Omaha NE; Dog Ordinance Heads To City Council Tuesday

[Plott Proud]

Dog Ordinance Heads to City Council Tuesday

Posted: Sep 5, 2008 06:21 PM

http://www.kptm.com/Global/story.asp?S=8962066



Meghan Youker

OMAHA (KPTM) - The Nebraska Humane Society called it the most comprehensive package of laws for any American city ever. But already city councilmen on both sides of the pit bull debate are pushing revisions to the mayor's plan for dealing with potentially dangerous dogs.

The proposal is being introduced at Tuesday's city council meeting. KPTM learned Friday that the current draft is stricter than before, while at least one councilman hopes to get rid of parts that specifically target pit bulls.

After weeks of discussion, a committee put together by Mayor Mike Fahey crafted somewhat of a compromise solution. "There are a few of us that probably would have just as soon seen a pit bull ban," said City Council President Dan Welch.

Instead, the proposal includes mandatory muzzling for pit bulls out on the street. The only other dogs required to wear a muzzle would be ones deemed potentially dangerous by the Nebraska Humane Society. "When you look at the practicality of it, which I focused on, I'm failing to see how it connects," said Councilman Jim Suttle.

Suttle will push an amendment to rid the ordinance of the muzzling requirement for pit bulls, saying it would create confrontation and confusion. He also says enforcement would be costly and difficult. "I think it's going to waste time and waste money and take us away from the real problems which is still owners who are not good owners and dogs that are potentially dangerous dogs," he said.

Experts say another problem is recognizing which dog is a pit bull and which one isn't. "The Humane Society will be enforcing this legislation and the Humane Society has people able to identify these animals. I'm not sure I could do it, but I think that there are people out there that certainly can," Welch said.

Welch says statistics show pit bulls are more dangerous than other breeds. That's why he's made some changes of his own to the proposal. They include increasing fines for violating the laws and requiring owners of pit bulls and potentially dangerous dogs to carry $100,000 in liability insurance. "We have a duty to keep people safe," Welch said.

The proposal also includes a whole set of requirements for people with potentially dangerous dogs: things like micro chipping, mandatory spaying and neutering, even classes on responsible pet ownership. The Nebraska Humane society says the changes address several things that can make a dog aggressive and include penalties to hold owners accountable.

Every councilman KPTM talked to is optimistic some sort of ordinance will pass. There are disagreements, so expect some debate. The legislation is being introduced Tuesday, with a public hearing tentatively scheduled for September 16.

A vote will probably come before the end of the month. Changes would go into effect after 15 days.