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First reading of pit bull ordinance completed, KY

Discussion in 'Laws & Legislation' started by Judy, Apr 21, 2006.

  1. Judy

    Judy CH Dog

    First reading of pit bull ordinance completed

    By Natasha Douglas/Staff Writer


    A standing room only crowd — most opposed to an ordinance banning pit bulls from the city — attended the Middlesboro City Council meeting Tuesday night. Still, the council approved the first reading of the measure, which will be come law if it passes a second reading on May 2. (Photo by: NATASHA DOUGLAS/Middlesboro Daily News)
    MIDDLESBORO - It was standing room only Tuesday in the Middlesboro City Council chambers as many pit bull owners turned out to voice their opinions over a proposed ordinance that could ban the breed of dog from the city completely.

    The council passed the first reading of the ordinance but no formal action can be taken until the second reading. Tuesday's meeting mostly served as a public forum for the council to hear comments from local citizens. A majority of those in attendance were pit bull owners who lived inside the city and were outraged over the possibility tha they would be forced to give up their dogs.

    Many owners said the city was being unfair in targeting the specific breed. Some council members say it's a safety issue due to complaints and worries they have received from residents about the dogs.

    However, most pit bull owners told council members Tuesday that it's not the dog, but the irresponsible dog owners who are causing the problems and are giving the breed a bad image.

    “Most of this is discrimination over the people here, the low class people who love their dogs,” said Debbie Berry, a local resident.

    Berry said she not only owns a pit bull but also has her own dog grooming business. She said she's never been bitten by a pit bull but has been bitten by other dogs such as chihuahuas, shih-tzus, and poodles.

    “My dog is one of the best breeds I've ever dealt with. He's the most lovable dog there are - if you're gonna ban one, you ban every breed.”

    Robert Wright has been involved with dogs most of his life and is a 13-year dedicated owner of the pit bull. He not only voiced his views to the council but provided members with in-depth information packets.

    The packets even included a list of laws that the American Kennel Club (AKC) mailed to Wright that are non-breed specific and are used nationwide throughout various cities and states for dealing with dog problems.

    Wright added that the laws passed in other states that are non-breed specific have been proven to work because they don't target specific breeds but instead, target irresponsible owners.

    “The reason I say irresponsible owners is because the vast majority of people who own pit bulls are very responsible owners and we should not get punished, whatsoever, for owning our dog, and being a responsible dog owner,” said Wright. “We shouldn't have to suffer.”

    Wright explained that he has no problems with placing laws on all dogs, as long as it was on all breeds.

    “We need to target the irresponsible owners because it's no problem for any irresponsible owner to go out and get any type of dog, train it to be mean, train it to be vicious, train it to fight - it's no problem. If we ban one specific breed of dog, the cycle will just keep repeating.”

    Wright told the council that it was a proven fact that a community will spend more money to enforce breed specific laws. He said law enforcement would have to gain knowledge of knowing what a pit bull type dog is due to the fact that there are 25 different breeds similar to the pit bull.

    He said the dogs, once removed from owners, would have to be sheltered, fed, and have vet care - all at the expense of the community.

    “I personally don't like the way the ordinance is worded and I don't like specific breed legislation but, something has to be done,” said city council member Evelyn Farmer. “We have a leash law, it's not enforced. There are breeds - including pit bulls - that can get away from a responsible owner.”

    Anthony Jackson has owned pit bulls for 10 years and said he keeps all his in steel kennels and keeps them on chains while inside the kennels. He said he does it to protect the dogs from people, not people from the dogs.

    “Where I'm from, a dog ate up a lady and the first thing they said was it was a pit bull. Come to find out, it was their own house pet that did it. Didn't even have pit bull in him,” said Jackson. “That's what's going on in America right now, all around the world, people are just scared of something they don't understand and they say ‘lets get rid of it completely.'”

    Middlesboro resident Brenda Taylor said she is not in favor of banning any breed of dog, however, she did say a large amount of canines have taken over the city. She said how dogs are housed and taken about in the city needs to be addressed.

    “You call the dog pound and they will tell you if you can get them in your yard and keep them, they'll come and get them,” said Taylor. “The police say they have no alternative when they come but to shoot them.”

    Wright said any dog is capable of attacking or bitting. He said in October 2000, the L.A. Times reported that a six-week-old baby was mauled to death by a Pomeranian.

    “When it comes to banning the dogs from the parks, I personally have no problem with that,” he said. “The reason I say this is because that's a public place, there's a lot of kids around there and I'm not just saying this about pit bulls. I'm saying any dog.”

    Other residents suggested that the council look at what laws the city currently has on dogs and start by forcing the police department to enforce the laws already on the books.

    “We are not your enemies and we don't want to have to do this but you all have got to know that irresponsible owners have brought this,” said Councilman Randy Ball. “It's more, and more, and more complaints.”

    Councilman Everett Gulley suggested Wright get together with a group of responsible owners and come up with some ideas for ordinances and laws that the council could consider, without taking the measures of outlawing the dogs from the city all together.

    “Myself, I used to own a pit bull, had him for eleven years - we are not after that (taking the dogs). We want to work out a solution,” said Gulley.

    The city council will meet again May 2.

    Natasha Douglas is a staff writer for the Daily News. She can be reached via email at ndouglas@middlesborodailynews.com

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