ALERT: Lyons, Kansas

[Baxter's Mom]

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: New Page 1

Clarence Moses - Mayor

City Council
Pat Briggs
Charlotte Larsen
James Cowan
Chris Hass
Marion Latiolais
Joseph Cedeno
Gary Spellman
Bob McClure

[Baxter's Mom]

Pit bull discussion draws low turnout in Lyons
By Clara Kilbourn
The Hutchinson News

ckilbourn@hutchnews.com
LYONS - The pit bull debate seemed to lose a bit of its bite Tuesday in this county seat town of 3,500 residents.

A public forum called to enlist comments on the issue of banning pit bulls and other specific dog breeds attracted five speakers out of the 20 people attending.

City Councilman Joseph Cedeno, who has served as the ad hoc member of a six-person working group appointed to review the pit bull question, expected a much larger crowd, he said.

"We had even talked about how many might show up and having to meet in a larger room," he said. "I thought there would be more. This is really odd."

Luanne Bornholdt, a member of the working group, served as a presenter and outlined a list of recommendations the group will present to the City Council at the March 5 meeting:

• A maximum of five dogs/cats in a residence.
• Leash length restricted to six feet.
•Violations of the animal ordinance by an owner will no longer be expunged at the end of 12 months.
•A $25 fine will be levied for a loose dog and the fine will increase with additional infractions.
•A $30 fine will be levied for failing to register a dog.
•The city will increase the number of animal control officers.
•A grandfather clause will exempt present owners from the maximum number of animals allowed.

The working group remained split three to three on whether pit bulls and other vicious dogs will be allowed in the city.

Three members of the working group will recommend to the council that pit bulls be banned. The three members against a ban requested that the city provide information to residents about responsible dog ownership.

In a show of hands, the working group agreed the recommendations presented at the forum will be presented at the 6 p.m. March 5 city council meeting.

Cedeno was unsure whether the council would take action on the report at that time.