Scott PattersonOMAHA (KPTM)- It could be the strictest set of dog ownership rules in the country. Tuesday the Omaha City Council got an earful on a proposed dog ordinance.
The ordinance would create a "dangerous dog" designation for dogs that injure or threaten a person or another pet. That dog and owner would have to attend classes. The dog could only leave the owner's property if on a six foot leash with someone older than 19. The dog would need to be spayed or neutered, micro chipped and muzzled.
Other parts of the law:
-All pit bulls would have to be muzzled outside their home.
-Licensing fees would go up to cover enforcement.
-Dangerous dog owners who violate the new rules would pay higher fines and have to carry a $100,000 insurance policy.
-Repeat offenders would lose their pets and wouldn't be allowed to own another animal for two years.
"We're looking at behavior that neighbors are going to see and our animal control officers are going to see," says Judy Varner of the Nebraska Humane Society. "Our animal control officers already know potentially dangerous dogs in the community that they can't really address at this point. They're very anxious to begin to identify some of those dogs."
These proposed rules have been debated back and forth all summer, ever since a pit bull attacked an Omaha toddler in June. At Tuesday's City Council meeting, you didn't hear many people who are dead set against the ordinance. "This is a good start," says one speaker. "A lot of this is good legislation, and some of it needs a lot of work," says another.
Many had problems with specific parts of the plan. The part that got the most attention: requiring that pit bulls wear muzzles. "They only snap one time and that's all it takes," says a pit bull opponent. "Muzzling for as little as 15 to 20 minutes can cause potentially fatal hypothermia in hot weather," says a pit bull supporter. "Dogs don't sweat so they need to pant."
Some say pit bulls are a breed of fighters and killers. "Every dog was bed for a specific purpose," says a pit bull opponent. "That purpose for the pit bull is now a felony in all 50 states."
"We don't need those kinds of dogs on the street," says another opponent. Others say their pets are unfairly stereotyped. "It teaches our children that profiling and stereotyping are accepted ways of passing judgments," says a pit bull supporter. "Because of the people who don't take care of their dogs it backfires on us who do take care of our dogs," says another supporter.
Another big issue in the proposed law is the $100,000 insurance policy for a dangerous dog. "If the purpose of such legislation is to protect the public to prevent bites and mitigate damage, then it would be more appropriate to impose such laws for all dog owners," says one speaker.
Wendy Blevins says insurance for dangerous dogs is essential. Her daughter Charlotte was the little girl attacked by a pit bull in June. "The owner whose dog bit my daughter didn't have insurance," says Blevins. "All the bills are coming to my house. I'm paying."
One of the other concerns brought up was enforcement. The humane society says its main tools in identifying dangerous dogs will be concerned neighbors. Critics say people are often afraid to turn in their neighbors.
City council members will now have to weigh all of the comments. Councilmen Jim Vokal and Jim Suttle weren't able to attend Tuesday's meeting. They'll get a DVD copy so they can hear from the 20 people who spoke. Other council members say it's a lot to think about and they will consider making minor changes to the original plan introduced by Mayor Fahey. "There were some suggestions that were given today that we'll have to take a look at," says Councilman Franklin Thompson. "But by and large I feel the mayor's proposal is the best that we can do at this particular time."
"We're going to have to try and put together the best we possibly can," says Councilman Chuck Sigerson. "We'll do it based on what these folks said today, and the best from our legal department, humane society, everyone coming together. We'll find a way to do this."
The council is expected to vote on the proposed rules, and any changes, next week or the week after. Whatever passes the council should go into effect next month.
