In a 5 to 3 vote, Saginaw city council members have voted to approve a new dangerous dog ordinance.
While this new ordinance has many new guidelines for pet owners to follow, one of the most controversial points was the definition of "dangerous dogs".
The ordinance defines “Dangerous Dogs” as:
(A) Any dog with a propensity, tendency, or disposition to attack, to cause injury or to otherwise endanger the safety of human beings or other domestic animals; orThe breeds currently on this list include Pit bulls, Rottweilers, German Shepards, Bullmastiffs, and Alaskan Malamutes. However the ordinance clearly defines that any dog with a tendency to cause injury or endanger safety is also considered to be a dangerous dog. Some people still feel that those breeds are being singled out.
(B) Any dog that attacks, attempts to attack or that, by its actions, gives indication that it is liable to attack a human being or other domestic animal one or more times without provocation; or
(C) Any dog of a breed that appears consistently in the top five (5) of the breeds on credible, analytical listings of “Most Dangerous Dogs” as verified and supplemented by local data and records for Saginaw County. The “list” shall include any dog that by physical appearance could be believed by any reasonable person to have sufficient physical or temperamental characteristics or behaviors to be a “mix” of any of the breeds listed or a “mix” with a non-listed dog where the mixture exhibits the dominant physical appearance of a dog on the list, and any other dog that has the substantial physical characteristics and appearance of those breeds on the list. Such list shall be updated annually and available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office.
Under this ordinance, owners of these dangerous dogs have to register their pets with the city for a one time fee of 20 dollars. They will receive a city issued sign to post on the house in which the dog is registered to.
While the fee is not remarkably high, some argued that it is just a money maker for the city. City council members say that the fees would be necessary to enforce these new guidelines. In addition to the fee, the dogs would also have to be leashed, held in a kennel or fenced in, following specific guidelines. Violators could be fined between 100 and 400 dollars.
Supporters of the dangerous dog ordinance want to stress that their main goal is to crack down on irresponsible dog owners, and to promote public safety.
Dennis Browning, a Saginaw city council member said "We want people to take care of their animals. They're allowed to have any dog they want, we're just telling them that you have to take care of them."
[NOTE: Everyone, not just people living in Saginaw, needs to understand the Dangerous Dog ordinances in their city/county. Where I live, a dog can be deemed Dangerous even if it hasn't bitten anyone. If it runs you back into your home, corners you on the side of a building, growls/charges, anything that made you fear you were going to be injured by this animal, it can be deemed Dangerous. Many officers are not familiar with the specifics of the law, though, and are hesitant to cite for this ordinance. But, this is where it is up to citizens to know and understand the law.
If the officer will not write the citation, saying, "I can't do anything. I didn't see it do what you say it did. It was friendly when I went to talk to its owner." DO NOT ACCEPT THAT AS AN EXCUSE. Demand that the officer write the citation, that you will be the court's witness. Threaten to contact the Mayor's office, the media, whatever you need to do.
If the dog is habitually getting out and bothering people, use your cell phone or camera to get video of it chasing people, charging people. That way, even if you weren't chased, you can go to court and show the judge the video you took. The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. This aggressive dog is telling you that his behavior is going to get worse and worse until he does something serious. Court-ordered restrictions on the dog will force the owner to be more responsible or surrender the dog to the shelter. Often, when faced with citations and requirements for a Dangerous Dog classification, the owners will simply turn over the dog to authorities. Yes, they may just go get another dog that eventually does the same thing, but for the time being, you removed the current threat from your neighborhood.]
