Aldermen table vicious dog ordinance

Corey Noles photo - Dana Gibbs (left) and Glenn Gibbs (center) brought their 3 year-old Doberman Molly to last night's city council to prove she is not a vicious dog. Along with the Gibbs, some 30 pet owners showed up to speak on behalf of their pets at the meeting.

Statesman Staff Writer

The Dexter Board of Aldermen voted to table the issue of amending its vicious dog ordinance Monday night.

More than 30 pet owners, many with their Rottweilers and Dobermans, came out to the meeting to speak on behalf of their pets.

Two proposed ordinances were brought before the board.

The first would have required anyone owning a Doberman, Rottweiler or mixed-breed Pit Bull to get rid of their dogs within 30 days. The second will include full or half-blooded Pit Bulls, but Rottweilers and Dobermans have been left alone.

City Attorney Yewell "Bud" Lawrence said that the Board will more than likely not take the anticipated action, so Rottweiler and Doberman owners can sleep a little easier tonight.

The most likely possibility, it appears, is that the Board, at its next meeting will approve the ordinance including mixed breed Pit Bulls and otherwise leaving the ordinance as it stands.

Aldermen Rick Hux voiced concerns over making pet owners get rid of the dogs they already own and how to determine whether a dog is or is not Pit Bull.

Currently, if the police come into contact with a dog they believe to be a Pit Bull, the take it to local veterinarian Dr Kevin Ouzts who gives his professional opinion as to whether the dog is a Pit Bull.

"I really don't like doing it because it's very subjective," Ouzts said at Monday's meeting. "I'm happy to help however I can, I just want to be clear that there is no definitive way to say for sure. I look at the dogs features and physical characteristics and make an educated guess. That's the best I can do."

Ouzts also pointed out that while the way a dog is raised is an important factor in its behavior, it is not the only factor.

"If two good dogs get together, chances are they will have good puppies," he said. "However, if two "vicious" dogs get together, chances are they will have "vicious" offspring."

Police Chief Paul Haubold stepped up later and said that he felt there was no way to determine a dog's percentage of Pit Bull.

"Any mix thereof, as far as I'm concerned, is a danger to the children in this city," Haubold said. "There is no way to determine a percentage of Pit Bull."

The Aldermen also discussed the smoking issue again Monday night.

Alderman Hux said he would support an ordinance barring smoking in restaurants only, but felt that before time was spent developing an ordinance, a straw vote should be taken to see if there was any support.

The Board voted 4-2 to see the issue dropped and, for now that will be the end of it. Voting for the ban were Alderman Hux and Alderman Crutchfield.

In other business Monday night:

* Honored Dale Eaton for 10 years of service to the City of Dexter. Eaton works for the Street/Sanitation Department.

* Voted to approve revisions to the 2006-2007 budget and to approve the annual budget for the 2007-2008 budget.

* Decided to participate in the 2007 Annual Sales Tax Holiday this August. The Board heard from Wal-Mart manager Debbie Juden in support of the measure.

* Alderman Hux question Chief Haubold about Hwy. 60 and Haubold said the department does not regularly patrol the Highway. They do, however, use the highway to observe various businesses that can not be seen from Business Hwy. 60.

cnoles@dailystatesman.com