Vicki
Administrator
Fayette passes ban on pit bulls in city limits
By Brian Reynolds Staff Writer
Published: Monday, June 22, 2009 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, June 21, 2009 at 11:29 p.m.
FAYETTE | When Christina Selman was attacked by her neighbor’s pit bulls in March, the bites were unlike anything Fayette Police Chief Danny Jenkins had seen.
That attack became the driving force behind a recent ordinance banning pit bulls in the Fayette city limits.
The ordinance, passed 5-1, bans new pit bulls or dangerous dogs from living in the city limits and will require current owners to fulfill strict requirements, including structures to contain the dogs, liability insurance and registration for the animals before July 3. It also expands the dangerous dog rules already in place.
“The ordinance we had in place was kind of toothless,†Jenkins said. “I genuinely believe the council was looking to do something for public safety. They got a lot of passionate responses for and against the bans, and I see both sides.
“After this attack we had down in Cotton Mill Village, I think that was the tipping point for something else to come along as far as ordinances go,†Jenkins said. “I’d seen dog bites before, but I’d never seen a mauling. A lot of people, if they had seen [Selman’s injuries], they would have been like me, and their opinion would have softened if not completely changed.â€
While some argued the problem lies entirely with pit bull owners, part of the problem is the breeding of the dogs, he said. Just like labs are bred to go to water, pit bulls are bred to be aggressive and strong, making them naturally more dangerous.
City Councilman Mike Hardin brought up the idea for the ordinance after the attack on Selman, and is glad to see it passed.
“I think it’s a positive step in the right direction, I think it was very much needed and probably overdue,†Hardin said. “We have been having too frequent issues of dog attacks over many, many years. And when I say dog attacks, I mean specifically pit bull attacks.â€
The ordinance defines pit bulls as bull terriers, Staffordshire terriers, American pit bull terriers or any dog that appears to be predominantly one of the breeds. The ordinance also applies to “dangerous animals†with a tendency to bite without provocation, are trained to fight or cause injury by chasing, snapping or barking.
“The other dog breeds, with rare exceptions, are probably not as likely to inflict very serious injury or mortal injury,†Hardin said. “At this time, we don’t know of a lot of Dobermans, rottweilers or chows in the city limits.
“And in my opinion, pit bull dogs are probably the most deadly,†he said. “Unlike the other dog breeds I mentioned, there’s a certain segment of our population who unfortunately trains and fights pit bull dogs. It’s illegal, but nevertheless it goes on. Hopefully, we will drive some of this out of our town.â€
City Councilman Cedric Wilson was the lone opposition vote to the ordinance. He says that some kind of regulation was necessary after the attack at Cotton Mill Village, but he says he believes banning pit bulls was the wrong move.
“I just didn’t like the part of us banning a specific breed of dogs, when you have other breeds of dogs that could be vicious or dangerous,†Wilson said. “I don’t really like pit bulls, but I think banning them is going way beyond the call.â€
The ordinance grandfathers in current pit bulls, but applies only to the dog, not the owner, Wilson said.
If a dog that is considered a dangerous breed by the ordinance was to have puppies, the new dogs could not stay in the city limits after six weeks. Also, if a dog died, the owner could not get another pit bull. The rules punish responsible owners who like pit bulls, he said.
“If it’s enforced I think it would be good,†he said. “But I still say preventing reckless owners from having vicious dogs, that’s the key to me.â€
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/artic...ayette-passes-ban-on-pit-bulls-in-city-limits
By Brian Reynolds Staff Writer
Published: Monday, June 22, 2009 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, June 21, 2009 at 11:29 p.m.
FAYETTE | When Christina Selman was attacked by her neighbor’s pit bulls in March, the bites were unlike anything Fayette Police Chief Danny Jenkins had seen.
That attack became the driving force behind a recent ordinance banning pit bulls in the Fayette city limits.
The ordinance, passed 5-1, bans new pit bulls or dangerous dogs from living in the city limits and will require current owners to fulfill strict requirements, including structures to contain the dogs, liability insurance and registration for the animals before July 3. It also expands the dangerous dog rules already in place.
“The ordinance we had in place was kind of toothless,†Jenkins said. “I genuinely believe the council was looking to do something for public safety. They got a lot of passionate responses for and against the bans, and I see both sides.
“After this attack we had down in Cotton Mill Village, I think that was the tipping point for something else to come along as far as ordinances go,†Jenkins said. “I’d seen dog bites before, but I’d never seen a mauling. A lot of people, if they had seen [Selman’s injuries], they would have been like me, and their opinion would have softened if not completely changed.â€
While some argued the problem lies entirely with pit bull owners, part of the problem is the breeding of the dogs, he said. Just like labs are bred to go to water, pit bulls are bred to be aggressive and strong, making them naturally more dangerous.
City Councilman Mike Hardin brought up the idea for the ordinance after the attack on Selman, and is glad to see it passed.
“I think it’s a positive step in the right direction, I think it was very much needed and probably overdue,†Hardin said. “We have been having too frequent issues of dog attacks over many, many years. And when I say dog attacks, I mean specifically pit bull attacks.â€
The ordinance defines pit bulls as bull terriers, Staffordshire terriers, American pit bull terriers or any dog that appears to be predominantly one of the breeds. The ordinance also applies to “dangerous animals†with a tendency to bite without provocation, are trained to fight or cause injury by chasing, snapping or barking.
“The other dog breeds, with rare exceptions, are probably not as likely to inflict very serious injury or mortal injury,†Hardin said. “At this time, we don’t know of a lot of Dobermans, rottweilers or chows in the city limits.
“And in my opinion, pit bull dogs are probably the most deadly,†he said. “Unlike the other dog breeds I mentioned, there’s a certain segment of our population who unfortunately trains and fights pit bull dogs. It’s illegal, but nevertheless it goes on. Hopefully, we will drive some of this out of our town.â€
City Councilman Cedric Wilson was the lone opposition vote to the ordinance. He says that some kind of regulation was necessary after the attack at Cotton Mill Village, but he says he believes banning pit bulls was the wrong move.
“I just didn’t like the part of us banning a specific breed of dogs, when you have other breeds of dogs that could be vicious or dangerous,†Wilson said. “I don’t really like pit bulls, but I think banning them is going way beyond the call.â€
The ordinance grandfathers in current pit bulls, but applies only to the dog, not the owner, Wilson said.
If a dog that is considered a dangerous breed by the ordinance was to have puppies, the new dogs could not stay in the city limits after six weeks. Also, if a dog died, the owner could not get another pit bull. The rules punish responsible owners who like pit bulls, he said.
“If it’s enforced I think it would be good,†he said. “But I still say preventing reckless owners from having vicious dogs, that’s the key to me.â€
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/artic...ayette-passes-ban-on-pit-bulls-in-city-limits