Council to discuss pit bull amendments Jan. 12
By Lynn Zerschling lzerschling@siouxcityjournal.com | Posted: Saturday, January 03, 2009
SIOUX CITY -- The grandfather of a 17-year-old bitten this week by a pit bull as he got off a school bus said city leaders should be proactive, not reactive, when dealing with dangerous dogs.
Police said the teen, who was bitten Tuesday at the corner of West 1st and Main streets, received treatment at a local hospital for a one-inch gash in his abdomen. He's recovering in his Sioux City home, about 40 feet from where he was attacked.
"Even though he's been assured the dogs are gone, he doesn't want to come outside," Greer said.
The West High School student was able to kick one of two dogs away, said grandfather Wardell Greer, but was bitten by the second dog before he could fend it off.
The dogs, named Mader and Karma, are at Sioux City Animal Control awaiting their fate.
Greer said he and other neighbors had reported close calls with the dogs while they were running loose prior to Tuesday's attack, fearing they might harm young children. He'd planned to go to police after seeing the dogs in the neighborhood this weekend, but the attack happened first.
"I figured it was time for the so-called city leaders to do something to protect the people," Greer said.
An official at Sioux City Animal Control said Wednesday the dogs had been reported loose "a few times" and were in the process of being deemed "high-risk" animals when the attack occurred.
That's news to Alexis Simpson, Mader's owner, who says animal control officials have contacted her once before when the dogs chased Greer. Mader has never bitten anyone before, she said, and was let out of the house without her knowledge while she was away at work.
Simpson's only heard bits and pieces of information about the attack through the neighborhood grapevine, but believes her dog may have bitten the boy because he kicked at him. The boy's actions were understandable, she said.
"I can see that and I can understand that, because I'd be scared too if a big dog came up on me like that," Simpson said.
Simpson said she feels terrible about what happened, but vowed to fight for her dog's life -- even if that means he must be muzzled or moved out of the city.
"I'm going to fight for my dog until the end," Simpson said.
The attack came at a time when Sioux City leaders are in the midst of debating restrictions on pit bulls.
City Councilman Jim Rixner said Thursday he will propose a "zero tolerance policy" on pit bulls.
"This is apart from our vicious dog ordinance," he explained. "The whole focus is on prevention. We need to institute these now."
He emphasized he has been drafting the proposal for several weeks following council discussions on Councilman Aaron Rochester's pit bull control law.
Anyone caught violating the law will have one chance to correct the problem. For a second violation, the dog would be euthanized whether it bit anyone or not.
"This was not based on what happened with the two pit bulls" who attacked a 17-year-old boy Tuesday as he got off a bus. The teen received puncture wounds to his stomach area.
Rixner said he wanted tougher teeth in the city's pit bull control law than what Councilman Aaron Rochester has proposed. The lawmakers will take up the dog issue again at its Sept. 15 meeting. Rochester has proposed no one can adopt a pit bull after the ordinance goes into effect, but that current owners could keep their dogs with a number of restrictions.
Rixner's proposal, as does Rochester's, requires owners of pit bulls to obtain city pet license annually. The city requires pets be vaccinated against rabies in order to obtain that license. In addition, Rixner proposes:
-- Leashing/Muzzling: The pit bull can't go out of the owner's yard unless the person walking the dog is 18 or older. A waist leash must be secured around the person's waist and also be held as a regular leash. The leash can't be longer than 6 feet and must be strong enough to control the dog. When off the owner's yard, the dog has to wear a muzzle.
-- Confinement: All pit bulls must be securely confined with an occupied residence or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or kennel in the yard. The proposed ordinance defines the size of such enclosures, which includes having a floor or foundation attached to the sides of the pen. The sides must be embedded at least 2 feet in the ground to prevent the dog from digging under the kennel to get out.
-- Structures: Anyone having a pit bull must live in a structure that complies with city zoning and building regulations, which includes light, ventilation and sanitary conditions. No pit bull may be kept on a porch, patio or elsewhere that would allow the animal to get free.
-- Tethering: No pit bull may be leashed to trees, posts, buildings or other structure.
- One Chance Rule: All unlicensed pit bulls will be illegal and shall be destroyed. The owner will get one warning to comply with the regulations, because Rixner said, "I'm willing to give everybody one chance." (This is for dogs that don't attack or bite anyone or another animal.)
-- Other: Pit bulls must be microchipped and spayed or neutered.
-- Ownership: owners must be at least 18.
Rixner said his ordinance would define pit bulls as a Staffordshire terrier, an American pit bull terrier, an American Staffordshire terrier or any dog that has the appearance and characteristics of those breeds.
Lynn Zerschling may be reached at (712) 293-4202 or lynn.zerschling@lee.net.
Police said the teen, who was bitten Tuesday at the corner of West 1st and Main streets, received treatment at a local hospital for a one-inch gash in his abdomen. He's recovering in his Sioux City home, about 40 feet from where he was attacked.
"Even though he's been assured the dogs are gone, he doesn't want to come outside," Greer said.
The West High School student was able to kick one of two dogs away, said grandfather Wardell Greer, but was bitten by the second dog before he could fend it off.
The dogs, named Mader and Karma, are at Sioux City Animal Control awaiting their fate.
Greer said he and other neighbors had reported close calls with the dogs while they were running loose prior to Tuesday's attack, fearing they might harm young children. He'd planned to go to police after seeing the dogs in the neighborhood this weekend, but the attack happened first.
"I figured it was time for the so-called city leaders to do something to protect the people," Greer said.
An official at Sioux City Animal Control said Wednesday the dogs had been reported loose "a few times" and were in the process of being deemed "high-risk" animals when the attack occurred.
That's news to Alexis Simpson, Mader's owner, who says animal control officials have contacted her once before when the dogs chased Greer. Mader has never bitten anyone before, she said, and was let out of the house without her knowledge while she was away at work.
Simpson's only heard bits and pieces of information about the attack through the neighborhood grapevine, but believes her dog may have bitten the boy because he kicked at him. The boy's actions were understandable, she said.
"I can see that and I can understand that, because I'd be scared too if a big dog came up on me like that," Simpson said.
Simpson said she feels terrible about what happened, but vowed to fight for her dog's life -- even if that means he must be muzzled or moved out of the city.
"I'm going to fight for my dog until the end," Simpson said.
The attack came at a time when Sioux City leaders are in the midst of debating restrictions on pit bulls.
City Councilman Jim Rixner said Thursday he will propose a "zero tolerance policy" on pit bulls.
"This is apart from our vicious dog ordinance," he explained. "The whole focus is on prevention. We need to institute these now."
He emphasized he has been drafting the proposal for several weeks following council discussions on Councilman Aaron Rochester's pit bull control law.
Anyone caught violating the law will have one chance to correct the problem. For a second violation, the dog would be euthanized whether it bit anyone or not.
"This was not based on what happened with the two pit bulls" who attacked a 17-year-old boy Tuesday as he got off a bus. The teen received puncture wounds to his stomach area.
Rixner said he wanted tougher teeth in the city's pit bull control law than what Councilman Aaron Rochester has proposed. The lawmakers will take up the dog issue again at its Sept. 15 meeting. Rochester has proposed no one can adopt a pit bull after the ordinance goes into effect, but that current owners could keep their dogs with a number of restrictions.
Rixner's proposal, as does Rochester's, requires owners of pit bulls to obtain city pet license annually. The city requires pets be vaccinated against rabies in order to obtain that license. In addition, Rixner proposes:
-- Leashing/Muzzling: The pit bull can't go out of the owner's yard unless the person walking the dog is 18 or older. A waist leash must be secured around the person's waist and also be held as a regular leash. The leash can't be longer than 6 feet and must be strong enough to control the dog. When off the owner's yard, the dog has to wear a muzzle.
-- Confinement: All pit bulls must be securely confined with an occupied residence or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or kennel in the yard. The proposed ordinance defines the size of such enclosures, which includes having a floor or foundation attached to the sides of the pen. The sides must be embedded at least 2 feet in the ground to prevent the dog from digging under the kennel to get out.
-- Structures: Anyone having a pit bull must live in a structure that complies with city zoning and building regulations, which includes light, ventilation and sanitary conditions. No pit bull may be kept on a porch, patio or elsewhere that would allow the animal to get free.
-- Tethering: No pit bull may be leashed to trees, posts, buildings or other structure.
- One Chance Rule: All unlicensed pit bulls will be illegal and shall be destroyed. The owner will get one warning to comply with the regulations, because Rixner said, "I'm willing to give everybody one chance." (This is for dogs that don't attack or bite anyone or another animal.)
-- Other: Pit bulls must be microchipped and spayed or neutered.
-- Ownership: owners must be at least 18.
Rixner said his ordinance would define pit bulls as a Staffordshire terrier, an American pit bull terrier, an American Staffordshire terrier or any dog that has the appearance and characteristics of those breeds.
Lynn Zerschling may be reached at (712) 293-4202 or lynn.zerschling@lee.net.
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pit bull lover wrote on Jan 3, 2009 7:10 PM:
richard wrote on Jan 3, 2009 7:05 PM:
Melissa wrote on Jan 3, 2009 3:51 AM: