Oklahoma City Council Appeals Ruling, Helping Nuns
Sisters of Preschool One Step CloserOklahoma City, OK - A victory is being celebrated for the Carmelite nuns fighting a pit bull kennel that is adjacent to their school for young children. This is the latest chapter in a
two-year battle. Their fight has gone before several judges, and now the city council. DogsBite.org provided a letter to the mayor and city council members for this hearing. Due to the hard work of many people, the Sisters are now one step closer to forcing the removal of the kennel.
From left: Veronica Higgins, Patricia Ann Miller, Kenneth Gonzales (breeder), pit bullWe recommend that you watch the video in the article (right column link). You can see the children playing at recess in very close proximity to the kennel. Patricia Ann Miller with Villa Teresa Moore said, "That is just a terrible thought to have that possibility looming over these children." The Sisters fear a dog may escape the kennel and attack one of their children. DogsBite.org agrees. YouTube is filled with videos depicting pit bulls
scaling fences and
climbing trees.
Sister Veronica Higgins said, "I hate to say I want anyone to shut down, but I would really like for him to move elsewhere." Under Oklahoma State law the kennel should close. Back in June, Governor Brad Henry signed into law Senate Bill 1754, which bans dog kennels from operating within 2,500 feet of a school in a city with the population over 300,000. But instead of forcing the kennel to shut down, the law is tied up in a legal battle due to the
kennel operator.
The nuns went before city council, asking them to appeal the most recent court ruling. A judge in
Oklahoma County ruled the kennel law is unconstitutional. But a judge in
Cleveland County ruled previously, it is constitutional. The council voted to appeal the former ruling and let a higher court decide. The Sisters consider this a victory. "It's been a long journey," Higgins said. "I know the journey's still going on, but at least one more step toward completion."
The court will have the final say, and the nuns plan to fight until the end.Related article:06/25/08:
Coverage of Catholic Sisters Seeking to Remove Pit Bull Kennel
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