Tiara
05-01-2006, 01:31 PM
Alternatives sought for city pit bull ban
By NATASHA DOUGLAS/Staff Writer
http://www.middlesborodailynews.com/articles/2006/04/28/news/751ban.txt
MIDDLESBORO - There is still hope for pit bull owners within the city of Middlesboro as it appears they may not have to give up their dogs after all.
The Middlesboro city council faced fierce backlash at their last meeting on April 18 for a proposed ordinance that would have banned the specific breed of dog within the city. After several people spoke to the council at the meeting against banning the one breed, it was decided that the issue needed to be looked at further and studied more.
Although the ordinance passed the first reading, it must be read two times before being adopted.
Robert Wright, a 13-year pit bull owner and dog lover, has been in contact with Safety Director James Pursifull on some legislation the city could consider without going to the drastic extremes of banning the breed.
“We came up with some suggestions and I'm hoping they will take some of them (laws) into consideration,” said Wright.
Wright presented members of the council with a list of laws the American Kennel Club (AKC) had mailed to him, that are non-breed specific and are used nationwide throughout various cities dealing with dog problems.
Some of those laws in effect that are non-breed specific include any large dog would have to be kept inside a fenced in enclosure, instead of just on a chain.
Other laws that may be considered would be the banning of all dogs, all breeds, from the city parks. And as far as leashes go, some larger dogs could be required to wear a halter harness instead of a collar.
Pursifull said last week that taking pets was not the original intention of the city, adding that the ordinance was proposed so drastically because of the serious problem the city has with dogs.
“We've got to get a handle on it but we are trying to come up with something to protect the public, but, at the same time, something less drastic that will yield the same results,” said Pursifull.
“The biggest thing is people don't want dogs in the parks, public places, and gatherings.”
Pursifull said he was feeling optimistic that something could be worked out to satisfy most everyone, adding he was 99 percent sure the ordinance proposed at the last meeting will not pass as written.
The dog issue came about when some complaints poured in from concerned parents to city officials and council members, that they would not let their children go to parks because it was over-ran with the pit bull breed.
Another incident reportedly was witnessed by several involving a pit bull breaking loose from a leash at the little league field, jumping onto a smaller dog, and a small child tried to get in between the two. The child was not hurt but it did raise concerns.
The city council is expected to meet May 2 at city hall at 7 p.m.
Natasha Douglas is a staff writer for the Daily News. She can be reached via e-mail at ndouglas@middlesborodailynews.com (ndouglas@middlesborodailynews.com)
By NATASHA DOUGLAS/Staff Writer
http://www.middlesborodailynews.com/articles/2006/04/28/news/751ban.txt
MIDDLESBORO - There is still hope for pit bull owners within the city of Middlesboro as it appears they may not have to give up their dogs after all.
The Middlesboro city council faced fierce backlash at their last meeting on April 18 for a proposed ordinance that would have banned the specific breed of dog within the city. After several people spoke to the council at the meeting against banning the one breed, it was decided that the issue needed to be looked at further and studied more.
Although the ordinance passed the first reading, it must be read two times before being adopted.
Robert Wright, a 13-year pit bull owner and dog lover, has been in contact with Safety Director James Pursifull on some legislation the city could consider without going to the drastic extremes of banning the breed.
“We came up with some suggestions and I'm hoping they will take some of them (laws) into consideration,” said Wright.
Wright presented members of the council with a list of laws the American Kennel Club (AKC) had mailed to him, that are non-breed specific and are used nationwide throughout various cities dealing with dog problems.
Some of those laws in effect that are non-breed specific include any large dog would have to be kept inside a fenced in enclosure, instead of just on a chain.
Other laws that may be considered would be the banning of all dogs, all breeds, from the city parks. And as far as leashes go, some larger dogs could be required to wear a halter harness instead of a collar.
Pursifull said last week that taking pets was not the original intention of the city, adding that the ordinance was proposed so drastically because of the serious problem the city has with dogs.
“We've got to get a handle on it but we are trying to come up with something to protect the public, but, at the same time, something less drastic that will yield the same results,” said Pursifull.
“The biggest thing is people don't want dogs in the parks, public places, and gatherings.”
Pursifull said he was feeling optimistic that something could be worked out to satisfy most everyone, adding he was 99 percent sure the ordinance proposed at the last meeting will not pass as written.
The dog issue came about when some complaints poured in from concerned parents to city officials and council members, that they would not let their children go to parks because it was over-ran with the pit bull breed.
Another incident reportedly was witnessed by several involving a pit bull breaking loose from a leash at the little league field, jumping onto a smaller dog, and a small child tried to get in between the two. The child was not hurt but it did raise concerns.
The city council is expected to meet May 2 at city hall at 7 p.m.
Natasha Douglas is a staff writer for the Daily News. She can be reached via e-mail at ndouglas@middlesborodailynews.com (ndouglas@middlesborodailynews.com)