Marty
05-08-2006, 11:15 PM
Pine Bluff,AR -- Pine Bluff has restricted the ownership of pit bulls, citing the number of complaints received by the city about the dogs for the decision.
DeLloyd Cleveland, director of Pine Bluff Animal Control, said the agency has been receiving as many as 30 calls a month from people complaining about the dogs.
He said Pine Bluff was different from other cities in that many pit bulls in the city are bred and sold for profit.
Alderman Derwood Smith, who sponsored the ordinance, said the city received complaints of the dogs fighting.
"These dogs never bark. They just attack," Smith said. "We do have a big problem with fighting here."
The city council approved an ordinance last week that requires dog owners to register pit bull dogs with the city and to have the animals sterilized. The ordinance bans pit bull dogs from the city "if a dog doesn't meet certain requirements."
"A pit bull dog owner must have liability insurance," Cleveland said. "If we don't do something, we're going to be getting another city's dogs."
The ordinance requires a $100,000 liability insurance policy. In addition, a pit bull must be kept in a pen and the only time it can be out on a leash is if someone who is at least 21 is in control of the leash.
John Segars Jr., a dog trainer with the Southeast Arkansas Kennel Club, said he would prefer the city impose higher penalties for dangerous dogs instead of passing a breed-specific ordinance.
"They are penalizing the responsible owners," he said. "Any breed can create problems."
Also, Segars said, the liability insurance is difficult to find and expensive to purchase.
Heather Ford, a pit bull owner who works at The Pet Place, said she also opposes breed-specific legislation. Ford said city laws regulating dog ownership should be directed at people who own the dogs and not at the dogs.
"I think a dangerous dog ordinance is sufficient," she said. "The main problem with pit bull dogs is they are hyperactive. They need to be trained."
Information from: Pine Bluff Commercial, http://www.pbcommercial.com
http://www.pbcommercial.com/articles/2006/05/08/ap-state-ar/d8hfrhao2.txt
DeLloyd Cleveland, director of Pine Bluff Animal Control, said the agency has been receiving as many as 30 calls a month from people complaining about the dogs.
He said Pine Bluff was different from other cities in that many pit bulls in the city are bred and sold for profit.
Alderman Derwood Smith, who sponsored the ordinance, said the city received complaints of the dogs fighting.
"These dogs never bark. They just attack," Smith said. "We do have a big problem with fighting here."
The city council approved an ordinance last week that requires dog owners to register pit bull dogs with the city and to have the animals sterilized. The ordinance bans pit bull dogs from the city "if a dog doesn't meet certain requirements."
"A pit bull dog owner must have liability insurance," Cleveland said. "If we don't do something, we're going to be getting another city's dogs."
The ordinance requires a $100,000 liability insurance policy. In addition, a pit bull must be kept in a pen and the only time it can be out on a leash is if someone who is at least 21 is in control of the leash.
John Segars Jr., a dog trainer with the Southeast Arkansas Kennel Club, said he would prefer the city impose higher penalties for dangerous dogs instead of passing a breed-specific ordinance.
"They are penalizing the responsible owners," he said. "Any breed can create problems."
Also, Segars said, the liability insurance is difficult to find and expensive to purchase.
Heather Ford, a pit bull owner who works at The Pet Place, said she also opposes breed-specific legislation. Ford said city laws regulating dog ownership should be directed at people who own the dogs and not at the dogs.
"I think a dangerous dog ordinance is sufficient," she said. "The main problem with pit bull dogs is they are hyperactive. They need to be trained."
Information from: Pine Bluff Commercial, http://www.pbcommercial.com
http://www.pbcommercial.com/articles/2006/05/08/ap-state-ar/d8hfrhao2.txt