Shon
05-25-2004, 10:30 AM
COUNCIL BLUFFS - The numbers are running against the 144 licensed pit bulls in Council Bluffs.
Within the last month, pit bulls or mixed-breed pit bulls have been involved in six biting incidents in the city. Several people were injured in attacks by the controversial breed, including two children, and two other dogs were killed.
Those incidents brought to 11 so far this year the number of bites involving pit bulls, some 27 percent of the total incidents for 2004.
Donn Dierks, the city public health director, offered the City Council two possible alternatives Monday to regulate the breed and asked for direction from the body. The Council Bluffs Board of Health recently recommended banning pit bulls within city limits.
One plan would follow the health board's recommendation and ban pit bulls and pit bull mixes, he said. The dogs would be identified by characteristics drawn from standards established by kennel clubs.
Under a ban, owners of currently licensed pit bulls would be able to keep the animals until they either failed to comply with city requirements or the animals died.
All existing licensed pit bulls would be declared dangerous. Dog owners would be required to take a series of steps such as keeping pit bulls that live outdoors in full enclosed kennels, carrying $100,000 in liability insurance and requiring the leashed dogs to wear a muzzle when out in public.
The city also could choose not to ban the dogs outright, but set special requirements, which would include the enclosed kennel, liability insurance, muzzle and other requirements. If an owner failed to comply with the regulations, the pit bull could be impounded and euthanized.
Councilman Chad Primmer said the number of bites by pit bulls appears to provide the rationale for pit bull regulation.
"It's alarming to me what these numbers say," he said.
Councilman Matt Walsh noted that implementing the rules would take more enforcement at a time when the city has tight finances.
Dierks said he has to err on the side of safety. He said he would be interested in working with responsible dog owners to create a good ordinance. He said he would like to hold a public meeting to gather such input. No proposed rule yet has been drafted.
But those opposed to banning specific breeds of dogs questioned where such bans would end. The city already has banned wolf-dog hybrids.
Larry Kofoed, a local dog breeder who raises chows, said he opposes a ban. Nationally, he said, popular dogs such as golden retrievers, Labradors, cocker spaniels and boxers are the top biters. "Why not ban those four, too?" he said.
In addition, he said, pit bulls and pit bull mixes can't easily be identified.
He said he would have to review any restrictions the city might place on the breed. "The enforcement of them becomes cumbersome," he said.
Within the last month, pit bulls or mixed-breed pit bulls have been involved in six biting incidents in the city. Several people were injured in attacks by the controversial breed, including two children, and two other dogs were killed.
Those incidents brought to 11 so far this year the number of bites involving pit bulls, some 27 percent of the total incidents for 2004.
Donn Dierks, the city public health director, offered the City Council two possible alternatives Monday to regulate the breed and asked for direction from the body. The Council Bluffs Board of Health recently recommended banning pit bulls within city limits.
One plan would follow the health board's recommendation and ban pit bulls and pit bull mixes, he said. The dogs would be identified by characteristics drawn from standards established by kennel clubs.
Under a ban, owners of currently licensed pit bulls would be able to keep the animals until they either failed to comply with city requirements or the animals died.
All existing licensed pit bulls would be declared dangerous. Dog owners would be required to take a series of steps such as keeping pit bulls that live outdoors in full enclosed kennels, carrying $100,000 in liability insurance and requiring the leashed dogs to wear a muzzle when out in public.
The city also could choose not to ban the dogs outright, but set special requirements, which would include the enclosed kennel, liability insurance, muzzle and other requirements. If an owner failed to comply with the regulations, the pit bull could be impounded and euthanized.
Councilman Chad Primmer said the number of bites by pit bulls appears to provide the rationale for pit bull regulation.
"It's alarming to me what these numbers say," he said.
Councilman Matt Walsh noted that implementing the rules would take more enforcement at a time when the city has tight finances.
Dierks said he has to err on the side of safety. He said he would be interested in working with responsible dog owners to create a good ordinance. He said he would like to hold a public meeting to gather such input. No proposed rule yet has been drafted.
But those opposed to banning specific breeds of dogs questioned where such bans would end. The city already has banned wolf-dog hybrids.
Larry Kofoed, a local dog breeder who raises chows, said he opposes a ban. Nationally, he said, popular dogs such as golden retrievers, Labradors, cocker spaniels and boxers are the top biters. "Why not ban those four, too?" he said.
In addition, he said, pit bulls and pit bull mixes can't easily be identified.
He said he would have to review any restrictions the city might place on the breed. "The enforcement of them becomes cumbersome," he said.