Marty
08-17-2005, 06:42 PM
Kalamazoo, MI -- Battle Creek officials have backed away from plans to strictly regulate the city's pit bull population - at least for now.
An ordinance change was to be introduced at Tuesday night's City Commission meeting. It would require that, when in public, pit bulls be muzzled, kept on a 3-foot leash and restrained by an adult.
After lengthy public comment, commissioners voted to shelve those proposed changes. The City will reconsider how to deal with the ongoing problem of vicious dogs.
At Monday's public hearing, Tanya Raab of the United Kennel Club encouraged Battle Creek to strictly enforce existing leash laws, and to continue to root out the practice of dog fighting. "It's the people that need to be taken care of, and not the dogs," she said.
Battle Creek officials began studying the issue in June at the request of the police department. In a memo, Assistant City Attorney Barbara Hobson told commissioners that pit bulls and pit bull mixes have become the "weapon of choice for many youthful offenders.
In the month of June, five pit bulls were shot after charging at Battle Creek police or animal control officers.
In that same month, the city's Animal Control picked up 105 stray dogs, 44 of which were pit bulls or mixes.
Meantime, a West Michigan animal advocate is leading efforts to change Michigan's dangerous dog laws.
Steve Lawrence, Director of Kalamazoo County Animal Services, says existing state laws give animal control officers little power to intervene - until a person is badly mauled.
Lawrence is proposing a new classification called "potentially dangerous dogs." Aggressive dogs and their owners could be put on notice. Animal control could require owners to fence their yard, muzzle their dogs, or even mandate obedience training for problem animals. "You put the responsibility back on the owner," he said.
Lawrence is working with officials in surrounding counties and plans to deliver a proposal to state lawmakers in coming months.
An ordinance change was to be introduced at Tuesday night's City Commission meeting. It would require that, when in public, pit bulls be muzzled, kept on a 3-foot leash and restrained by an adult.
After lengthy public comment, commissioners voted to shelve those proposed changes. The City will reconsider how to deal with the ongoing problem of vicious dogs.
At Monday's public hearing, Tanya Raab of the United Kennel Club encouraged Battle Creek to strictly enforce existing leash laws, and to continue to root out the practice of dog fighting. "It's the people that need to be taken care of, and not the dogs," she said.
Battle Creek officials began studying the issue in June at the request of the police department. In a memo, Assistant City Attorney Barbara Hobson told commissioners that pit bulls and pit bull mixes have become the "weapon of choice for many youthful offenders.
In the month of June, five pit bulls were shot after charging at Battle Creek police or animal control officers.
In that same month, the city's Animal Control picked up 105 stray dogs, 44 of which were pit bulls or mixes.
Meantime, a West Michigan animal advocate is leading efforts to change Michigan's dangerous dog laws.
Steve Lawrence, Director of Kalamazoo County Animal Services, says existing state laws give animal control officers little power to intervene - until a person is badly mauled.
Lawrence is proposing a new classification called "potentially dangerous dogs." Aggressive dogs and their owners could be put on notice. Animal control could require owners to fence their yard, muzzle their dogs, or even mandate obedience training for problem animals. "You put the responsibility back on the owner," he said.
Lawrence is working with officials in surrounding counties and plans to deliver a proposal to state lawmakers in coming months.