Sturgis, SD Pit Bull Ordinance

[sweetlee]

This is TOO close to home. Reading the comments shows just how ignorant people can be.
I am sure my rottie will be next.

Sturgis officials have given preliminary approval to an ordinance that would regulate the owners of pit bulls.

If enacted by city officials, the ordinance will force pit bull owners to carry liability insurance. They also will have to register their dogs and keep them restrained at all times.

Mayor Maury LaRue said that the next reading of the ordinance would be Oct. 6 at the council's next regular meeting. He said that if new information is discovered by that time, the city council will hear it then.

Sturgis Animal Control Officer Curt Nulle said there has been an increase in local pit bull attacks and complaints about them.

Sturgis resident Russell Keeton addressed the Sturgis City Council recently, urging members to approve the ordinance that would help to protect citizens from pit bulls.

Keeton was prompted by a July 25 attack in Murray Addition that left a cat dead, and a dog and Keeton injured. Keeton told the council that two pit bulls came into his yard that morning and began what he described as "25 minutes of absolute chaos" and sheer terror, as the animals attacked his dog. During the attack, Keeton also was bitten, although he has said that he is not sure which dog actually bit him. Keeton told council members, "As citizens, we have a right to not be endangered by these animals."

He compared that type of dog to Africanized bees. "When they start their frenzy, they don't give up like a regular dog," Keeton said. He said it took not only him, but also his wife, daughter, grandson and three neighbors to stop the attack.

When the dogs' rampage was over, they had also killed two of his neighbors' cats, which has prompted his neighbor to keep a loaded gun sitting in the doorway in the event the incident happens again. Keeton said that residents shouldn't have to resort to keeping a loaded gun handy in order to feel safe in their own yards. He urged the city council to adopt and ordinance regulating pit bulls.

Keeton believes the city should require pit bull owners to register the animals, keep liability insurance on them and keep the animals restrained at all times. He said that although many owners are responsible, there is still a need for regulation. In fact, according to Keeton, many towns in the Black Hills, as well as every major city in the area, already have ordinances that apply to pit bulls.

When someone wielding a steel post is the only thing that can halt an attack, it proves the danger of the dogs, Keeton told the council. In fact, it makes them more dangerous than a mountain lion on the loose in the city. "Those two dogs in particular were more dangerous than a mountain lion; a lion would have been frightened off more easily," he said.

Sturgis OKs pit bull ordinance » RapidCityJournal.com

[singularity12]

This is just terrible. Just another case of the dogs being blamed for bad owners. Don't get me wrong... What happened to the people and their dog during the attack is absolutely horrible and people should be able to enjoy their property without fear of a dog attack. But, where were the owners of the pitbulls? Were they held accountable for this? I hope so. I'm not a big fan of pitbulls, but I certainly respects the rights of RESPONSIBLE owners to keep and provide a loving home for the breed of their choice without discrimination. There are always exceptions to the rule, but I don't believe that pitbulls are born inherently mean. Bad owners make them that way, IMO.

I'm sure that after the pitbulls are taken care of, our Rotties will be next. I hope not, but I can see the writing on the wall. I knew there was bias when I got my Rottie, but I had no idea of the extent of the bias. People cross the street to avoid us and/or make very rude comments about my girl. Based on what I have read here, I know many others experience the same type of thing. I am doing my best to change people's opinion of our dogs. We try to stay out of neighborhoods and stick to the main drags for our walks. When I see people approaching from the other direction, I move her off to the side and park her in a sit/stay until the people have passed. Frequently those people are walking their little yappy dogs who will bark like crazy and even try to lunge at Sadie. She just continues to sit and look at the little dogs like she is thinking "What the heck are you barking at?" She will be starting her third round of obedience training in a few weeks. I'd be willing to bet that most other dog owners in town haven't ever taken their dogs for ANY lessons at all. I've even taken to having her wear a pink bandana when we walk as well as her training backpack (no weight until 24 months). Makes her look less "dangerous" and we get the added bonus that she has a job to do carrying the backpack. You should see her strut with her head held high!

Sorry to run off at the mouth (or fingers as it were), but I love my girl and I'm proud of her and I'll be darned if I'm going to allow anyone to take her away or place ridiculous restrictions on her. If what happened in Sturgis happens in my town, I'm prepared to move.

[sweetlee]

Ooh you can bet your britches our rotties are next. Then dobermans, then chows, then whatever the next breed of the day is.
If you read the comments that go with this article people are gullible. They believe the media hype. I wish if the papers were going to report dog bites, they would report every time someone or someone's pet is bitten by a little yapper too. Maybe they should report cats too, how many baby bunnies and birds have been killed by roaming cats? I could make the case that cats are bred to kill also.
One lady on there told a story of how her son was riding his bike and a 120 lb pitbull pulled her son off the bike and bit him.
Sorry but a 120 lb pitbull could not catch a kid on a bike, let alone anything else. A 120 lb pitbull could not get it's belly off the ground. I of course commented this back, and she said she KNOWS it was a pitbull.
Then there were the usual comments about how they are bred to be killers. Blah Blah Blah.
I am composing a letter to the editor, it's hard to put into 200 words all I would like to say.
I will post it here when I get it just the way I want it.
We all should be on our toes, at all times. It's only a matter of time until it's us.

Sharon

Sharon

[singularity12]

Thanks for pointing out the comments section. I somehow missed that. I started to post a reply, but decided it was a waste of time. Nobody involved in that discussion, if you could call it that, is interested in learning anything new.

A 120 lb pitbull? Give me a break. If that is true, the dog wouldn't even be able to make it to his own food bowl.