There was a AITF meeting this past Monday that finalized all of the recommendations being sent to the City Council. As I understand it, the research and findings from the Task Force will be presented to a committee the second week in September. There will be a few of the City Council members there along with other key city officials. The AITF will do a short presentation that will sum up all of the work they have done and what they believe will be the best approach for our city to overcome pet overpopulation, a need for a new shelter, the safety of citizens, and other animal related issues. There will be a chance for questions, from the Committee, directed toward the citizens and professionals on the Task Force.
Yes, the pit bull ordinance will probably be discussed.
Has everyone read what the Task Force is proposing?
For those of you who still haven't read it, here is the new non-breed specific legislation being proposed by the AITF...
Potentially Dangerous Dog:
a) Any dog which, when unprovoked on two separate occasions within
the prior 36-month period, engages in any behavior that requires a
defensive action by any person to prevent bodily injury to a human
when the person and the dog are off the property of the owner or
keeper of the dog.
b) Any dog which, when unprovoked, bites a person causing a less
severe injury than as defined under the dangerous dog provisions
below.
c) Any dog which, when unprovoked, on two separate occasions
within the prior 36-month period, has killed, seriously bitten,
inflicted injury, or otherwise caused injury attacking a domestic
animal off the property of the owner or keeper of the dog.
Owners of potentially dangerous dogs will be subject to the
following provisions.
o Never allow the dog to be off their property unless
on a 6 ft leash, under the control of a person over
18 years of age.
o Spay or neuter the dog within 30-days of the
declaration.3
o Micro-chip the dog within 30-days of the
declaration
o Obtain a potentially dangerous dog license (price to
be determined). The license must be on the dog at
all times and will be color differentiated from
regular license tags.
In addition, these provisions may be added depending on
the situation:
o Muzzle the dog whenever outside the home or
securely fenced yard.
o Attend a responsible pet owner class approved by
Animal Control staff within 90-days of the
declaration.
o Attend, with dog, a dog behavior class approved by
Animal Control staff within 90-days of the
declaration.
o Carry $100,000 liability insurance.
o Owners who are convicted of one or more
violations of the ordinance on three separate
occasions in a 24 month period, or who fail to
follow the requirements of owning a Potentially
Dangerous Dog/Vicious Dog can be declared a
reckless owner.
After 12 months of appropriate behavior, the PDD
declaration drops off.
Dangerous Dog:
a) Any dog which, when unprovoked, in an aggressive manner, inflicts
severe injury on or kills a human being.
b) Any dog previously determined to be and currently listed as a
potentially dangerous dog which, after its owner or keeper has been
notified of this determination, continues the behavior described in
the potentially dangerous dog definition or is maintained in
violation of not following the provisions for maintaining a
potentially dangerous dog.4
Owners of dogs deemed to be vicious will be subject to the
following provisions. Such provisions are a requirement for
the life of the animal:
o Never allow the dog to be off their property unless
on a 6 ft leash, under the control of a person over
18 years of age.
o Spay or neuter the dog within 30-days of the
declaration.
o Micro-chip the dog within 30-days of the
declaration
o Obtain a vicious dog license (price to be
determined). The license must be on the dog at all
times and will be color differentiated from regular
license tags.
In addition, these provisions may be added depending on
the situation:
o Muzzle the dog whenever outside the home or
securely fenced yard
o Attend a responsible pet owner class approved by
Animal Control staff within 90-days of the
declaration.
o Attend ,with dog, a dog behavior class approved by
Animal Control staff within 90-days of the
declaration.
o Carry $100,000 liability insurance.
o Owners who are convicted of one or more
violations of the ordinance on three separate
occasions in a 24 month period, or who fails to
follow the requirements of owning a PDD/vicious
dog can be declared a reckless owner.
o Once a dog is declared vicious, they retain that
classification for life.
o Any dog declared vicious by the hearing examiner
may be ordered humanely euthanized upon the
expiration of the appeal period.
Reckless Owner:
a) Reckless owner designation is applied to repeat offenders of animal
control ordinances such as a dog repeatedly running at large, not
adhering to the requirement of maintaining a dangerous dog, or not
providing adequate food/water/shelter for an animal.
b) Owners deemed to be “reckless” could forfeit their privilege to have
a pet for up to 4 years. 5
c) This designation would be applied to repeat offenders.
d) The designation is applied to the address where the owner resides
to prevent transfer of animals to family members.
Stop!!! Please Read This!!!
This is what is being proposed to help the city transition from breed specific legislation to the new non-breed specific legislation...
"As a transition to expanding the Potentially Dangerous
Dog/Vicious Dog legislation to all breeds, the task force
recommends placing all dogs currently registered in BSL to
follow the requirements of PDD on the effective date of this
ordinance. Those dogs who comply with the requirements
of PDD and have no violations with animal control will have
the PDD requirements drop off after one year"
I would really like to hear your thoughts on any of this. It will help me better understand how the public really feels about transitioning to the new legislation. Remember all questions will be answered to the best of my knowledge as a citizen, parent, professional, and Pit Bull owner.
***If you would like to read all of the proposals in full they are on the left column of this page.
