Marty
06-14-2006, 10:24 PM
Glenview,IL --
The Northlake City Council may consider eliminating specific breeds of dogs from being listed as "dangerous" in the city code.
At its June 5 meeting, the city council asked Northlake's public safety committee to discuss the issue and make a recommendation at its meeting at 6 p.m. tonight at City Hall, 55 E. North Ave.
Taking another look at the current ordinance was suggested after Northlake resident Nancy Kohlmann expressed disappointment to the city council about having her request denied for a permit to use the city's new experimental dog park at Center Point Preserve.
Kohlmann's request was denied because her six-year-old dog, Melissa, is a Rottweiler/Doberman mix.
Permits for use of the dog park are not to be granted to people with "dangerous dogs," and Melissa was automatically deemed dangerous because she is part Rottweiler.
Breeds
About three years ago, the city council adopted an amendment to an existing ordinance that established certain requirements for dogs and cats in Northlake. That amendment added the following to the definition of a dangerous dog: "Any American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or American Staffordshire Terrier breed, or any breed of dog containing one of the aforementioned breeds; any Rottweiler or any mixed breed of dog containing the breed of Rottweiler."
Prior to that amendment, the ordinance mentioned no specific breeds, referring only to specific behavior shown by a dog.
The council in May 2001 created an ordinance with requirements for special registration of any individual dog meeting the following definition for a dangerous dog:
"Any individual dog which when either unmuzzled, unleashed, or unattended by its owner or keeper: 1) approaches any person in a vicious or terrorizing manner with any apparent attitude of attack upon a street, sidewalk, or any public grounds or place, or 2) has been used primarily or in part for the purpose of dogfighting, or is a dog trained for dogfighting..."
All dogs in Northlake are required to be registered with the city. However, for dogs deemed as dangerous, there are additional requirements.
The ordinance created in 2001 requires an application for a license to possess a dangerous dog to be filed with the city clerk. Along with the application, owners of "dangerous dogs" also must provide two photographs of the dog and pay a $25 fee. The annual registration fee for dogs not deemed dangerous is $2.
Not aggressive
Kohlmann, who has lived in Northlake for about 11 years and has had Melissa since she was a puppy, said her dog has never displayed any aggressive behavior.
"Five of my neighbors wrote letters of character reference for Melissa," Kohlmann said. "She walked in the (2002 Northlake) pet parade and in the (2005 Chicago) Breast Cancer Walk."
At the time the amendment adding specific breeds to the ordinance was adopted, Mayor Jeff -. said it was done as a "preemptive measure."
"We want to keep tabs on those breeds and know where they are even if there hasn't been an incident," Sherwin said at the time.
"It's always possible that any breed of dog could attack someone, but we feel it's more likely with certain breeds."
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/localnews/current/nl/06-14-06-946706.html
The Northlake City Council may consider eliminating specific breeds of dogs from being listed as "dangerous" in the city code.
At its June 5 meeting, the city council asked Northlake's public safety committee to discuss the issue and make a recommendation at its meeting at 6 p.m. tonight at City Hall, 55 E. North Ave.
Taking another look at the current ordinance was suggested after Northlake resident Nancy Kohlmann expressed disappointment to the city council about having her request denied for a permit to use the city's new experimental dog park at Center Point Preserve.
Kohlmann's request was denied because her six-year-old dog, Melissa, is a Rottweiler/Doberman mix.
Permits for use of the dog park are not to be granted to people with "dangerous dogs," and Melissa was automatically deemed dangerous because she is part Rottweiler.
Breeds
About three years ago, the city council adopted an amendment to an existing ordinance that established certain requirements for dogs and cats in Northlake. That amendment added the following to the definition of a dangerous dog: "Any American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or American Staffordshire Terrier breed, or any breed of dog containing one of the aforementioned breeds; any Rottweiler or any mixed breed of dog containing the breed of Rottweiler."
Prior to that amendment, the ordinance mentioned no specific breeds, referring only to specific behavior shown by a dog.
The council in May 2001 created an ordinance with requirements for special registration of any individual dog meeting the following definition for a dangerous dog:
"Any individual dog which when either unmuzzled, unleashed, or unattended by its owner or keeper: 1) approaches any person in a vicious or terrorizing manner with any apparent attitude of attack upon a street, sidewalk, or any public grounds or place, or 2) has been used primarily or in part for the purpose of dogfighting, or is a dog trained for dogfighting..."
All dogs in Northlake are required to be registered with the city. However, for dogs deemed as dangerous, there are additional requirements.
The ordinance created in 2001 requires an application for a license to possess a dangerous dog to be filed with the city clerk. Along with the application, owners of "dangerous dogs" also must provide two photographs of the dog and pay a $25 fee. The annual registration fee for dogs not deemed dangerous is $2.
Not aggressive
Kohlmann, who has lived in Northlake for about 11 years and has had Melissa since she was a puppy, said her dog has never displayed any aggressive behavior.
"Five of my neighbors wrote letters of character reference for Melissa," Kohlmann said. "She walked in the (2002 Northlake) pet parade and in the (2005 Chicago) Breast Cancer Walk."
At the time the amendment adding specific breeds to the ordinance was adopted, Mayor Jeff -. said it was done as a "preemptive measure."
"We want to keep tabs on those breeds and know where they are even if there hasn't been an incident," Sherwin said at the time.
"It's always possible that any breed of dog could attack someone, but we feel it's more likely with certain breeds."
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/localnews/current/nl/06-14-06-946706.html