Perryville council considering ban on pit bulls

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- The Perryville City Council held a public hearing Tuesday night to discuss the possibility of enacting an ordinance banning pit bulls.

About 30 people attended the hearing and 16 stood up to voice their opinions on the potential breed ban, according to Perryville city clerk Tracy Prost. Residents were about evenly split between favoring and opposing the ordinance, she said.

No decision has been made, and the council didn't discuss the ordinance after the hearing, Prost said.

The draft of the proposed ordinance states that any dog deemed "dangerous" would have to be spayed or neutered in order to remain in city limits, and the owner must maintain a policy of liability insurance to cover any incident with the animal.

The ordinance defines "dangerous" as any dog other than a police canine that attacks a person causing injury, property damage, defensive action or a threat of bodily harm. Attacking another animal on property not belonging to the owner would also classify the dog as dangerous under the proposal.

The last part of the ordinance involves pit bull dogs.

The draft reads "it shall be unlawful for any person to own, possess, keep, exercise control over, maintain, harbor, transport, or sell within the city limit any pit bull."

The ordinance contains a grandfather clause, meaning anyone who already owned one of these dogs before the ordinance became official, if it is passed, will be exempt provided they maintain a liability insurance policy on the dog.

A pit bill is defined as any dog that is an American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier or any dog displaying characteristics recognized by the American Kennel Club as associated with those breeds.

Perryville already has city ordinances against requiring licensing, banning nuisance barking and allowing the impound of nuisance animals at large.

The draft does not list penalties, but under the general city code, ordinance violations can be punished with up to a $500 fine and up to three months in the city jail.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

388-3635

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