Unfortunately, Independence has become one of the most pet UN-friendly cities in the Metro. 

Things could be changing however, as Jackson County, MO has approved the buidling of a new shelter in Independence that would allow them to be a No Kill community. While the idea of the increased shelter capacity is great, the city will not be able to achieve no kill without civic support, which would include better laws and animal control policies that would prevent many animals from being impounded and in the shelter in the first place. The city made a positive step forward when they updated their pet limit law to make it more flexible (allows up to four pets vs only allowing two dogs and two cats) but there is still a lot of work to do.

After the city council passed an ordinance that banned any new pit bull type dogs and put extensive restrictions on existing pit bulls, hundreds of innocent dogs have been destroyed solely because of the way that they look. Hundreds of responsible pit bull owners could not afford the insurance, fencing, licensing fees, or the expense of moving and were forced to give up their dogs. 

The saddest component, however, is the unsuspecting people that have been targeted. Many residents with mix breed dogs have had their animals taken from them and destroyed because the city, subjectively, deemed their dog a pit bull.  Many mix breed dogs are also misidentified as pit bulls at the Independence shelter and, because of that, are deemed unadopatable.  Unfortunately, in a city like Independence, any dog with a big head and a muscular body is an easy target and many have been needlessly killed as a result of this ordinance.  

This Beagle puppy is just one of many examples of dogs that have been misidentified and put down at the Independence shelter, as a result:

We urge the citizens of Independence to fight for their rights, and their dogs! Contact the candidates in your district and let them know that you are a dog owner and that you will be voting.  Very few people vote in local elections - your vote really counts!

 Last Updated 4/14/10

MAYOR

Don Reimal  --  -- Although Mr. Reimal did not have an opportunity to vote, he was strongly in favor of banning certain dog breeds and made an apparent attempt to push a breed ban forward by instructing a new council member to abstain from the vote.

AT-LARGE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

Lucy Young --   -- Ms. Young was the lone voice of reason and voice for the citizens during the city council meetings when BSL was introduced.  She not only voted against a ban of certain dog breeds in Independece, but fought against it.  She understands that enacting a breed ban does nothing to promote a safer community and is an all around pet friendly politician.  Even when it appeared a breed ban was inevitable, Ms. Young pushed for the restrictions to be financially feasible for citizens who wanted to comply to keep their dogs. 

Jim Schultz --  Mr. Schultz voted to yes on the law banning 'pit bulls' from Independence. He advocated for the city's only dog park, located at Santa Fe Park. Schultz says he favors the work being done for the building of the No Kill shelter in eastern Jackson County -- but in his one major vote on the topic voted in favor of an ordinance that has led to the killing of thousands of animals through the city's breed ban. Schultz doesn't seem like a "lost cause" like many politicians, but his voting record thus far is not favorable.

DISTRICT I

Marcie Gragg --  -- Was instructed by the mayor to abstain from the breed ban vote in 2006 because she was elected to fill an empty council position a week before the final vote.  We know Ms. Gragg is against BSL and for increasing the pet limit.

DISTRICT II

DISTRICT IV -
Jim Page --   Mr. Page is the incumbent.  He voted to enact a ban of certain dog breeds. He does not seem opposed to re-looking at the ordinance but has not taken any steps to initiate a repeal of the existing law.  Ironically, we hear he is in favor of TNR for feral cats.  So while he wants to do the right thing for cats, he voted to pull certain breeds of dogs out of their home to die.