'Dangerous dog' law passes to little comment
South Sioux took time to listen to advice, opinions
By Michele Linck Journal staff writer | Posted: Tuesday, January 15, 2008
SOUTH SIOUX CITY -- Fewer than four months after a 6-year-old boy was attacked by three pit bull terriers who were running loose, the South Sioux City Council passed an updated version of its dangerous dog ordinance on Monday.
Council members voted 8-0 without discussion to adopt the new law upon its third appearance on their agenda since September, when the child was badly bitten by the running dogs.
Only one member of the public, Donna Clements, spoke, and that was to ask if she had to wait until someone is hurt to report a dog in her neighborhood which runs out at passersby and actually bit her son's pants leg.
City Administrator Lance Hedquist attributed the uneventful passage of the law to the time and care the city took in drafting it. Council members listened at several meetings to dog owners, breeders and trainers who educated them on the latest thinking and research data and told of their own experiences and their thoughts on what makes an effective dog law.
The trainers especially supported the idea of an updated ordinance, but stressed the best law would make all owners accountable, not punish a specific breed of dog.
In the end, the ordinance is tougher than its predecessor, but it isn't "breed specific." It does not ban pit bulls, for instance, nor does it require their owners to have $250,000 in liability insurance, as was once proposed.
But pit bulls, and dogs that have the appearance and characteristics of pit bulls, are presumed "potentially dangerous" under the law. No special restrictions are put on their owners unless an incident occurs or the dog demonstrates unprovoked aggressive behavior.
Once an investigation is completed, the city administrator may determine the dog is not dangerous and waive any impoundment fees. Or, he may determine the dog is dangerous and order the owner to comply with the requirements for keeping a dangerous dog.
Several requirements
Once notified their dog, of any breed or mix, is deemed potentially dangerous, the owner has 10 days to register the animal as such. In addition, the owner also must:
-- acknowledge their animal has bitten or is alleged to have bitten another person or animal;
-- provide evidence from a veterinarian that the animal is spayed or neutered;
-- license the dog and pay an additional $25 fee in order to get a dangerous dog registration certificate;
-- pay a $65 annual fee in addition to a regular dog license fee;
-- must agree in writing to notify the city if the dog is ever running at large, or if it has bitten, or may have bitten, a human being or another animal;
-- also secure at least $250,000 in liability insurance or a surety bond;
-- keep the dog in a confinement meeting strict requirement;
-- keep the dog on leash and muzzled if it leaves their property;
If such a dog bites, attacks or injures someone, it may be confiscated, quarantined at the owner's expense and possibly euthanized.
Violations of the ordinance are punishable by a fine of up to $500 and up to $200 in costs.
Hedquist told Clements that the city encourages people to report dogs that appear to be dangerous.
"If you've got a dog you think is dangerous, I don't care if its a Chihuahua or a German shepherd, report it," he said. "We'll go down and investigate it. If it is deemed dangerous we'll tell them to put up a fence, keep it chained, keep it in the house, whatever it may be."
Council members voted 8-0 without discussion to adopt the new law upon its third appearance on their agenda since September, when the child was badly bitten by the running dogs.
Only one member of the public, Donna Clements, spoke, and that was to ask if she had to wait until someone is hurt to report a dog in her neighborhood which runs out at passersby and actually bit her son's pants leg.
City Administrator Lance Hedquist attributed the uneventful passage of the law to the time and care the city took in drafting it. Council members listened at several meetings to dog owners, breeders and trainers who educated them on the latest thinking and research data and told of their own experiences and their thoughts on what makes an effective dog law.
The trainers especially supported the idea of an updated ordinance, but stressed the best law would make all owners accountable, not punish a specific breed of dog.
In the end, the ordinance is tougher than its predecessor, but it isn't "breed specific." It does not ban pit bulls, for instance, nor does it require their owners to have $250,000 in liability insurance, as was once proposed.
But pit bulls, and dogs that have the appearance and characteristics of pit bulls, are presumed "potentially dangerous" under the law. No special restrictions are put on their owners unless an incident occurs or the dog demonstrates unprovoked aggressive behavior.
Once an investigation is completed, the city administrator may determine the dog is not dangerous and waive any impoundment fees. Or, he may determine the dog is dangerous and order the owner to comply with the requirements for keeping a dangerous dog.
Several requirements
Once notified their dog, of any breed or mix, is deemed potentially dangerous, the owner has 10 days to register the animal as such. In addition, the owner also must:
-- acknowledge their animal has bitten or is alleged to have bitten another person or animal;
-- provide evidence from a veterinarian that the animal is spayed or neutered;
-- license the dog and pay an additional $25 fee in order to get a dangerous dog registration certificate;
-- pay a $65 annual fee in addition to a regular dog license fee;
-- must agree in writing to notify the city if the dog is ever running at large, or if it has bitten, or may have bitten, a human being or another animal;
-- also secure at least $250,000 in liability insurance or a surety bond;
-- keep the dog in a confinement meeting strict requirement;
-- keep the dog on leash and muzzled if it leaves their property;
If such a dog bites, attacks or injures someone, it may be confiscated, quarantined at the owner's expense and possibly euthanized.
Violations of the ordinance are punishable by a fine of up to $500 and up to $200 in costs.
Hedquist told Clements that the city encourages people to report dogs that appear to be dangerous.
"If you've got a dog you think is dangerous, I don't care if its a Chihuahua or a German shepherd, report it," he said. "We'll go down and investigate it. If it is deemed dangerous we'll tell them to put up a fence, keep it chained, keep it in the house, whatever it may be."
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rural_living wrote on Jan 17, 2008 1:11 PM:
Mac wrote on Jan 16, 2008 5:38 PM:
Some smart legislators are listening to the experts.
Irresponsible owners of all breeds and types must be targeted,not the dogs.
Good for them. "
N1980D wrote on Jan 15, 2008 8:27 PM:
Andrew wrote on Jan 15, 2008 7:36 PM:
Maggie wrote on Jan 15, 2008 7:04 PM: