Pit bulls 'high risk' in new proposed ordinance

IOWA --  Five Des Moines residents urged city officials Monday to remove breed-specific language from Des Moines' animal ordinance.

The residents spoke out at a City Council work session after staff shared a new animal ordinance that would redefine "vicious animal," but maintain particular labels and regulations for pit bulls.
The recommendation followed months of review with a group of city staff, residents and local animal control experts.

Kandi Reindl, assistant Des Moines city manager and leader of the group, on Monday presented data from the first six months of 2014 showing pit bulls were responsible for 27 human biting incidents, more than any other breed, out of 150 incidents in the city.

Labradors were the second-highest breed with 14 reported bites of humans, while there are roughly four times as many Labradors as pit bulls in the city, according to 2014 dog license numbers. There are 1,831 licensed Labradors compared with 466 licensed pit bulls, according to city staff.

"We have more bites by a pit bull than a lab and there are four times as many labs in the city," Reindl said.

The new ordinance suggests replacing the word vicious with "high-risk," which would still apply to all pit bulls in the city. The designation requires special insurance for pit bull owners.

William Schoenenberger, a resident who was part of the group reviewing the ordinance, said he supports removing breed-specific language because of the vague definition of a pit bull mix, which veterinarians have said is a subjective judgment based mostly on appearance.

Schoenenberger, who is president of the Meredith Neighborhood Association, and others emphasized that dog owners should bear more responsibility for dog issues than the dogs.

"The people are responsible for the behavior of the dogs," Des Moines resident Jennifer Cooper said.
Resident Mike Keller supported having special requirements for pit bulls.

"A bird dog's going to chase birds, a terrier is going to chase varmints and a dog that's bred to be more powerful with a propensity for viciousness is going to be a higher risk dog," said Keller, president of the Westwood Neighborhood Association. "There's no changing that."

The new animal ordinance is not slated for vote at Monday's City Council meeting, but is expected to appear on an agenda at a meeting in the near future, according to Reindl.

(DesMoinesRegister.com - November 17, 2014)