Arkansas: No Restrictions On "Pit Bull Type" Dogs

Arkansas: No Restrictions On "Pit Bull Type" Dogs

Tuesday, September 5, 2006 9:34 AM CDT

Vicious Dog Proposal Won’t Specify Pit Bulls

By Jeff Arnold

Times Record • jarnold@swtimes.com

The Fort Smith Police Department doesn’t plan to propose a dangerous/vicious dog ordinance to the city board of directors that would include a specific ban or restriction on ownership of pit bull-type dogs.

Sgt. Greg Copeland, supervisor of the police department animal control division, said in his discussions with Interim Chief Jeff Barrows, they agreed from the outset they did not want to propose an ordinance that targeting a specific breed.

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Ward 2 Director Velvet Medlock spurred discussion of a dangerous/vicious dog ordinance when, at an Aug. 1 directors’ meeting, she asked if an ordinance could be drafted restricting ownership of pit bull-type dogs within the city.

However, Medlock said in a recent interview, she only used pit bulls as an example, but what she wants is a non-breed-specific ordinance to target dangerous animals.

Medlock said she used pit bulls as an example because she’s received four or five complaints about pit bulls from constituents in her ward.

The Police Department has been reviewing dangerous/vicious dog ordinances from nine cities around the state to assist in preparing an ordinance for review by the board of directors.

Some ordinances only target dangerous/vicious dogs — as defined by the ordinance — without regard to breed, while others ban pit bull-type dogs in addition to targeting dangerous/vicious dogs.

Copeland said the draft ordinance could closely resemble Siloam Springs’ ordinance.

If a dog is alleged to be dangerous or vicious, the city’s animal control officer makes a determination if the dog is dangerous or vicious under the statutory definition, under the Siloam Springs ordinance.

The dog owner would be given the opportunity to respond to the allegation.

If the animal control officer determines there is cause to believe the dog is dangerous or vicious, the owner then has the burden to establish the dog isn’t, according to the Siloam Springs ordinance.

If the owner can’t meet that burden, the Siloam Springs ordinance, among other things, requires confinement of the animal in a kennel when outside the home; a minimum amount of liability insurance that must be maintained; and establishes the minimum age of a person who may take the dog outside the kennel on a lease.

If a dog is found at large — after being determined to be dangerous or vicious — it is destroyed, according to the Siloam Springs ordinance.

Copeland said he likes the idea of the city having a well-defined ordinance that gives animal control officers more direction in handling dangerous or vicious dogs, although it is a small part of their work.

The majority of calls animal control officers respond to are categorized as nuisance calls that involve a dog at large, Copeland said.

Even when officers receive calls about a vicious or dangerous animal, Copeland said many times officers find the animal is not dangerous or vicious.

Copeland said sometimes callers assume the animal is vicious based on the breed or size.

At-Large Director Cole Goodman said he supports a dangerous or vicious dog ordinance, but wouldn’t necessarily oppose an additional ban on pit bulls.

Goodman said pit bull-type dogs aren’t bad dogs, but unfortunately people have done things to them that have created their bad reputation.

“Appropriately bred and raised pit bulls are good dogs,” Goodman said.

The Humane Society of the United States and Kate Myers, executive director of the Sebastian County Human Society, oppose breed-specific bans.

Myers said it is also a misnomer that there is a pit-bull breed. Instead, pit bull encompasses several breeds, including the American pit bull terrier, American bulldog, Staffordshire bull terrier and American Staffordshire terrier.

Myers said a breed specific ban only results in the death of a lot of good dogs.

In North Little Rock, where the city banned pit bull-type dogs in 2004, 321 pit bull-type dogs were euthanized, according to a July 31, 2006, article in the Insurance Journal.

At the board of directors’ Aug. 15 meeting, City Administrator Randy Reed said he hoped a draft ordinance would be prepared for the board’s consideration in the next 30 to 45 days.

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Re: Arkansas: No Restrictions On "Pit Bull Type" Dogs

"The Fort Smith Police Department doesn’t plan to propose a dangerous/vicious dog ordinance to the city board of directors that would include a specific ban or restriction on ownership of pit bull-type dogs. "

Its good to hear that for a change instead of BSL...

“Appropriately bred and raised pit bulls are good dogs,” Goodman said."

Seems they are using there head for once.....

"The Humane Society of the United States and Kate Myers, executive director of the Sebastian County Human Society, oppose breed-specific bans."

Hmmmmm....really?

"Myers said a breed specific ban only results in the death of a lot of good dogs."

Aint that the truth

 

Re: Arkansas: No Restrictions On "Pit Bull Type" Dogs

Don't let this fool you Velvet Medlock is an enemy of the breed. She has not received a word from any constituant about Pit Bull's She has let that shit fly of her tongue too many times in public for it not to be known she isn't for the non fluffy fufu dogs. She is a liberal and a pain in our ass one at that. Those in that part of the state better watch her. She is evil. She needs to keep her mouth shut and stop using our dogs as examples in her comments if she doesn't mean too. But she does mean too and it isn't any secret. Money is pushing her into standing down not her conviction and you can write that down. So long as those of us in Arkansas that own large kennel operations and put forth thousands of dollars to shut people like her up we struggle on. We need the smaller kennels and the support of kennel clubs to unite and shut those like her up for good. Or a good lead injection. But that only last for a minute till the next dirt bag jumps up on the stupid wagon. You can thank only a handfull of kennels for pushing her into a corner so far on this.

Good Post Suki keep up the good work. Keep writing those legislators and political figures folks we have a hard and big war to fight with this stuff.

 

Re: Arkansas: No Restrictions On "Pit Bull Type" Dogs

Aint there some kind of law that makes people accountable to what they print, or a politician says on record? If this is the case, it seems some sort of lawsuit could be filed against the likes of her, for emotional stress.