Is Pit Bull Ordinance Working?

Greg Owen

Attorney

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When it comes to dangerous dogs, I’m sure you’ve heard the slogan "punish the deed not the breed." While many subscribe to that slogan, feeling that the fault lies with the owner/trainer of a given dog, there are many others who insist that some breeds of dogs have more of a propensity to attack than others.

According to the Springfield-Greene County Health Department dog bites and vicious dog complaints are on the decline in their neighborhood. They attribute that decline to the implementation of the Pit Bull Ordinance in the City of Springfield. That ordinance went into effect in 2005. When you compare the complaints pertaining to vicious dogs in 2005 (18 in all) to 2007 (total of eight), they feel the positive results are clear and impressive.

"The data speaks for itself," says director of health Kevin Gipson. "The ordinance is a valuable tool for our animal control staff. It is successfully making our city safer from dog bites and vicious dog attacks."