Article provided by Jodi Preis at Bless the Bullies
Input sought on Lyons dog ban
By Clara Kilborn
The Hutchinson News
ckilbourn@hutchnews.com
LYONS - A group charged with recommending whether pit bulls and/or other dog breeds
should be banned will host a public forum on the issue.
People who wish to speak are asked to register prior to the 6:30 p.m. Tuesday session at Lyons City Hall. Each speaker will be allowed up to five minutes.
The six-member working group, with ad hoc city council member Joseph Cedeno, was appointed with the request that they study the issue and present a recommendation to the city council, City Administrator John Sweet said.
Since their appointment in May 2006 the working group has reviewed the city code regarding pet ownership but has failed to come to consensus on the banning issue, Sweet said.
Luanne Bornholdt and Fred Miller will speak for the two opposing sides and are expected to
request that the council enforce the present code, collect fines from residents who fail to register their dogs and limit to five the number of dogs and/or cats in any household.
Working group member Max Crowl, 71, requested that the city ban pit bulls and other vicious breeds after a neighbor's pit bull charged him four times when he was in his own yard, he said.
When the neighbor called his dogs back they stopped their charge, Crowl said. What worries him is what could happen if the owner isn't home. He also hopes the city will tighten enforcement of the leash law for all dogs, he said.
Miller expects that the working group will remain divided on the idea of banning vicious dogs no matter what public comments are made on Tuesday.
"We have agreed to disagree," he said.
Between six to 10 pit bulls were registered in the city last year against a total of 125 dogs of all breeds, he said.
The council had reviewed the issue for two years in a row before turning to the working group.
The Hutchinson News, Hutchinson, Kans. | Local News
Lyons, Kansas City Officials
Letters can be sent to the officials as a group to the city hall contact e-mail.
City Administrator (620) 257-3741 / 217 E. Avenue S
City Clerk (620) 257-2320 / 217 E. Avenue S
Contact City Hall:
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Clarence Moses - Mayor
City Council
Pat Briggs
Charlotte Larsen
James Cowan
Chris Hass
Marion Latiolais
Joseph Cedeno
Gary Spellman
Bob McClure