City cracks down on its pit bull rules (Muskegon Heights)

Muskegon Chronicle ^ | 4-10-05 | Dave LeMieux

[Dan from Michigan]

City cracks down on its pit bull rules
Sunday, April 10, 2005
By Dave LeMieux
CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER

Police are making an "all-out effort" to enforce Muskegon Heights' dangerous dog ordinance following two recent pit bull attacks in the city.

"We don't want the next child killed by a pit bull to be from Muskegon Heights," Chief George Smith Jr. said.

Community Police Officer Jimmie Fox is coordinating the city's efforts to identify and ticket pit bull owners in violation of the city's dangerous dog ordinance.

"We're urging every officer on the force to exercise zero tolerance on pit bulls," Smith said.

Police issued five citations for dog ordinance violations earlier this week.

Smith also is asking for help from city residents. "We're asking neighbors to report pit bulls that aren't housed in the proper manner," Smith said.

Residents who report dog ordinance violations don't need to give their names, Smith says. "We don't want to start fights between neighbors."

Fox will be distributing copies of the city's dangerous dog ordinance door to door, Smith says.

"Our goal is to have every pit bull in the city housed in accordance with the ordinance. If they're not, we want them out of the city," Smith said.

Smith said the city has more than its share of pit bulls.

"Parents keep insisting that the dogs won't harm their kids," Smith said. "But having a pit bull loose is like leaving a loaded gun lying around for your children to play with."

Under the Heights dog ordinance, police can seize any pit bull whose owner is in violation of the ordinance.

The enforcement effort comes in response to two recent pit bull attacks in the city.

A Muskegon police detective was bitten on the arm on March 31 as he attempted to deliver a subpoena at a home at 3329 Glendale.

Two days later, a 12-year-old boy was bitten in the neck when a pit bull chained outside 2144 Jefferson broke free and chased him.

Both victims required treatment at local hospitals.

Neither pit bull was confined in a securely enclosed and locked pen or kennel as required by city ordinance, police said.

Both property owners were cited.

[Dan from Michigan]

I'll grab the popcorn for this thread.............

[MikefromOhio]

that's why I have Huskies, although they can go off the deep end sometimes too....

[cripplecreek]

My Jack Russells can get nasty with short strangers.

[Publius6961]

Since we have one of these in the immediate neighborhood, I would make a lousy juror in one of these cases.

We have a parking service alley down the middle of the block where many of us walk our own dogs and when passing a certain residence the pit bull runs the whole length of his yard and throws himself at the wooden fence, which he's bound to get through eventually, since the boards are nailed from the outside,and he is around 80 pounds.

An intimidating scenario.

[basil]

IF this is the case, I think I'd walk my dog somewhere else.

[TWohlford]

Every day the rotweilers, dobermans and german shepherds of the world thank God for the pit bull. Each of those were the terror dog in their time, and each of them is no doubt thankful to be off of the list.

I can't wait to see what dog... or animal... is the next favorite of those who feel the need to keep ill-mannered dogs that are trained to attack.

[MichiganMan]

Ok, wait a minute. Let me get this straight... The ordinance requires that all pit bulls be housed in a pen or enclosure?!? WTF? So to deal with dangerous dogs they have a law that requires that the dogs are deprived of human socialization and restricted to a small area that is only going to increase their frustration... Good Lord, what a great example of how bad law can make a situation worse. You'd be hard pressed to create a better environment for creating dangerous dogs without actually training them to attack.

Glad my pit bull/shepherd mix and I (and kids) live here and not there. Biggest problem I have with her is keeping her off the couch. Meanwhile the retriever growls at the kids whenever they approach him...

[HairOfTheDog]

Ok, wait a minute. Let me get this straight... The ordinance requires that all pit bulls be housed in a pen or enclosure?!? WTF? So to deal with dangerous dogs they have a law that requires that the dogs are deprived of human socialization and restricted to a small area that is only going to increase their frustration...

It doesn't say the enclosure must be secured away from people, I think it says the dogs must be in a securely fenced yard and not running loose. My dogs (not pits) are securely fenced, and they live with us. I think that should be enforced for all dogs, not just pits. Of course, a fenced yard won't help the kids that actually live in the house with the pits... and they are the ones most often attacked.

Of course most of the tough guy pit bull people say you can't fence in a pit, they'll always get out. I don't think it's true that fencing can't be built, but that's the excuse they give for why they 'must' chain them with chains you could anchor a ship with.

I don't like pit bulls, I think they have proven to be risky and troublesome as pets, but I don't like breed specific regulation either.

Ping!

Other articles with keyword "DOGGIEPING" since 12/29/04

[dervish]

Does this mean that other breeds are permitted to run loose?

[Republican in CA]

I think chaining them actually makes them more aggressive than being in a dog run. The article notes an incident where the dog was chained and got loose. Hopefully the owners will also socialize and exercise the dogs.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Well, I can't blame the city for this ordinance. People who own large dogs have to take the time and money to erect "dog proof" fencing. Burying railroad ties helps prevent the dog from digging out.

The only time I've gotten bit was when a toy poodle attacked me...lol!

[1FASTGLOCK45]

Hopefully the owners will also socialize and exercise the dogs

--> I think that's part of the problem, Alot of dog owners buy their "cute" little pets and don't have/or want time to spend with them. I've met people like this and it disgusts me. If your not going to spend time with it, don't have it. Simple. Also don't keep it locked up, a dog is not a toy to bring out and dust off and throw back in "storage" aka chains and cages.

[ellery]

Don't forget the American bulldog -- they were the terror dog of the 40s and 50s.

I have no problem with an ordinance that requires dogs to be in the house or in a secure, fenced yard, though -- but they need to enforce the ordinance for all dogs. Personally, I wouldn't even leave my dogs in our fenced yard without supervision.

[Ole Okie]

The only time I've gotten bit was when a toy poodle attacked me...lol!

In my younger days, I was attacked by a collie. It was a beautiful dog with a nasty tempter. Haven't trusted Lassie since.

My Jack Russell tugs at my pants leg when he wants me to throw his frisbee for him. And barks at my John Deere riding mower. That mower seems to be his one and only antagonist.

[KC_for_Freedom]

I think chaining them actually makes them more aggressive than being in a dog run. The article notes an incident where the dog was chained and got loose. Hopefully the owners will also socialize and exercise the dogs.

The key statement has to do with the owners. Dog breeds may have agressive tendencies, and I believe the Pit Bull fits this case, but the real problem is the owner. Not every owner understands and respects the responsibility that goes with a "fighter" breed. One friend recently put his dog down, It broke its leash and nearly killed a small breed on a leash. The owner has a healthy vet bill to pay as well as the loss of his dog. But he knew his dog was a problem -- it barked and snapped at lots of other dogs and could not be "socialized" by simply meeting other dogs on walks. They will probably get another large breed because they want a dog for the protection it affords, but IMO it is the owners who have the work to do.

[Texan5]

If they want to make rules like that, they should include all breeds of dog from Chihuahuas to Newfoundlands-and maybe cats, as well-loose or poorly confined dogs are a menace. They should also consider raising the loose dog fine, like the county we live in did a few years ago-it has been very effective.

Our Husky is never, ever let out of the house without someone out there with her because there is the slim possibility that she could find a way out-they are good escape artists-and there are wild animals out here that love to kill and eat domestic dogs and cats (like coyotes and cougars). We are about to electrify our fences to make our property less attractive to them just to be on the safe side-cougars can ambush humans, too. I've owned two of the dogs on the Hound of the Baskervilles list-two German Shepherds and a Chow. No, you didn't want to come into the yard or house unescorted, and yes, they lived in the house and were used to people. Never had a problem with any of them, even when our kids were young.

Why anyone would get a pet and just toss it out into a yard, kennel, or on a chain is beyond me-all that does is make them hostile and aggressive, whatever the breed-it is totally irresponsible, not to mention that purebred dogs are expensive. If the animal is unsocialized, it thinks everyone is a dangerous enemy. I have a neighbor who has a very social Pit Bull, and another with two pussycat Rotties-these dogs are treated as part of their family, though. I also have a neighbor with a wretchedly nasty Lab who is out in a kennel all the time, and the few times he has escaped he was snarling at and chasing kids on bicycles and people walking down the road.

[Squantos]

This appears to be a dangerous dog ordinance vs just a pit bull rule. Wonder what "other" pups are on their list of dangerous dogs ?

[MilspecRob]

In my younger days, I was attacked by a collie

I've been bitten twice in my life, both times by collie's that just ran up and bit me.

[MikefromOhio]

My huskies have the sweetest personalities in any dog I have ever known. The puppy is still working on it, but Princess only goes after bugs so far as I know.

My parents Newfie is also like that. He's 180 lbs and an inside dog to boot :)

[TheSpottedOwl]

There was a study done on which breed of dog is more prone to biting. Collies were #1. This was years ago, before pitbulls became popular. Jack Russell terriers are good dogs.

Aaaargh, Lassie's after meeee!