Southside students to discuss why Breed Specific Legislation shouldn't be considered

Seventh-grade students from Southside Middle School will discuss Breed Specific Legislation and why it should never be considered in Florence County at Florence County Council’s regular meeting today held in the Florence City-County Complex.

Breed Specific Legislation prohibits someone from owning, breeding or raising certain types of dogs.

Students who will speak to county council members are Kayley Green, Jamie Thomas, Emily Nance, Jeremy Romanyzyn and Aliyah Roberts. Those students were voted on by their peers.

Other students who are a part of the project include Carla Campbell, Brittany Chapman, Shaina Clingempeel, Andrew Dempewolf, Jessica DuBose, Becky Fuller, DeQuane Gurley, Austian Jernigin, Hunter Jordan, Colby Kennedy, Connor Lentz, Todd Luikart, Zac Manos, Alicia Robinson, Christopher Ruggiero, Takayla Sharper, Camri Stevens, Liam Tindall and Harley Watford.

Brian Harvey, a social studies teacher at Southside, said the class has put together a presentation on why Breed Specific Legislation is wrong, how it violates one’s rights, how it’s inhumane and the cost to enforce it. The presentation also includes ways to prevent that type of legislation.

The students’ proposal contains several suggestions, including implementing canine safety education programs in schools and responsible canine ownership classes offered to pet owners.

The students say city and county governments should adopt stronger laws instead of banning certain breeds or animals.

Harvey said the students came up with the idea for the class project and have been working on it since November.

“The whole idea is to come up with what we believe might be a problem or concern in the community,” Harvey said. “The students came up with three to four topics and voted (on the top issue).”

The students also came up with the slogan; “Legislation is discrimination,” he said.

“They believe that this type of legislation is discrimination against these types of animals — what are considered dangerous breeds,” he said. “If they can tell you what type of animal you can or can’t own, they believe that that’s a stepping stone for county government or city government to say ... what’s next that you can and can’t own.”

Dillon City Council recently approved an ordinance that defined a pit bull as a dangerous animal and apply stricter guidelines for pit bull owners.

For example, owners must register the dogs with the Dillon Police Department and keep the dogs within a fenced area.

Florence County Council isn’t considering this type of legislation.

The South Carolina Bar’s Law Related Education Division provides a program called “We the People: Project Citizen,” which is a curricular program for elementary, middle and high school students, as well as youth groups, that promotes competent and responsible participation in local and state government, according to its Web site, www.scbar.org. The program helps young people learn how to monitor and influence public policy.

On the Web
Southside Middle School: www.fsd1.org/southside
Visit the student’s Web site: http://southsidepc.webs.com
South Carolina Bar: www.scbar.org

IF YOU’RE GOING
WHAT: Florence County Council regular meeting
WHEN: 9 a.m.
WHERE: Room 803 of the Florence City-County Complex, 180 N. Irby St., Florence
INFO: Call Clerk to Council Connie Haselden at (843) 665-3035.