Montana Ordinance Requires Insurance for 'Aggressive' Dogs

[Vicki]

Montana Ordinance Requires Insurance for 'Aggressive' Dogs

July 7, 2010

The White Sulphur Springs, Mont., city council has passed an insurance requirement for the owners of certain breeds of dogs with reputations for aggressive behaviors.

The ordinance requires owners of pit bulls, Doberman pinschers and Rottweilers to purchase $500,000 in liability insurance, regardless of whether the animal has shown aggressive behavior.

Owners of other dogs would be subject to the insurance requirement if their animal bites a person or acts aggressively without provocation.

City Councilman Heith Stidham said the ordinance is meant to hold owners responsible for the medical bills if someone is attacked by a dog.

People who had pit bulls, Dobermans and Rottweilers in White Sulphur Springs before the ordinance passed on June 17 are not subject to the insurance requirement.

Read more: http://www.insurancejournal.com/news...#ixzz0t8cVdMlj

[MUFFIN]

That is just plum damn silly to me. YOu should fine owners who don't take the responsiblity of these animals. Not make those of us who are responsible owners pay. Not only that I have seen more bites from small dogs than large ones, so they should be requiredto have insurance to wonder how they would like their pet being named? I just get pissed at some one who finds just ccertin dogs are a problem, their narrow minded view is the problem. I spent the better part of a year on making sure Muffin was the right Dog for me and My Family, I didn't just go get a Large Dog for the heck of it. I made sure I could do the obedience classes and handle the care.. Irresponsible owners are more of a problem than the pets...POINT of the moment...I took MUFFIN to the lake yesterday..She was on her leash and harness and a lounge line beside me and my family..(there is a leash law)..and what should show up Two dogs a wennie dog and a setter. the dogs were not agressive to my family but they did scare muffin barking at her, so my husband and Girls have to track down the owners who think this is not a big deal cause the dogs don't bite, I then informed them that its the law and unless they wanted me to call the law they had better take care of the problem. I make sure my pets are cared for and that I follow the law, and it just sends me over the moon that irresposible pet owners cause the rest of us greif.