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Pitbull attacks prompt township to consider drafting ordinance
Published 10:23pm Monday, August 1, 2011The Niles Township Board is considering drafting its own animal control ordinance after a dog killed a cat and injured another dog in a township neighborhood recently.
Township Supervisor Jim Kidwell brought up the issue at Monday’s board meeting, explaining that it had been reported that two pitbulls had gotten loose in a neighborhood in the township and killed a neighbor’s cat and mangled a dog.
“I think it’s time to revisit this,” Kidwell said, “to protect the citizens of the township a little better.”
Currently the township relies on Berrien County Animal Control to handle complaints of dangerous animals. The county has quarantined the pitbull that is suspected to have attacked the animals.
Clerk Marge Durm-Hiatt said the board could have a first reading of a draft of an animal ordinance as early as the next board meeting. The board members still have to discuss some provisions of the ordinance, like how many animals a household can own.
Niles City Councilperson Bill Weimer, who was in attendance, said the city’s animal ordinance allows for a total of five pets per household.
Tags: Niles Township
Every pit bull website states that pits are often dog aggressive, even with early socialization. It is instinct, and instinct means no training needed.
No pit bull breeder website that I can find states, “We never breed dog aggressive dogs; all our dogs are dog friendly.” In fact the opposite is true. Many brag that their dogs are the warrior or the gladiator of the dog world. Aggressive names abound.
Pits are the choice of dog fighters as they have been bred for generations to be good at mauling other dogs. Add the fact that gameness is a inborn trait and the size and strength of many pit bulls and great damage can occur.
Why would anyone who truly cares about dog welfare and wants them to have long, happy lives, want the instinct to maul other dogs to be continued? Of all instincts, dog lovers would want this instinct to stop.
Free, mandatory spay/neuter/microchipping for all dog aggressive dogs and all pit bull types. Now that dog fighting is illegal, the pit bull instincts and abilities are obsolete.
I believe the number of animals was already addressed in old ordinances but maybe those were eliminated during the recent codifications. But in any event, why create an ordinance when there are already laws to handle such problems? Are we going to have an animal control department too?
A number of communities around the country require that people/persons with Pitbulls are required to carry liability insurance. There are more than double the people who are killed or injured by pitbulls than any other breed.
What’s the matter, Mr Tonkin? Worried Kidwell will do ANOTHER positive thing for Niles Township? Heaven forbid! What is it, exactly, that WOULD make you happy?
Msy, you are blinded by your hate for me and love for Kidwell. My comments are not against Kidwell but the idea that more government rules and regulations are not necessary. The fact that there are already laws to “protect” (which really isn’t a protection but deals with after-the-fact) the public makes a township ordinance unnecessary. To create one would require enforcement and prosecution that costs the township more money they need not spend. Isn’t that what Kidwell wants? To stop spending taxpayers money foolishly?
If there is an ordinance drafted, it should be for ALL breeds, NOT just the Pit Bull!!!
You know it is a disturbing day when I live in a township that has had 6 robberies in a year and a murder with in the past 2 years, and we are concerned with a dog doing it’s God given instinct. It is no different than the neighbor cats coming to my home and killing the birds at my feeder or the men behind my house shooting the deer. I fail to see how an oridance will correct the true problem and will only promote ‘basement breeding’ when it’s the owners that need to be held accountable. When are we going to hold a dog owner accountable for THEIR negligance?? I’m sure you could talk with Animal Control and the Humane Society and find numberous cases of ‘dangerous dogs’ and I’ll bet you, the dog is/was not in the possession of a responsible owner.
if your put an ordinice on pitbulls you should also do it with every breed of dogs thats not fair for the people that train there dogs right nobody even knows for a fact that theses two dogs attack so quit blaming the breed for all attacks. till you get proof or start banning alkl breeds of do and debbie till you have one keep your mouth shut you dont know
we need to get this gut out of office you wont get my vote next time
I would love to see this ordinance that Mr. Kidwell drafted… anyone know how I can get a copy of it. No one is being very helpful at the supervisors office…
PS MSY, I have praised Mr. Kidwell on several issues. The audit (I suggested the state do it years ago and told him to look into it when he took office), finally getting a web site online (even if it was his), the questioning of certain payments to name a few, but of course you must have missed those. Na, you are a blog patroller too as I am accused of being, so how could you have? You know (and if you dont read the minutes) that I have often voted alone on issues when on the board and would agree and/or disagree with Mr. Kidwell with the same convictions. We are of like minds in many ways but differ greatly on how to act on methods and treat the fellow board members as people.
Wow that is great news. THe national Pres of Humane Socieity of US now recommends sterilizing all pitbulls because over half of the pitbulls taken in as pets are relinquished to shelters within two years. People seem to have a hard time controlling this breed. The number in shelters is taxing resources across the nation as hundreds are needed to be put down everyday. Today news stories are out about a Indiannapolis 7 yr old that is having her 57th surgery to try to recover from a pitbull attack. She still looks like a maul victim with half of her scalp gone and intensive facial scarring. She will have a hard time finding a mate or a date and will likely face a lot of teasing. We have to care about these victims who are scarred for life, or those who loose limbs. Pitbulls do bite more than any other breed and they don’t really bite, they maul. Sins of the father fall on the sons. These dogs were bred by evil people for evil purposes and the result is evil. They suddenly revert to their genetic roots without warning and the results are deadly. Pitbull advocates always minimize the deaths and explain them away but we need to remember we are all connected and people injured, disabled or killed by pitbulls do matter and they do have familys that suffer. Breed Specific Bans do work and they can put stiff fines on people who don’t comply. Currently owned dogs are grandfather in, and allowed to live out there natural lives. Any sane person who believes in God or Karma doesn’t want a pitbull. As for the townships decision, Many elderly people move to condos with Breed Specific Laws and an ordinace will help draw home buyers and permenent residents helping property values. It is a win-win move.
Hoooraaay! Now PLEASE bring the same to Howard Twnshp!!! We need it here more than anywhere else in Niles!!! Too many deadly pits in our area!!! I’m glad something is finally being done about this breed!!!