August 5th, 2008 by Editor

From the Detroit Free Press:

“…The City Council’s Legal Affairs Committee is to meet Tuesday to consider outlawing ["pit bulls"] — and dogs that are part pit bull — after two pit bull mixes killed one of Councilwoman Beverly Kelley’s dogs and injured the other last month.

…Susan Jaeger of Lincoln Park was ticketed for having a vicious animal, a dog at large, and no dog tags on the rottweiler-pit mix and the Labrador-pit mix. The dogs are being held at the local animal shelter pending a court hearing later this month about whether they should be put down, said Allen Park City Attorney Tony Guerriero.

Under the proposed ordinance, owning a pit bull would become a misdemeanor with a penalty of up to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine, Guerriero said. Pit bulls already owned by residents would not be affected.

…But St. Francis Animal Hospital’s Dr. Marilyn Kedzierski, a pit bull owner, opposes the ban. “I don’t think it’s a total breed issue, and there are other breeds out there that do lot of damage and cause problems,” she said, adding that pit bulls at her clinic have never hurt anyone.”

Read this article in its entirety here.

Since these dogs had been reported free-roaming all morning, isn’t the real problem free-roaming dogs and the lack of Animal Control response?

Please contact the Allen Park Mayor and City Council and politely inform them that breed-specific bans/restrictions have long been known to be unenforceable and ineffective, and that an enforced leash law and adequate Animal Control enforcement deter free-roaming dogs.