Contact info for the Indianapolis- Marion County officials can be found on the BSL Weekly Update. ~ Jodi
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070603/LOCAL19/706030367/1008/LOCAL19
Mayor changes mind on banning pit bulls
After maintaining leash-length distance from more controversial animal-control proposals for years, Mayor Bart Peterson has decided he wants the city to ban pit bulls.
In the past, the mayor has expressed some interest in a breed-specific ordinance of some sort. Last year, the City-County Council crafted an ordinance that increased penalties for owners of vicious dogs but stayed away from picking on one breed over another.
This past week, however, after another serious attack on a child by a pit bull, the mayor said he was ready to take action against the breed.
"Pit bulls are a tremendous public-safety hazard," said Margie Smith-Simmons, Peterson's spokeswoman.
The debate, however, is likely to be emotional.
Those who support banning the breed hold up accounts of vicious and even fatal attacks, especially on children.
They note that pit bulls have unusually strong jaws, have long been bred to fight other dogs and sometimes turn aggressive against even the humans who love them.
On the other side are defenders of the breed, who say any dog can become dangerous and the more effective way to protect the public is to target individual dogs -- regardless of breed -- that have demonstrated aggressive behavior. It's the people who breed and train them to be mean, or who mistreat the animals, who should be held accountable, pit bull enthusiasts say.
Smith-Simmons said the mayor and the staff are in the early stages of investigating options and researching ordinances and legislation in other cities and states.
A proposal to the council is expected in the next two or three weeks.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070603/LOCAL19/706030367/1008/LOCAL19
Mayor changes mind on banning pit bulls
After maintaining leash-length distance from more controversial animal-control proposals for years, Mayor Bart Peterson has decided he wants the city to ban pit bulls.
In the past, the mayor has expressed some interest in a breed-specific ordinance of some sort. Last year, the City-County Council crafted an ordinance that increased penalties for owners of vicious dogs but stayed away from picking on one breed over another.
This past week, however, after another serious attack on a child by a pit bull, the mayor said he was ready to take action against the breed.
"Pit bulls are a tremendous public-safety hazard," said Margie Smith-Simmons, Peterson's spokeswoman.
The debate, however, is likely to be emotional.
Those who support banning the breed hold up accounts of vicious and even fatal attacks, especially on children.
They note that pit bulls have unusually strong jaws, have long been bred to fight other dogs and sometimes turn aggressive against even the humans who love them.
On the other side are defenders of the breed, who say any dog can become dangerous and the more effective way to protect the public is to target individual dogs -- regardless of breed -- that have demonstrated aggressive behavior. It's the people who breed and train them to be mean, or who mistreat the animals, who should be held accountable, pit bull enthusiasts say.
Smith-Simmons said the mayor and the staff are in the early stages of investigating options and researching ordinances and legislation in other cities and states.
A proposal to the council is expected in the next two or three weeks.