Recently, Flint Councilman Sheldon Neeley introduced an amendment where the owner of a dog that attacks people or other dogs would be held criminally responsible and could face jail time.
"We came to the conclusion that it's not so much the canine (that's the problem) as it is the owner," Neeley said in a
mLive article. "We can't arrest a dog, but we can arrest a person."
Last year, Neeley proposed a different amended dog ordinance that would have forced owners of pit bulls only (no other breeds) to register their dogs with police and would be subjected to up to 90 days in jail and fined up to $500 if their dogs attacked.
However, Neeley has been working with animal advocates including Philip Hogendyk of Bruised But Not Broken Canine Rescue who went from protesting the ordinance to urging City Council to approve it.
"There is a serious dog problem in Flint," said Hogendyk, “but the issues aren't limited to a single breed.”
“The proposed ordinance amendment says vicious dogs have become a serious and widespread problem in the city, attacking without provocation and seriously injuring innocent people, including children,” according to the
mLive article.
In the last few weeks, one woman has hospitalized after she was attacked by two dogs while walking her own dog and another woman was attacked by a stray dog outside of her home.
Current city ordinance requires vicious dogs to be kept on a leash or muzzle when not in a kennel, pen or house and mandates that owners display a “beware of dog” sign, keep insurance in case of injury or death caused by the dog and register the animal with the city clerk. However, no vicious dogs are registered with the office.
The proposed amendment has been through one reading by the city council last week and will be voted on after a second reading takes place.
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