Group seeking repeal of pit bull ban

Dodge City, KS -- A dog owners' advocacy group is hoping to persuade the Dodge City Commission to reconsider its decision to ban pit bulls.

The Dodge City Canine Corporation is planning to ask the commission today to think about repealing the ban, which is scheduled to take effect Feb. 1.

"We're trying to get them to reconsider and do something that we feel is better for our community, like a vicious dog law act," the organization's vice president, Brenda Rose, said Monday. "We would be hitting up the irresponsible dog owners, the ones who are letting their dogs run. The first time would be a heavy fine, the second time would be a severe fine, and then the third time - depending on what everyone agreed on - it would be either doing something with the dog, either finding a different home for it, or possibly jail time or something like that."

She said the group also favors an anti-tethering ordinance, which would restrict how long dog owners can keep their dogs tethered in their yards. The measure would apply to all dogs, not just pit bulls.

Once the ban takes effect, pit bull owners will have to either register their dogs with the city within 30 days or get rid of them. Registered pit bulls will have a microchip implemented in their skin so the city's animal control division can identify them more easily if they are picked up for running loose.

Pit bull owners who fail to register their dogs with the city will have to get rid of them, and they cannot bring new ones into the city after the ordinance takes effect.

The city could confiscate and impound unregistered pit bulls, and their owners could face a fine of up to $2,500, up to a year in jail or both.

Commissioner Jim Sherer said in a phone interview Monday that he could not speak for the other commissioners, but he hoped they would not decide to revisit the ban.

"I think we all felt comfortable with the decision we made," he said. "I know there are some people that disagree with that, but at the same time, I still feel that we did the best for Dodge City."