Shon
10-08-2004, 12:00 PM
How would a Council Bluffs ordinance banning pit bulls affect Pottawattamie County in the long run?
This is the question some county officials are having to examine more closely as the Council Bluffs City Council meeting to decide the fate of the breed draws nearer.
"I have no criticism of how the city will decide to handle the issue," Pottawattamie County Supervisor Loren Knauss said. "But if that ordinance does go into effect, we'll have to respond to any problems that come up if and when the animals are dumped out in the county because the owner doesn't want to dispose of them."
The Council Bluffs City Council is expected to re-introduce the ordinance at its regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 11. The first reading is set for the Oct. 25 meeting.
As drafted, the proposed ordinance states that "It shall be unlawful for any person to own, possess, keep, exercise control over, maintain, harbor, transport or sell within the city of Council Bluffs any pit bull."
The ordinance defines pit bull as any dog that is an American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier or any dog displaying the majority of physical traits of any one or more of the above breeds more so than any other breed or any dog exhibiting those distinguishing characteristics which substantially conform to the standards established by the American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club for any of the above breeds.
Current pit bull owners would be allowed to keep their dogs as long as they meet certain requirements listed in the ordinance, according to Council Bluffs Chief Animal Control Officer Galen Barrett.
The ordinance died once in August after a tie 2-2 council vote. At that meeting, City Council members Dave Tobias and Lynne Branigan voted for the ban, while Scott Belt and Matt Walsh opposed it. Councilman Chad Primmer was not at the meeting but has said that he will vote for the ban at the upcoming hearing.
After a second reading, the council could vote to waive the third reading and pass it into law at that time. Or, the council could extend the ordinance to a fourth reading if members felt it was necessary.
Mayor Tom Hanafan could veto the ordinance.
Supervisor Delbert King said he preferred the term "vicious dog" to that of "pit bull" because he felt any dog can attack.
King added that with growing development in the county, he is concerned that vicious dog owners would take advantage of the fact that there is no pit bull ordinance in place outside of the Council Bluffs city limits.
"It's more of an issue of attacks on people," he said. "People and kids getting bit. If (the Council Bluffs City Council) passes the vicious dog ordinance, then the county will have to look at what will happen."
Pottawattamie County Chief Animal Control Officer Stacey Robertson said his concern is that any dogs dumped out in county will be confused by unfamiliar surroundings and may not know how to react.
Knauss said containment is a significant part of the issue for the county. The current county animal shelter is frequently at or near capacity, and an influx of vicious dogs may be more than the staff could handle.
"Right now, our animal control officers have been instructed not to take any undo risks when it comes to these animals," Knauss said. "And I've not seen an increase in cases at this point. We've had a few, but they weren't significant problems. We'll just have to keep tabs on the outlying areas of the county."
Robertson said the shelter can hold large dogs without too much of a problem.
Up to this point, county animal control officers and Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Office deputies have had to respond to incidents involving vicious dogs.
"Between those two agencies, we'll be able to solve problems temporarily, unless we see a significant increase," Knauss said.
"But it's a problem we shouldn't have to deal with. Irresponsible owners are part of the reason this has become an issue, and if there becomes a need, we'll have to look at ways to curb that kind of behavior."
Robertson warned that people who dump their dogs in the county under the assumption that they will find a good home are mistaken.
"Farmers have been dealing with this problem for years," he said. "And they've been dealing with it their own way, and they will continue to deal with it in their own way. They have every right to do that, too, if a dog comes onto their property. They shouldn't have to wait for animal control or a deputy to get to them when they have a dog attacking their livestock."
But will the supervisors have to consider a ban if a problem arises?
"From my point of view, I'm not going to eliminate any options," Knauss said.
King said he has yet to decide.
"I can see both sides of the issue," he said. "We'll have to see what happens."
Robertson said he feels such action would not be enforceable.
"My gut feeling says it wouldn't work," he said. "With the size of the county and what resources we have, I don't know how we could enforce a ban on anything."
This is the question some county officials are having to examine more closely as the Council Bluffs City Council meeting to decide the fate of the breed draws nearer.
"I have no criticism of how the city will decide to handle the issue," Pottawattamie County Supervisor Loren Knauss said. "But if that ordinance does go into effect, we'll have to respond to any problems that come up if and when the animals are dumped out in the county because the owner doesn't want to dispose of them."
The Council Bluffs City Council is expected to re-introduce the ordinance at its regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 11. The first reading is set for the Oct. 25 meeting.
As drafted, the proposed ordinance states that "It shall be unlawful for any person to own, possess, keep, exercise control over, maintain, harbor, transport or sell within the city of Council Bluffs any pit bull."
The ordinance defines pit bull as any dog that is an American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier or any dog displaying the majority of physical traits of any one or more of the above breeds more so than any other breed or any dog exhibiting those distinguishing characteristics which substantially conform to the standards established by the American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club for any of the above breeds.
Current pit bull owners would be allowed to keep their dogs as long as they meet certain requirements listed in the ordinance, according to Council Bluffs Chief Animal Control Officer Galen Barrett.
The ordinance died once in August after a tie 2-2 council vote. At that meeting, City Council members Dave Tobias and Lynne Branigan voted for the ban, while Scott Belt and Matt Walsh opposed it. Councilman Chad Primmer was not at the meeting but has said that he will vote for the ban at the upcoming hearing.
After a second reading, the council could vote to waive the third reading and pass it into law at that time. Or, the council could extend the ordinance to a fourth reading if members felt it was necessary.
Mayor Tom Hanafan could veto the ordinance.
Supervisor Delbert King said he preferred the term "vicious dog" to that of "pit bull" because he felt any dog can attack.
King added that with growing development in the county, he is concerned that vicious dog owners would take advantage of the fact that there is no pit bull ordinance in place outside of the Council Bluffs city limits.
"It's more of an issue of attacks on people," he said. "People and kids getting bit. If (the Council Bluffs City Council) passes the vicious dog ordinance, then the county will have to look at what will happen."
Pottawattamie County Chief Animal Control Officer Stacey Robertson said his concern is that any dogs dumped out in county will be confused by unfamiliar surroundings and may not know how to react.
Knauss said containment is a significant part of the issue for the county. The current county animal shelter is frequently at or near capacity, and an influx of vicious dogs may be more than the staff could handle.
"Right now, our animal control officers have been instructed not to take any undo risks when it comes to these animals," Knauss said. "And I've not seen an increase in cases at this point. We've had a few, but they weren't significant problems. We'll just have to keep tabs on the outlying areas of the county."
Robertson said the shelter can hold large dogs without too much of a problem.
Up to this point, county animal control officers and Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Office deputies have had to respond to incidents involving vicious dogs.
"Between those two agencies, we'll be able to solve problems temporarily, unless we see a significant increase," Knauss said.
"But it's a problem we shouldn't have to deal with. Irresponsible owners are part of the reason this has become an issue, and if there becomes a need, we'll have to look at ways to curb that kind of behavior."
Robertson warned that people who dump their dogs in the county under the assumption that they will find a good home are mistaken.
"Farmers have been dealing with this problem for years," he said. "And they've been dealing with it their own way, and they will continue to deal with it in their own way. They have every right to do that, too, if a dog comes onto their property. They shouldn't have to wait for animal control or a deputy to get to them when they have a dog attacking their livestock."
But will the supervisors have to consider a ban if a problem arises?
"From my point of view, I'm not going to eliminate any options," Knauss said.
King said he has yet to decide.
"I can see both sides of the issue," he said. "We'll have to see what happens."
Robertson said he feels such action would not be enforceable.
"My gut feeling says it wouldn't work," he said. "With the size of the county and what resources we have, I don't know how we could enforce a ban on anything."