Des Moines, IA: “Vicious pit bulls” okayed for adoption

July 28, 2010 by stopbslcom 1 Comment

Previous alerts for Des Moines: http://stopbsl.com/?s=des+moines

In Des Moines, all “pit bulls” are subject to “vicious dog” regulations. While I am always supportive of efforts to save the lives of innocent dogs, I find it extremely hypocritical that Des Moines is saying all “pit bulls” are vicious (per the law), and also saying not all “pit bulls” are vicious (because they are suitable for adoption).

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100727/NEWS/7270366/Des-Moines-ordinance-tweak-spares-some-vicious-dogs

Des Moines ordinance tweak spares some vicious dogs

By JARED STRONG • jstrong@dmreg.com • July 27, 2010

The Des Moines City Council unanimously approved Monday a change to the city’s vicious dog ordinance that would spare some of the animals from being euthanized.

Under the original ordinance, a vicious dog that was found running loose or unlicensed more than once would be put down. Dogs are considered vicious if they have attacked someone, have a history of aggressive tendencies or are of a particular breed.

The change approved Monday spares unleashed and unlicensed dogs that are deemed vicious based strictly on their breed. Those dogs can now be adopted instead of killed.

“If the dog is fit for adoption, instead of being destroyed the dog would be released to the Animal Rescue League,” Des Moines City Attorney Bruce Bergman said. “It gives some relief to those dogs.”

The vicious breeds defined by city code are American pit bulls, American Staffordshire and Staffordshire bull terriers.

City Councilwoman Christine Hensley said the new rule accommodates dogs that would be euthanized solely because of their owners’ irresponsibility.

“This is really the right step for us to take,” she said.

It was spurred by a recent case in which an unlicensed pit bull was to be euthanized. The dog’s owner asked for the animal back on Monday.

“That dog has been a part of our family for six years,” said Jessica Fritz, who lives in West Des Moines but had visited relatives in Des Moines with the dog. “I don’t know that it’s right to take that dog from us.”

Under the new rule, Fritz cannot adopt the animal, nor can anyone who lives with her.

The council waived the second and third readings of the ordinance and formally approved the change Monday.

Filed under Iowa, Results of BSL Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Des Moines, IA: D.M. tables plan to change vicious dog rules (additional BSL dropped)

November 25, 2009 by stopbslcom Leave a Comment

Des Moines already has BSL, and because it’s not working very well, the city council considered making the breed-specific ordinance even more strict. These plans have now been tabled (put on hold indefinitely).

Previous alerts for Des Moines: http://stopbsl.com/?s=des+moines

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20091124/NEWS/911240357/1001/NEWS/D.M.-tables-plan-to-change-vicious-dog-rules

D.M. tables plan to change vicious dog rules

By JASON PULLIAM • jpulliam@dmreg.com • November 24, 2009

A proposal to increase fees to license so-called vicious dogs has been tabled by the Des Moines City Council.

Council members called for more public input and time to study whether the fees and other proposed changes to the city’s vicious dog ordinance would have worthwhile results.

“The responsible dog owner will comply with all of this,” Councilwoman Christine Hensley said. “It’s the nonresponsible dog owner. How do we deal with them?”

City officials in recent months have debated whether to change a 22-year-old ordinance that classifies pit bulls as vicious by breed, in addition to animals that are declared vicious because of behavior. A string of recent incidents involving pit bulls prompted city leaders to scrutinize whether regulations should be changed.

City officials have called for a mix of tougher license fees, insurance requirements and owner training to improve Des Moines’ vicious-dog ordinance and reduce the number of attacks.

Skeptics contend the measures under consideration will do little to prevent attacks and will punish responsible owners.

“You’re not giving credit to responsible owners,” said Cindy Holliday, director of the volunteer citizens group All Dogs All People Together for Des Moines, or ADAPT4DSM.

Holliday and others want breed-specific language that labels pit bulls as vicious removed from the city code.

City officials had considered a pit bull ban, but “we weren’t sure we would be successful if we went that way,” said Assistant City Manager Randy Wetmore.

Under the pending proposal, vicious-dog license fees would be increased to $35 from $15 for spayed and neutered dogs and $55 for dogs that are not altered.

Other requirements under consideration include:

- Requiring owners of vicious dogs to show proof that the animals are microchipped at the time they are licensed.

- Banning owners of vicious dogs that are found running at large three or more times in a three-year period from owning any vicious dog for five years.

- Requiring training for vicious-dog owners if their dogs are not properly leashed or confined.

Skeptics say city officials need to focus on making sure that dogs declared vicious because they were involved in an attack are properly confined.

“Certain breeds that we have listed in our breed-specific ordinance guarantee that the dogs we’re worried about will never be socialized, or trained, vaccinated or (receive) proper veterinary care because people are hiding them,” said Dana Fedman, a licensed dog trainer who has called upon city leaders to reconsider breed-specific language.

Filed under Iowa, Results of BSL Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Des Moines, IA update: BSL still being considered

September 29, 2009 by stopbslcom 2 Comments

Previous alerts for Des Moines: http://stopbsl.com/?s=des+moines

Des Moines was considering a ban on “pit bulls.” (They already have BSL for “pit bulls,” and it is not working.) Apparently the ban idea has been dropped, but stronger BSL is being considered.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090929/NEWS/909290352/-1/NEWS04

Dog breed, behavior are keys in ordinance debate

By JASON PULLIAM
jpulliam@dmreg.com
September 29, 2009

Breed or behavior?

Those issues form the core of a debate brewing in Des Moines over proper regulations for dogs whose bloodlines or tendency to bite earn them the tag “vicious” under a local ordinance.

City officials have called for a mix of tougher license fees, insurance requirements and owner training to strengthen Des Moines’ vicious-dog ordinance and reduce the number of attacks. Calls for the removal of language that defines pit bull-type breeds as vicious, however, have not been included in proposed changes.

The city reported 182 dog bites spread among five breeds in 2006, the last year numbers were kept. Nearly 29 percent of those bites were attributed to pit bulls, city records show.

The highest number of bites – 56 – came from Labrador retrievers, one of the most widely owned dogs registered in Des Moines.

Key recommendations outlined in a Monday City Council workshop included:

- Increasing liability insurance to $300,000 from $100,000 and requiring owners to show proof of 12 months of coverage.

- Increasing the vicious-dog license fee to $35 from $15 for spayed and neutered dogs and $55 for dogs that are not altered.

- Requiring mandatory training for dog owners whose animals are deemed “vicious by behavior.” Dog owners whose canines are deemed “vicious by breed” would not have to attend training classes unless they violated containment requirements outlined in the city ordinance.

In the past, city animal control workers have had problems with owners of vicious dogs who do not reclaim impounded animals and instead get other dogs. Another proposed change in the ordinance would require owners of vicious dogs to pay animal shelter fees even if they don’t retrieve their animals.

“We want to discourage that disposable-dog mentality,” said Sgt. Scott Raudabaugh, the city’s chief humane officer.

A total ban on pit bulls was considered, Assistant City Manager Randy Wetmore said, but such action was deemed impractical.

“If we were doing a complete ban, we would have personnel out looking for the dogs rather than taking care of public safety issues,” he said. “We didn’t think success (would be) very high, because it’s going to be really difficult to find all of those pit bulls that are out there.”

Tom Colvin, executive director of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, said city officials are “definitely going in the right direction.”

“The issues at hand are public safety, responsible pet ownership, and identifying and dealing properly with irresponsible pet ownership,” Colvin said. “That can either go by ignorance or intentionally having a vicious dog.”

Colvin said he’s concerned that the city’s current regulations have fostered a sense of distrust among even responsible pet owners, who might not want to register their dogs because they know that the animals would be automatically labeled “vicious.”

Colvin said he hoped the city would gravitate toward rules that do not single out breeds.

The Animal Rescue League “has never been shy in its statement that it just does not believe in breed-specific legislation,” he said. “We believe any dog can bite and any dog can cause serious injury. Once you have breed-specific (rules), it’s easy to start adding breeds.”

Additional Facts

What’s next?

- City officials will speak with representatives from the Animal Rescue League of Iowa and other interested groups about possible changes in Des Moines’ vicious-dog ordinance.

- City Manager Rick Clark said he hoped to have a policy recommendation before the City Council within a month.

- A volunteer group composed of certified dog trainers, business owners and citizens has formed to offer input on Des Moines’ vicious-dog ordinance and promote responsible dog ownership. The group has created a Web site: www.adapt4dsm.org.

Filed under BSL Proposed, Iowa Tagged with , , , , , , , ,

Reminder: Des Moines, IA to consider pit bull ban, August 24, 7:30 AM

August 22, 2009 by stopbslcom 1 Comment

Council members will discuss a proposed pit bull ban at 7:30 a.m. on Aug. 24 at City Hall and the public is invited to comment.

Previous alerts:
http://stopbsl.com/2009/07/25/des-moines-ia-des-moines-considers-pit-bull-ban/
http://stopbsl.com/2009/06/26/des-moines-ia-councilwoman-backs-citywide-ban-on-pit-bulls/

E-mail addresses for Mayor and City Council members:
mahafb@aedairy.com; CColeman@dmgov.org; fcownie@dmgov.org; ColemanSeven@mchsi.com; ccoleman@dm.bbb.org; hensley2@mchsi.com; dirauh@dmgov.org; Vlassis3@mchsi.com; tdvlassis@dmgov.org; mjkiernan@dmgov.org; brianmeyer@sprint.blackberry.net; citymanager@dmgov.org

City council agendas and meeting dates:
http://www.ci.des-moines.ia.us/mayor_council/agendas/

Filed under BSL Proposed, Iowa Tagged with , , , , , ,

Des Moines, IA: Des Moines considers pit bull ban

July 25, 2009 by stopbslcom 1 Comment

Des Moines already has breed-specific regulations. Obviously, their BSL isn’t working very well, so they are considering moving toward an all-out ban on “pit bulls.”

Council members will discuss the ban at 7:30 a.m. on Aug. 24 at City Hall and the public is invited to comment.

City Official Contact Information

City Manager (who will be reviewing the current ordinances)
Richard Clark
(515) 283-4141
citymanager@dmgov.org

Mayor – T. M. Franklin Cownie
675 Harwood Drive, Des Moines, IA 50312
City Hall Phone: (515) 283-4944

Ward I – Thomas D. Vlassis
5001 Lyndale Drive, Des Moines, IA 50310
City Hall Phone: (515) 237-1623

Ward II – Robert L. (Bob) Mahaffey
2220 E. 32nd Street, Des Moines, IA 50317
City Hall Phone: (515) 237-1624

Ward III – Christine Hensley (calling for a ban)
753 55th Street, Des Moines, IA 50312
City Hall Phone: (515) 237-1625

Ward IV – Brian Meyer
5417 SE 29th Street, Des Moines, IA 50320
City Hall Phone: (515) 237-1626

At Large – Michael Kiernan
750 16th Street, Des Moines, IA 50314
City Hall Phone: (515) 237-1621

E-mail addresses for Mayor and City Council members:
mahafb@aedairy.com; CColeman@dmgov.org; fcownie@dmgov.org; ColemanSeven@mchsi.com; ccoleman@dm.bbb.org; hensley2@mchsi.com; dirauh@dmgov.org; Vlassis3@mchsi.com; tdvlassis@dmgov.org; mjkiernan@dmgov.org; brianmeyer@sprint.blackberry.net; citymanager@dmgov.org

City council agendas and meeting dates:
http://www.ci.des-moines.ia.us/mayor_council/agendas/

http://www.kcci.com/news/20173040/detail.html

Des Moines Considers Pit Bull Ban

Animal Rescue League Argues Breed-Specific Bans Don’t Work

UPDATED: 8:19 pm CDT July 24, 2009

DES MOINES, Iowa — Des Moines city leaders are considering a ban on pit bulls in the city, but the head of the Animal Rescue League said he thinks it’s a bad idea.

[Irrelevant text elided]

Des Moines police said that last year, they dealt with 380 vicious dogs. All but nine of those were pit bulls.

Council members will discuss the ban at 7:30 a.m. on Aug. 24 at City Hall and the public is invited to comment. People who already own pit bulls would be able to keep them under a grandfather clause.

Previous alerts: http://stopbsl.com/2009/06/26/des-moines-ia-councilwoman-backs-citywide-ban-on-pit-bulls/
http://stopbsl.com/2009/01/23/sioux-city-ia-pit-bull-owners-file-complaint-with-state/

Filed under BSL Proposed, Iowa Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Des Moines, IA: Councilwoman backs citywide ban on pit bulls

June 26, 2009 by stopbslcom 3 Comments

Des Moines already has breed-specific regulations for “pit bulls.” The regulations apparently are not working very well, prompting calls for an all-out ban.

Please send helpful, informative, respectful correspondence to councilmembers.

The next city council meeting is June 30, 3:30 PM. This issue is not on the agenda, but that should not prevent concerned citizens from speaking during the public comment session.

City Official Contact Information

City Manager (who will be reviewing the current ordinances)
Richard Clark
(515) 283-4141
citymanager@dmgov.org

Mayor – T. M. Franklin Cownie
675 Harwood Drive, Des Moines, IA 50312
City Hall Phone: (515) 283-4944

Ward I – Thomas D. Vlassis
5001 Lyndale Drive, Des Moines, IA 50310
City Hall Phone: (515) 237-1623

Ward II – Robert L. (Bob) Mahaffey
2220 E. 32nd Street, Des Moines, IA 50317
City Hall Phone: (515) 237-1624

Ward III – Christine Hensley (calling for a ban)
753 55th Street, Des Moines, IA 50312
City Hall Phone: (515) 237-1625

Ward IV – Brian Meyer
5417 SE 29th Street, Des Moines, IA 50320
City Hall Phone: (515) 237-1626

At Large – Michael Kiernan
750 16th Street, Des Moines, IA 50314
City Hall Phone: (515) 237-1621

E-mail addresses for Mayor and City Council members:
mahafb@aedairy.com; CColeman@dmgov.org; fcownie@dmgov.org; ColemanSeven@mchsi.com; ccoleman@dm.bbb.org; hensley2@mchsi.com; dirauh@dmgov.org; Vlassis3@mchsi.com; tdvlassis@dmgov.org; mjkiernan@dmgov.org; brianmeyer@sprint.blackberry.net; citymanager@dmgov.org

City council agendas and meeting dates:
http://www.ci.des-moines.ia.us/mayor_council/agendas/

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090626/NEWS/906260377/1001/NEWS

Des Moines councilwoman backs citywide ban on pit bulls

By JASON PULLIAM • jpulliam@dmreg.com • June 26, 2009

A Des Moines City Council member has come out in favor of a pit bull ban while local leaders weigh tougher regulations on breeds of dogs deemed vicious in the city code.

Councilwoman Christine Hensley said the volume of complaints and concerns she’s fielded about pit bulls over the years has moved her to back a ban.

“They’re not an appropriate breed to have in the city because there are all kinds of issues that could potentially develop,” she said.

A string of recent attacks involving pit bulls has prompted city leaders to scrutinize whether current regulations go far enough.

The decision to investigate stronger rules for so-called vicious dogs came this week after the council voted unanimously to deny an appeal from Andrew Newsom, 1105 Euclid Ave., who sought to overturn a hearing officer’s decision to destroy his pit bull.

Newsom’s dog on May 16 was running loose when it attacked a neighbor’s dog and bit the owner’s hand. Newsom’s pit bull was unlicensed and uninsured at the time of the attack.

Vicious dogs must be licensed in the city, and owners must show proof of at least $100,000 in liability insurance.

Newsom was warned after a November 2005 incident that his dog would be seized and humanely destroyed if it was ever found unlicensed and running loose in the city.

There are 199 licensed pit bulls in Des Moines this year, but 402 pit bull-type dogs have been identified at one time or another within the city limits. A Des Moines ordinance passed in 1987 classified pit bulls as vicious dogs.

If a ban is implemented, dog owners who already have pit bulls in the city should be able to keep them if they follow necessary requirements, Hensley said.

Mayor Frank Cownie said recent problems with vicious dogs could necessitate additional restrictions. He’s not convinced, however, that a ban is needed.

“We have to look at all aspects before we flat decide what we’re going to do with a specific breed,” Cownie said.

It’s fairly common for vicious-dog owners to violate requirements for licensing, containment and liability insurance, Sgt. Scott Raudabaugh, the city’s chief humane officer, said in a recent interview.

Vicious-dog ordinances are in force in Polk County and a few dozen Iowa cities. Council Bluffs in 2004 put several restrictions on pit bull owners and banned any more of the breed in the city.

Pit Bull Rescue Central, an organization that promotes education about pit bull-type dogs, calls breed-specific laws “ineffective, costly to residents and unfair to responsible dog owners.”

Filed under Iowa, Results of BSL, Whispers of BSL Tagged with , , , , , ,

Covington, WA: Dangerous dog rules under review in Covington (probably not BSL)

June 19, 2009 by stopbslcom Leave a Comment

The article states that Covington does not want to “ban specific breeds.” However, due to the proximity of several cities with BSL, this may be a city to watch, and possibly provide with non-breed-specific model ordinances. The city website is user-friendly and provides timely agendas and agenda packets: http://www.ci.covington.wa.us/

http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/cmv/news/48297177.html

Dangerous dog rules under review in Covington

By KRIS HILL
Covington Reporter News
Jun 17 2009, 7:03 PM

The Covington City Council is considering beefing up its city laws regarding dangerous and vicious dogs.

Currently the city contracts with King County Animal Control for response services when a call comes in regarding a dog attack and Covington follows the county’s rules for penalties and so on.

This issue arose, explained City Manager Derek Matheson, when a resident spoke during the public comment period at the council’s April 14 meeting.

“Margaret Richter spoke to the council about events that happened on Feb. 6 around 4 p.m.,” Matheson said. “She was walking to the bus stop with her dog, which was on a leash, to pick up her kindergartner and was attacked by a pit bull.”

A neighbor came to Richter’s rescue, according to the minutes of the April 14 meeting, and she told the council that Animal Control decided to “allow this dog to stay in the community as it did not have enough complaints on record for that individual.”

Richter explained that it’s easy to report incidents to the county and outlined how to do it via animal control’s Web site. She encouraged people to report any issues with vicious or potentially dangerous dogs.

From there, Matheson said, he did some research and found “the laws to be more complicated than you can imagine.”

King County’s ordinance supersedes state law, which Matheson described as more proscriptive, due to the way the state law is written.

“So, many cities go out and develop their own regulations,” Matheson said. “Covington, Maple Valley and Burien are the only ones who use just King County codes.”

Renton, Kent and Des Moines apply regulations quite similar to state law while Tukwila “has very specific rules” that require confinement of dangerous and potentially dangerous dogs that goes beyond state law.

Federal Way bans dangerous dogs entirely while Enumclaw has banned pit bulls. Auburn declares pit bulls and many other breeds dangerous automatically while also requiring an annual registration for such dogs.

SeaTac declares pit bulls dangerous and requires confinement of dangerous dogs and a muzzle when not confined.

Matheson explained these various steps taken by other cities during a presentation at the council’s June 9 meeting as examples of what Covington can do.

“The council can decide if it wants to supplement the county’s regulations,” Matheson said. “They want us to look at beefing up our contract with King County Animal Control so they can be more proactive rather than reactive.”

City staff are working on researching the issue further and developing options for a supplemental ordinance that would address the concerns the council has regarding dangerous dogs.

“They didn’t want to ban specific breeds,” Matheson said. “They didn’t want to ban dangerous dogs. They do want to beef up the penalties, possibly from a misdemeanor to a gross misdemeanor.”

Matheson said that Animal Control typically does not charge individuals with dangerous dogs with a crime and that “usually they require the dog to be confined or leashed or removed from King County.”

“My next step is to get the staff started on community education,” Matheson said. “I’m working on a survey to send to the appropriate staff person in each of the South King County cities to clarify questions the council members have. They’re concerned about whether the other cities’ ordinances are effective, how much it costs as well as how much staff time it would take.”

It will likely be another month or two before staff bring an ordinance back to the council, Matheson explained, and then a couple more meetings after that to hash out all the details.

Matheson said that county animal control officials estimate there are 4,389 dogs in Covington and that in 2008 there were 43 vicious dog calls and nine dog bite calls in the city. Through April of this year there were 13 vicious dog related calls and two reported bites. Covington makes up 1.5 percent of animal control’s service area and about .5 percent of vicious dog calls come from the city.

Covington Reporter News Kris Hill can be reached at khill@reporternewspapers.com or (425) 432-1209, ext. 5054.

Filed under Non-BSL, Washington State, Whispers of BSL Tagged with , , , ,

Sioux City, IA: Pit bull owners file complaint with state

January 23, 2009 by stopbslcom Leave a Comment

http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2009/01/23/news/local/434d2699901e33278625754700130066.txt

Pit bull owners file complaint with state

By Lynn Zerschling
Posted: Friday, January 23, 2009
Sioux City Journal

SIOUX CITY — A couple who have protested the City Council’s ban on pit bulls have filed a complaint with a state official contending city officials retaliated against them and other dog owners.

In a letter to William Angrick II, the state ombudsman in Des Moines, dated Wednesday, Rick and Deborah Borg wrote, “We would like to have your agency investigate this matter and a report be issued including any recommended remedial action.”

The Borgs contended the council and city officials retaliated against some pit bull owners last fall after they testified against the proposed ban on new pit bulls in the city. The couple said city officials mailed threatening letters, drafted a “hit list” that sent Animal Control officers to some dog owners’ homes to check if the dogs had been licensed and took other actions.

The council passed the pit bull ban Sept. 15. The Borgs have attended most council meetings since Councilman Aaron Rochester first proposed the ban and continue to attend meetings since then to lobby the councilmen to change their minds. The Borgs, who live at 412 Colon St., also helped organize an informal group of pit bull owners.

Those who speak to the council are asked to give their names and addresses for the public record. In November, after the Borgs and others complained to the council they had received letters, City Clerk Lisa McCardle said her office checked whether dog owners who spoke at meetings on July 21 and 28, Aug. 25 and Sept. 15 and 22 had obtained pet licenses.

Those licenses cost $10 to $30, depending upon whether the animal is spayed or neutered. Many of the same people talked at each meeting.

“We did not mail letters to the participants that already had pet licenses,” McCardle told the Journal in November.

The Borgs and others said people received the letters even though they had obtained the required licenses.

City Manager Paul Eckert defended what he called the courtesy letter, saying the city fields complaints from residents about troublesome neighborhood dogs.

During the pit bull hearings, Mayor Mike Hobart said, “Many individuals flaunted the fact that they don’t register their dogs.” Hobart said he didn’t fault city staff for sending out letters based on what was said at the public meetings.

According to the ombudsman’s Web page, the office has the authority to investigate complaints about Iowa state and local governments, with some exceptions.

“The ombudsman attempts to resolve most problems informally. Following an investigation, the ombudsman may make findings and recommendations and publish a report.”

Copyright © 2009 siouxcityjournal.com

Filed under Court Cases, Iowa, Results of BSL Tagged with , , ,