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COUNCIL COMMITTEE LOOKS AT AMENDING PIT BULL ORDINANCE
By Erin France/ OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Saturday, August 8, 2009 11:40 PM CDT
Saturday, August 8, 2009 11:40 PM CDT
The manager of Pine Bluff Animal Control is seeking additional penalties for repeat offenders of the vicious dog ordinance.
The possibility of increasing fees was discussed at Monday night’s Pine Bluff Public Safety committee meeting.
In 2006, the Pine Bluff City Council enacted an ordinance stating pit bulls and other dangerous dogs inside the city limits must be registered with animal control, have a valid city license and shot records and must be confined.
Owners also are required by the city ordinance to post warning signs and take out a $100,000 liability insurance policy for each dog.
“Since that time our complaints with pit bulls has gone down tremendously,†said DeLloyd Cleveland, manager of Pine Bluff’s Animal Control department.
In 2006, the Pine Bluff City Council enacted an ordinance stating pit bulls and other dangerous dogs inside the city limits must be registered with animal control, have a valid city license and shot records and must be confined.
Owners also are required by the city ordinance to post warning signs and take out a $100,000 liability insurance policy for each dog.
“Since that time our complaints with pit bulls has gone down tremendously,†said DeLloyd Cleveland, manager of Pine Bluff’s Animal Control department.
Cleveland added that a problem now exists with a small group of repeat offenders.
“We don’t have anything in our log that would penalize someone on second offense,†he said.
His proposal would put higher reclaim fees in place for dogs found and kept by his department. These fees range from $500 to $750 for additional offenses.
Public safety committee members said they were receptive to the idea.
It likely will be on the full city council’s agenda for the Aug. 17 meeting.
“You got my vote,†said 2nd Ward Alderman Wayne Easterly.
Pine Bluff Commercial Online Edition“We don’t have anything in our log that would penalize someone on second offense,†he said.
His proposal would put higher reclaim fees in place for dogs found and kept by his department. These fees range from $500 to $750 for additional offenses.
Public safety committee members said they were receptive to the idea.
It likely will be on the full city council’s agenda for the Aug. 17 meeting.
“You got my vote,†said 2nd Ward Alderman Wayne Easterly.