Senath City Council votes to pass ordinance making pit-bull dogs illegal in city limits

SENATH, Mo. - The Senath City Council will have the option to pass an ordinance at the October meeting that will make owning and temporary keeping of pit-bull dogs illegal in the city.

Senath City Attorney, Johnny Dalton, recently read the ordinance by title only at the Senath City Council meeting hosted on Monday.

Dalton later explained the ordinance, informing the council that the term "Pit-bull dog" can define a Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit-bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, or any mix breed including a type of these breeds. He added that dogs with defining characteristics of these animals can also be considered pit-bull dogs.

The ordinance states that the keeping of any pit-bull dog, including for temporary time periods, will be considered illegal, according to Dalton.

"If the ordinance is approved following the restraint requirement and other stipulations involved with the dangerous dog ordinance will not matter," Dalton said. "If ticketed for this crime, someone can not say that they have it in a proper pen or muzzled, because just being in town is a violation of the ordinance as it has been proposed."

Dalton added that if the owner or keeper of the dog that has been designated or prohibited is unable or unwilling to comply with the ordinance then the animal will either be euthanized or adopted out.

Alderman John Holmes asked Dalton who would make the final determination on the mixed dogs.

Dalton informed Holmes and the council that the final decision will be the judge's decision in the municipal court.

Mayor Joe Lane noted that the city should give a certain amount of time to individuals owning the dogs in town to comply with the ordinance if it is passed in October.

"I think that if we approve the ordinance in October we should probably give people until November 1 to comply," Lane said.

Dalton explained to the council that the ordinance will be subject to the maximum fine of any other ordinance which is $500 or 90 days in jail or both.

"The way the ordinance is written every day constitutes a different violation," Dalton said. "So theoretically a month of noncompliance would be the equivalent of $500 and 90 days multiplied by 30.