Pit bull ordinance begins today

Council Bluffs, IA -- Thursday was dog license renewal deadline day and there were people lined up even out the door at the Council Bluffs Animal Shelter, a spokesman said.

Though dog owners have a grace period until Feb. 15 to get their annual dog license renewed, technically the licenses expire every Dec. 31, said Galen Barrett, chief animal control officer.

This year, however, Dec. 31 is being treated as a holiday since New Year's Day is on a Saturday.

Many of the people in line were getting licenses for a variety of dogs, but some were getting licenses for pit bulls, Barrett said.

The city's new pit bull ordinance, which requires licenses and other stipulations, took affect today.

There were about 240 people who had licensed their pit bulls this past year, Barrett said.

When asked if that same number would continue to license their pit bulls, Barrett simply said, "Not even close."

On Thursday afternoon, he estimated that maybe 75 people would have renewed their licenses by the deadline, though an exact count won't be made until early next week, Barrett said.

Public Health Director Donn Dierks agreed.

"We haven't had a lot of people license their pit bulls," he said.

So what happens then today?

"The dogs are going to have to leave town because no pit bulls will be licensed after Jan. 1," Barrett said.

Dierks said, "We've met with the animal control staff on how we'll handle the situation, but if people have pit bulls and haven't licensed them, we hope they will be nice and turn them into our department."

Among the new requirements in the ordinance is that all pit bulls must have an identifying microchip inserted in them.

On Jan. 22, pit bull owners will be allowed to bring their animals to the animal shelter to have that done, Barrett and Dierks said. The cost will be $20.

Another requirement is that the pit bulls must be spayed or neutered. People have until Feb. 15 to have that done, they said.

"We're trying to work with them (pit bull owners)," Dierks said.

 

I just don't see how that is constitutional, well eventually the civil liberties union should get involved and own some of the city. many people make these laws and don't even know what they are talking about.