Sandy revises vicious dog ordinance

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Oct 1, 2008 by Rebecca Palmer Deseret News

SANDY-- The City Council is poised to approve a vicious dog ordinance that holds owners more responsible for their pets.

The ordinance is a redraft of a proposal made in early July that would have banned specific dog breeds such as pit bulls and Rottweilers. The new law could be approved as early as next week.

Animal lovers rallied the troops for a public hearing in July regarding the proposal, ultimately persuading the council to vote against the breed-specific law.

Since then, a committee consisting of residents, council members, veterinarians and dog trainers has met weekly to discuss changes.

"The goal is basically to protect our citizenry but not to stomp on dog owners that are responsible," said councilman Chris McCandless. "That way, you don't punish people with potentially dangerous dogs, that aren't."

The council would have passed the ordinance during its Tuesday meeting but decided to wait one week so a change could be made prohibiting owners of dangerous dogs from owning any other canines.

The new ordinance is absent any mention of breeds but gives incentives to dog owners who voluntarily micro-chip or sterilize their pets. Licensing fees are also reduced if both owners and dogs pass standardized obedience tests.

The proposed ordinance also clarifies the criteria a judge can use to determine whether a dog is dangerous. Dangerous dogs can't be outside without a basket muzzle and short leash and must be secured at all other times in a home or kennel. Their residences must bear "beware of dog" signs.

Dangerous dogs also have to wear large red tags at all times, according to the proposed city law. The tags were designed to alert the public to stay away from the pups and tells them to call animal control.

Further, dogs deemed dangerous under the proposed ordinance will be micro-chipped before being released to their owners so both the animals and their custodians can be readily identified in case of future problems.

Violation of the ordinance would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail.

"Every person has to take a responsibility for themselves and what they do," said councilman Steve Fairbanks, pleading with dog owners to care for their pets. "The only way we can have a safe society is if we decide en masse to be safe."

A handful of committee members spoke during Tuesday's city council meeting. Each was thankful the city took extra time to redraft the ordinance but some expressed continued dissatisfaction.

Kristi Ellis, a victim of a pit bull attack, told the council she doesn't understand why the city can't ban the breed or require licensing fees up to $1,000 for pit bull owners.

Sandy council members plan to ask the animal control department to track vicious dog offenses over the next six months. If the proposed ordinance doesn't prove effective in that time, the council will take another look at the issue.

"We may be wrong, but we hope not," McCandless said. "We hope this works."

The council will also consider increasing the license fee for dangerous dogs in the near future.

E-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com