Ortonville- Residents and representatives from various dog organizations turned out in defense of pit bulls at the Aug. 10 village council meeting, as the council considers remedies to a dog problem involving the breed.
‘It’s a shame to punish a breed for some people’s stupidity,? said Carrie Fenton, a village resident who came to the meeting with her pit bull, which is also a therapy dog. ‘For the rest of us that are innocent, I think it’s a travesty.?
‘It troubles all of us who love animals to hear of a specific breed being targeted,? said Connie Fleck of Canine Companions Rescue Center in Clarkston. ‘There is not any more trouble with pit bulls than any other breed.?
Several audience members appeared relieved upon learning a ban on the breed is not being considered in the village. However, some residents noted the current leash law in the village is not working, particularly residents of Brandon Hills Drive, where single family homes are in close proximity to the Brandon Hills Manor Apartments. At least three pit bulls or pit bull mixes live in the apartments and have been allowed to run leash-free in a green area that separates the apartment building from the homes. One dog owner there was ticketed for dog-at-large three times in one month and the man’s dog also bit another dog during one of these instances.
‘I’d invite you to my home to play outside and you will stay inside,? said one man at the meeting who has experienced problems with pit bulls roaming free. He nodded toward Fenton’s dog while addressing the council, saying, ‘I wouldn’t be in this room right now if that dog wasn’t on a choke chain. 15 other cities have bans. I’m scared to come down in the village and spend money.?
A neighbor of the man’s said she didn’t care about laws elsewhere.
‘I pay taxes here,? she said. ‘In our neighborhood, on our street, we have pit bull issues. I care about my street, our kids. I don’t care what breed it is… you walk your dog on a leash if you’re responsible… I’m not saying ban pit bulls, but the people who live at the end of our street are not responsible owners. Come up with something to keep us safe on our street.?
Village officials are working toward that. A dog committee comprised of Councilmembers Aileen Champion, Kay Green, and Melanie Nivelt has been researching dangerous animals ordinances in other communities and has drafted an ordinance for the village that will be presented to legal counsel for approval. The ordinance will be brought to the full council at their next meeting, set for 7 p.m., Aug. 24, at the township offices, 395 Mill St.
The ordinance would cover any dangerous animal, including dogs that have attacked a person or another animal, or have a bite record, said Green. It would not include animals that bite or attack persons knowingly trespassing on the property of the animal’s owner or animals that bite when tormented or provoked.
The ordinance would mandate that any animal that has a record of biting or attacking be confined securely in a pen, kennel or fenced area no shorter than 6 feet in height on its owner’s property and muzzled and secured on a leash when outside of the confined area. Owners would also be required to post prominently a ‘Beware of dog? sign on their property.
Failure to comply with the ordinance could result in owners being served notice to remove the animal from the village within five days of being notified. The animal could be seized by animal control without notice if serious injury or death results from the animal being at-large.
Penalties for violating the ordinance could include orders to take specific steps to ensure the animal can not escape; sterilization of the animal; or destruction of the animal at the expense of the owner. Violation of the ordinance is also a misdemeanor and upon conviction is punishable by a fine of $500 and/or 90 days in jail.
‘We’re looking at this ordinance, but not absolutely doing it,? said Green. ‘A lot of people have animals that don’t bite, but need to be on leashes. The leash law helps. Right now, with a leash ordinance they (police and animal control) can only keep writing tickets. We’re hoping they can do more with a dangerous animal ordinance. I feel horrible for the people living on Brandon Hills. Something needs to be done. No one would want to live with that.?
Bob Darden, Michigan Association for Pure Bred Dogs, Inc. boardmember, said he supports the decision of the village council to pursue the dangerous animals ordinance, which he believes is more strict than a ban on a breed.
‘When you introduce a breed specific piece of legislation, you are giving the citizens of a community a false sense of security where they think all dog problems will go away, and that’s not the case,? he said. ‘A dangerous dog ordinance brings forth enforceable dog laws that uniformly enforce across all dogs, breeds, mixes, pure breds and dog owners. From that perspective, I believe Ortonville’s trustees are looking at giving their community a really good, enforceable dog law that promotes responsible dog ownership.?