chinasmom
05-23-2007, 12:50 AM
Dangerous-dog plan approved in Belton
New measure, which doesn’t single out pit bulls, is not as strict as those adopted by other cities in the area.
By DONALD BRADLEY
The Kansas City Star
Belton passed a new dangerous-dog ordinance Tuesday and, unlike other cities around the area, it makes no mention of pit bulls.
The ordinance, which the Board of Aldermen approved unanimously, gives animal-control officers the authority to designate as dangerous any dog that has inflicted a severe or fatal injury to a person or kills another domestic dog or cat without provocation.
Owners of such dogs have 30 days to register the animals with animal control.
The owner then must maintain liability insurance of at least $300,000 for bodily injury, death or damage to property. The owner has 10 days to report any change in the policy.
City Administrator Ron Trivitt said the ordinance did not allow a pre-emptive designation in which a dog could be deemed dangerous based on appearance alone.
The new rules also prohibit any dog deemed dangerous from being kept on a leash unattended. The dogs may not be leashed to trees or other inanimate objects. Owners also must provide animal-control officials with two photographs that show the color and size of a dangerous dog.
Discussion of a new ordinance in Belton came as other cities last year passed stricter rules about dogs in light of several pit bull attacks, including one in which a Kansas City, Kan., woman was killed.
In another in Independence, three dogs attacked three men, nearly killing one.
Those attacks led Independence and Overland Park to ban the breed.
Several other cities have modified ordinances recently.
http://www.kansasci ty.com/149/ story/85571. html (http://www.kansascity.com/149/story/85571.html)
New measure, which doesn’t single out pit bulls, is not as strict as those adopted by other cities in the area.
By DONALD BRADLEY
The Kansas City Star
Belton passed a new dangerous-dog ordinance Tuesday and, unlike other cities around the area, it makes no mention of pit bulls.
The ordinance, which the Board of Aldermen approved unanimously, gives animal-control officers the authority to designate as dangerous any dog that has inflicted a severe or fatal injury to a person or kills another domestic dog or cat without provocation.
Owners of such dogs have 30 days to register the animals with animal control.
The owner then must maintain liability insurance of at least $300,000 for bodily injury, death or damage to property. The owner has 10 days to report any change in the policy.
City Administrator Ron Trivitt said the ordinance did not allow a pre-emptive designation in which a dog could be deemed dangerous based on appearance alone.
The new rules also prohibit any dog deemed dangerous from being kept on a leash unattended. The dogs may not be leashed to trees or other inanimate objects. Owners also must provide animal-control officials with two photographs that show the color and size of a dangerous dog.
Discussion of a new ordinance in Belton came as other cities last year passed stricter rules about dogs in light of several pit bull attacks, including one in which a Kansas City, Kan., woman was killed.
In another in Independence, three dogs attacked three men, nearly killing one.
Those attacks led Independence and Overland Park to ban the breed.
Several other cities have modified ordinances recently.
http://www.kansasci ty.com/149/ story/85571. html (http://www.kansascity.com/149/story/85571.html)