Post by RealPitBull on Mar 20, 2008 8:07:14 GMT -5
Pit bull ordinance
Published: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 1:06 PM CDT
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The Wellington City Council took a look at two items of animal control Tuesday evening, March 18.
Listed on the agenda as study items, the Council discussed changes to city ordinances on tethering pets and defining pit bulls for the ordinance enforcing no pit bulls allowed within the City limits.
The Council is looking at placing a two-hour time restraint on tethering animals, with an exception for supervised pets.
They are also considering disallowing pit bull mix-breeds within the city limits with wording that describes the unlawful harboring of this animal to include, “any dog which has the appearance and characteristics of being predominately of the breeds of Staffordshier bull terrier; American pit bull terrier; American Staffordshire terrier, or a combination of any of these breeds.”
The Council took no action on the items, with Councilman Terry Craig suggesting they be brought back before the Council mid-April - giving the community time to talk with their Council representatives on the issues.
All City Council members can be reached by email through the City’s newly redesigned Website at www.cityofwellington.net.
However, by mid-April, some of the seats on the Wellington City Council may change with the Tuesday, April 1st election, and Councilman Harley Freeman said it would be a good idea for persons interested in this change to also speak with the candidates running for the City seats as well as the Wellington mayor.
The issues had previously been brought before the Council at a work session meeting, and City Manager Gus Collins said staff had been reviewing the ordinances of other communities.
The tethering policy proposed for Wellington was called “less restrictive” than surrounding communities, but staff noted many communities had adopted a no-tethering policy to prevent animals from being tethered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“It’s a sad situation when you do come across a dog wrapped around with no food, no water and no shelter,” Collins said.
The enforcement of this new ordinance, if passed, could go into effect in July, Collins said, allowing the public to become informed on the issue and make adjustments for their pets.
Wellington Police Chief Tracy Heath said the City’s pit bull policy, as currently written, is difficult to enforce because the owners or harborers of the pit bulls are often the ones who give the dog’s description to the officers and courts.
Councilmember Cindy Antonich said she feared the City would be creating problems with the language of the proposed pit bull ordinance because there are 14 to 15 breeds of dogs that are not related to pit bulls but have the same features.
However, Heath said pet-owners who may have a pet that looks similar to a pit bull but is not of the same breed can always show their pet’s registration.
Both issues are still on the table for the council’s consideration. The public can weigh in on the issues by contacting City Council or staff at www.cityofwellington.net.
Published: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 1:06 PM CDT
E-mail this story | Print this page
The Wellington City Council took a look at two items of animal control Tuesday evening, March 18.
Listed on the agenda as study items, the Council discussed changes to city ordinances on tethering pets and defining pit bulls for the ordinance enforcing no pit bulls allowed within the City limits.
The Council is looking at placing a two-hour time restraint on tethering animals, with an exception for supervised pets.
They are also considering disallowing pit bull mix-breeds within the city limits with wording that describes the unlawful harboring of this animal to include, “any dog which has the appearance and characteristics of being predominately of the breeds of Staffordshier bull terrier; American pit bull terrier; American Staffordshire terrier, or a combination of any of these breeds.”
The Council took no action on the items, with Councilman Terry Craig suggesting they be brought back before the Council mid-April - giving the community time to talk with their Council representatives on the issues.
All City Council members can be reached by email through the City’s newly redesigned Website at www.cityofwellington.net.
However, by mid-April, some of the seats on the Wellington City Council may change with the Tuesday, April 1st election, and Councilman Harley Freeman said it would be a good idea for persons interested in this change to also speak with the candidates running for the City seats as well as the Wellington mayor.
The issues had previously been brought before the Council at a work session meeting, and City Manager Gus Collins said staff had been reviewing the ordinances of other communities.
The tethering policy proposed for Wellington was called “less restrictive” than surrounding communities, but staff noted many communities had adopted a no-tethering policy to prevent animals from being tethered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“It’s a sad situation when you do come across a dog wrapped around with no food, no water and no shelter,” Collins said.
The enforcement of this new ordinance, if passed, could go into effect in July, Collins said, allowing the public to become informed on the issue and make adjustments for their pets.
Wellington Police Chief Tracy Heath said the City’s pit bull policy, as currently written, is difficult to enforce because the owners or harborers of the pit bulls are often the ones who give the dog’s description to the officers and courts.
Councilmember Cindy Antonich said she feared the City would be creating problems with the language of the proposed pit bull ordinance because there are 14 to 15 breeds of dogs that are not related to pit bulls but have the same features.
However, Heath said pet-owners who may have a pet that looks similar to a pit bull but is not of the same breed can always show their pet’s registration.
Both issues are still on the table for the council’s consideration. The public can weigh in on the issues by contacting City Council or staff at www.cityofwellington.net.
I look forward to learning much here