Marty
07-20-2005, 11:24 PM
Glenview, IL -- Valerie Rivera loves Shorty, the family dog for 12 years, but because of his breed she may have to part with him due to a new village ordinance.
And she's not happy about it.
The Stone Park Village Board recently passed an ordinance banning pit bulls. The main issue is safety, according to village officials.
Mayor Beniamino Mazzulla said Stone Park is the first town to pass such an ordinance, adding that he feels most pit bulls are bred to fight and are prone to biting.
Rivera begs to differ. Her dog plays with her three children
"We've had no problem with him," she said. "He's very smart. He opens the door to my room; sleeps on pillows."
Besides owning the pitt bull, Rivera works at a local animal hospital and believes a dog's temperament is based on how the dog is raised.
"Any dog can be vicious," she said. "I work at an animal hospital and mostly the little dogs try to bite me. I really don't think it's fair (to ban pit bulls only)."
The ban, which went into effect last week, has a three-month grace period for residents who already own pit bulls.
If a resident has a problem finding a home for his or her pit bull, an extension is possible. However, individuals who still have a pitt bull after the grace period will be fined.
Rivera said she will not comply with Stone Park's new ordinance because she and her family consider Shorty part of the family.
Jenny Brown, senior program specialist and spokesperson for Central States Regional Office of the Humane Society of the United States, said their organization doesn't support breed-specific legislation like Stone Park's.
"It does not address the issue of aggressive and dangerous dogs," she said. "We feel that is a behavior exhibited by the dog and not to do with the breed."
Brown said many communities have considered breed-specific legislation, but she feels laws should target the owner, not the animal.
"You can have any breed of dog act aggressively," she said. "We feel the owner should be held responsible. I would say it is unfair to characterize a dog as vicious just by the breed alone."
Brown speaks from personal experience.
"I personally had a pitt bull for 15 years and she was the most wonderful dog that I had ever had," she said.
Mayor Mazzulla said there haven't been many people who oppose the legislation, but admits that some pitt bulls can be nice pets.
"Some of them are nice house dogs and for those we make exceptions," Mazzulla said. "I'm talking about some of these gangbangers who raise them to fight and attack people. I (would) hate to see someone get seriously injured or killed."
David Pollard can be reached at dpollard@pioneerlocal.com or (708) 524-4423.
And she's not happy about it.
The Stone Park Village Board recently passed an ordinance banning pit bulls. The main issue is safety, according to village officials.
Mayor Beniamino Mazzulla said Stone Park is the first town to pass such an ordinance, adding that he feels most pit bulls are bred to fight and are prone to biting.
Rivera begs to differ. Her dog plays with her three children
"We've had no problem with him," she said. "He's very smart. He opens the door to my room; sleeps on pillows."
Besides owning the pitt bull, Rivera works at a local animal hospital and believes a dog's temperament is based on how the dog is raised.
"Any dog can be vicious," she said. "I work at an animal hospital and mostly the little dogs try to bite me. I really don't think it's fair (to ban pit bulls only)."
The ban, which went into effect last week, has a three-month grace period for residents who already own pit bulls.
If a resident has a problem finding a home for his or her pit bull, an extension is possible. However, individuals who still have a pitt bull after the grace period will be fined.
Rivera said she will not comply with Stone Park's new ordinance because she and her family consider Shorty part of the family.
Jenny Brown, senior program specialist and spokesperson for Central States Regional Office of the Humane Society of the United States, said their organization doesn't support breed-specific legislation like Stone Park's.
"It does not address the issue of aggressive and dangerous dogs," she said. "We feel that is a behavior exhibited by the dog and not to do with the breed."
Brown said many communities have considered breed-specific legislation, but she feels laws should target the owner, not the animal.
"You can have any breed of dog act aggressively," she said. "We feel the owner should be held responsible. I would say it is unfair to characterize a dog as vicious just by the breed alone."
Brown speaks from personal experience.
"I personally had a pitt bull for 15 years and she was the most wonderful dog that I had ever had," she said.
Mayor Mazzulla said there haven't been many people who oppose the legislation, but admits that some pitt bulls can be nice pets.
"Some of them are nice house dogs and for those we make exceptions," Mazzulla said. "I'm talking about some of these gangbangers who raise them to fight and attack people. I (would) hate to see someone get seriously injured or killed."
David Pollard can be reached at dpollard@pioneerlocal.com or (708) 524-4423.