**ALERT** Decatur City, Illinois

[Rene Allegrini]

Contact information is below the article

Herald & Review - Decatur City Council hears pitch to outlaw pit bulls, By MIKE FRAZIER - H&R Staff Writer



Decatur City Council hears pitch to outlaw pit bulls
By MIKE FRAZIER - H&R Staff Writer


DECATUR - A resident who was attacked by a pit bull urged the Decatur City Council on Monday to ban new ownership of the dogs in the city.

"Pit bulls were born and bred to be aggressive," said Barbara Brooks, a former inspector for Decatur Housing Authority, who was attacked during an inspection. "We need to be proactive. We can't wait until a child is mauled to death or an elderly person is mauled to death. We have to take some kind of action now."

Brooks was accompanied by Decatur attorney Bill Faber, who suggested the city consider a ban similar to one enacted in Denver, Colo.

Decatur currently prohibits "vicious, dangerous or fierce" animals from being kept within city limits. Faber said current laws are reactive and allow for "one free killing" before an animal is barred from the city.

Under the proposal, new pit bull ownership would be banned. Current pit bulls would be registered with the city. Stricter standards would be enacted and owners would be required to carry an insurance policy on their pit bull.

Pit bulls already in the city could remain with registered and insured owners, but no new pit bulls would be allowed. The ordinance in Denver has been upheld twice by Colorado's Supreme Court, Faber said.

Faber said attacks from pit bulls represent a "plague that stalks our community." The ordinance would protect children, firefighters, police and letter carriers, among others, Faber said.

"For the drug dealers, the gang bangers and the felons, pit bull dogs now serve as their new Colt .45 guns," Faber said. "These gang bangers possess pit bulls and not golden retrievers for dangerous reasons."

Council members gave no immediate response to the proposal to ban pit bulls.

The council did not hold a study session Monday on an agreement for animal control with Macon County. Three council members were absent Monday.

"It would be most appropriate to hear that when everybody is here," Osborne said.

City and county administrators have worked in recent months to iron out a new agreement. Some members of the Macon County Board have expressed frustration over negotiations.

Mike Frazier can be reached at mfrazier@ herald-review.com or 421-7985.


City of Decatur
1 Gary K. Anderson Plaza
Decatur, Illinois 62523
(217) 424-2700

Mayor Paul Osborne
(e-mail link does not work)

City Manager Steve Garman
(e-mail link does not work)

City Council Minutes:
Decatur City Council

City Council Agendas:
Decatur City Council Agenda