South Charleston axes restrictions on certain dog breeds [View All]

[uppityperson]

http://www.dailymail.com/News/Kanawha/200909170461

South Charleston has watered down an ordinance that would have required the owners of certain canine breeds to register their pets, after officials said they received critical feedback from the public.

Mayor Frank Mullens said he had a change of heart about the proposal after getting several phone calls and e-mails from dog owners. "I received a lot of information in the last few weeks that may have swayed me a little bit," Mullens said. "I thought about it more at home, and what about those people who have had these types of dogs that have been good, loving pets for 10 years, and now because of this legislation they have to slap a muzzle on them every time they take them for a walk?"

The ordinance that proposed earlier this month and passed by council on first reading called for owners of pit bulls, Rottweilers and Presa Canarios to be registered and given special red tags. When outside, those specific dogs would have to be kept in enclosures or muzzled and kept on short leashes, the initial ordinance said. The city now has scrapped mention of any specific breeds, instead requiring owners of dogs deemed dangerous to comply with the rules. The ordinance classifies those dogs as ones that have bitten, attacked or injured a person or another pet while off their owner's property, or have been used for dog fighting.

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Councilman Paul Neal also argued that pit bulls and other dogs that are raised properly do not pose a danger. Neal said he is concerned the registration fee of $100 per year and the fines for noncompliance -- $250 to $500 per day -- are excessive.