Marty
08-05-2005, 06:42 AM
Port Arthur, TX -- Pit bull dogs in Port Neches have been given a reprieve from banishment.
Before a crowded chamber room, Port Neches City Council decided to table an issue that would have banned the dogs from the city.
City Attorney Harry Wright informed council and the audience that the state of Texas has a law against breed-specific legislation, so an ordinance targeting pit bulls would not be possible.
People from both sides of the issue attended the meeting Thursday and many were eager to explain why or why not pit bulls should be banned.
"They have no right to take our dogs," Mike Taylor said. Taylor has two pit bull dogs and said he has never had any problems with them being aggressive or dangerous. "I have pictures of me in diapers with these dogs. It's all in how you raise them."
Jason Moore said his dog should not be punished for the acts of other dogs.
"I have no problems with my dogs," Moore said. "I live in a neighborhood full of children."
Betty Sheffield believes there should be stricter laws regarding dangerous dogs. She feels people who own such dogs should have a high fence and abide by the same requirements of swimming pool owners.
"If you see your granddaughter bit by a dog and have to go to the hospital, you'd feel the same," Sheffield said.
Sheffield's granddaughter was bit on the leg by a dog last year, but the dog was not a pit bull.
At the beginning of the summer, Rhonda Pagan's neighbor's dog was mauled and killed by a pit bull dog.
"The neighbor's dog got out and a pit bull dog mauled it, attacked his throat," Pagan said.
Pagan wishes for stricter laws dealing with vicious dogs.
Heidi Burton stood just outside council chambers, adamant in her stance in favor of keeping pit bulls in the city. She held out a folder filled with photos of pit bull dogs that she said are not dangerous but safe. She points to a photo of a child holding on to the end of a pit bull dogs tail and of champion dogs standing proud at competitions.
When some of the opponents asked why she, a Beaumont resident, was concerned with the happenings of Port Neches, she was quick to answer.
"Because what happens in Port Neches can happen in Beaumont," Burton, the owner of show dogs, said.
Before a crowded chamber room, Port Neches City Council decided to table an issue that would have banned the dogs from the city.
City Attorney Harry Wright informed council and the audience that the state of Texas has a law against breed-specific legislation, so an ordinance targeting pit bulls would not be possible.
People from both sides of the issue attended the meeting Thursday and many were eager to explain why or why not pit bulls should be banned.
"They have no right to take our dogs," Mike Taylor said. Taylor has two pit bull dogs and said he has never had any problems with them being aggressive or dangerous. "I have pictures of me in diapers with these dogs. It's all in how you raise them."
Jason Moore said his dog should not be punished for the acts of other dogs.
"I have no problems with my dogs," Moore said. "I live in a neighborhood full of children."
Betty Sheffield believes there should be stricter laws regarding dangerous dogs. She feels people who own such dogs should have a high fence and abide by the same requirements of swimming pool owners.
"If you see your granddaughter bit by a dog and have to go to the hospital, you'd feel the same," Sheffield said.
Sheffield's granddaughter was bit on the leg by a dog last year, but the dog was not a pit bull.
At the beginning of the summer, Rhonda Pagan's neighbor's dog was mauled and killed by a pit bull dog.
"The neighbor's dog got out and a pit bull dog mauled it, attacked his throat," Pagan said.
Pagan wishes for stricter laws dealing with vicious dogs.
Heidi Burton stood just outside council chambers, adamant in her stance in favor of keeping pit bulls in the city. She held out a folder filled with photos of pit bull dogs that she said are not dangerous but safe. She points to a photo of a child holding on to the end of a pit bull dogs tail and of champion dogs standing proud at competitions.
When some of the opponents asked why she, a Beaumont resident, was concerned with the happenings of Port Neches, she was quick to answer.
"Because what happens in Port Neches can happen in Beaumont," Burton, the owner of show dogs, said.