That's the question behind a new ordinance that Niles Township is considering.
A couple of recent pit bull attacks spurred the board to consider banning dogs that have attacked others.
Last week pet owner Denise Rose let her beagle Maddy out late at night.
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| Maddy the Beagle is lucky to have escaped the pit bulls |
She heard outrageous squealing and ran to find two pit bulls biting her dog.
“Maddy… she sounded like she got hit by a semi,” says pet owner Denise Rose. “I've never heard an animal yell for help in my life, I still don't sleep good at night, I feel bad because I let them out.”
The dog is now on heavy pain medication and still has stitches on her hind legs.
The family also found their cat, dead across the street. The cat had a broken neck and been bitten several times.
The next morning the two pit bulls were returned to their home by Berrien County Animal Control.
The owner of the pit bulls says they have always been friendly and never shown aggressive behavior.
Now Niles Township is considering an Animal Control Ordinance that wouldn't allow animals to be returned after an aggressive attack.
“The ordinance does not stipulate the animal be put down at all or destroyed,” says Niles Township supervisor Jim Kidwell. “It’s stipulates that the animal cannot be retained back in the township.”
The ordinance is being examined by an attorney before its first read on August 15th at the board meeting, after that it must be posted in the newspaper.
Thirty days later, if approved, it could be written in as an ordinance.
The township has tried to emphasize that this is not breed specific. Also with each instance an attorney can examine the case and make exceptions to the ban.
(WNDU - August 4, 2011)
