medical expenses to be covered by the government, well, who pays? NOT the dog owner? We taxpayers will pay. Again, dog owner get's off unscathed. Civil matter, huh?
I admit, there are many stupid regulations imposed, or even suggested, by the government but when it comes to this kind of issue, regulation is OK with me. The problem with the original legislation that all owners carry insurance regardless of breed if over a certain weight was stupid because it's highly unlikely that a poodle or spaniel is going to go after someone in the same way as a pit would do.
There are pit-bull owners that get their dog, it becomes part of the family, it's loved, it's played with (gently), it's fed, it's bathed, it's taken to the vet and it's licensed, and it is not allowed outside without being on a leash---such an owner would never have a problem. It's the other ones that cause the problems.
So?
So how does the victim have medical expenses paid?
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
By a vote of 6-1, the council decided Monday to require these dog owners to carry insurance that would pay for medical expenses if their dog hurt someone. Owners convicted of two loose-dog offenses, or one dangerous-dog offense, must get the insurance. The insurance must cover all dogs the owner ever has, even if the owner gets rid of the dog whose offense led to the sanction.
most are f'en city gypsies...who will track their dog ownership? really? what the police central dispatch?
Mr. Tonko
OH WAIT....
Mr. Tedisco...he looooves animals.....another breast feeding politician
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
As Graham has repeatedly stated pit bull owners are a vital part of the City DEM constituency. Mad Dog Marion Poterfield has locked up this key voting bloc for her primary fight with Sidewalk Bob. Dumb and Dumber Part Trois. This new law is a total joke. Unenforceable, another attempt to sweep a major City problem under a rug. Which is all the City DEM morons ever do. What about the McCheese $10 million deficit? Deficit what deficit? McCheese has a plan! Hang on to Mayorship and his bloated double public pension until Gov Cuomo starts a State control board.
As Graham has repeatedly stated pit bull owners are a vital part of the City DEM constituency. Mad Dog Marion Poterfield has locked up this key voting bloc for her primary fight with Sidewalk Bob. Dumb and Dumber Part Trois. This new law is a total joke. Unenforceable, another attempt to sweep a major City problem under a rug. Which is all the City DEM morons ever do. What about the McCheese $10 million deficit? Deficit what deficit? McCheese has a plan! Hang on to Mayorship and his bloated double public pension until Gov Cuomo starts a State control board.
That's right Benny, it's a total joke!
It's another case of the City pushing off its responsibility to someone else. Instead of a moratorium to include a City ban on new pit bull ownership (again, a moratorium...not forever) and trying to address this problem with help from area animal shelters, the City takes a totally stupid approach to a real problem.
Like Bumble said "It's not my pit bull" will be the answer by all caught and who can prove it?
Either grab the bull by the horns or get out of the rodeo McCheesy.
As Graham has repeatedly stated pit bull owners are a vital part of the City DEM constituency. Mad Dog Marion Poterfield has locked up this key voting bloc for her primary fight with Sidewalk Bob. Dumb and Dumber Part Trois. This new law is a total joke. Unenforceable, another attempt to sweep a major City problem under a rug. Which is all the City DEM morons ever do. What about the McCheese $10 million deficit? Deficit what deficit? McCheese has a plan! Hang on to Mayorship and his bloated double public pension until Gov Cuomo starts a State control board.
Benny, the visuals that you invoke with some of your comments are priceless........................when time permits rest assured I'll attempt to bring them to life.............
Logged
Good luck enforcing this. Instead of hiring more animal control officers and making sure someone is available 24 hours more nothing from the brain dead DEM morons. City Court is overwhelmed with dog cases as the City DEMS continue to go to the dogs. Dog owners should avoid Central Park which has become a pit bull run. Close that pit bull accessory store on Broadway. The City Jerk is now writing new laws for pathetic McCheese and his 6 running dogs, 
As Graham has repeatedly stated pit bull owners are a vital part of the City DEM constituency. Mad Dog Marion Poterfield has locked up this key voting bloc for her primary fight with Sidewalk Bob. Dumb and Dumber Part Trois. This new law is a total joke. Unenforceable, another attempt to sweep a major City problem under a rug. Which is all the City DEM morons ever do. What about the McCheese $10 million deficit? Deficit what deficit? McCheese has a plan! Hang on to Mayorship and his bloated double public pension until Gov Cuomo starts a State control board.
