Reading Set to Enact Dangerous Dog Ordinance
A woman attacked while getting out of her car and a little girl left
with dozens of stitches - they are bites that are far worse than the
bark and pit bulls were responsible for both. Now, Reading is on course
to enact a dangerous dog ordinance if the numbers don't change. WFMZ's
Karin Mallett has the story. To be considered dangerous- the breed has
to be responsible for 40 percent or more of the bites within a year. So
far- there have been 33 dog bites in Reading. Pit bulls account for 22
of them- that's more than 60 percent. Many of the dogs end up here at
the shelter and there's question as to whether it's the fault of the
breed or the owner's behavior.
Karel Minor: We think it actually comes down to dogs that are unsupervised, unsterilized dogs are far more likely to bite regardless of the breed.
And owners better own up. This month- a Reading police officer was assigned to help humane society officers with increased enforcement sweeps. Some are random checks- others are targeted to complaints. >> Minor: It's not just pit bulls- we're checking licensing and rabies vaccination status and making sure that everybody is taking care of their dogs whether it's a pit bull or a Chihuahua.
Jeff Waltman: 60 percent by one breed whether it's a popular breed or not is too much. It's a problem.
City councilman Jeff Waltman says he'll recommend including dog owners in on discussions about whether the city needs to act now. The dangerous dog ordinance wouldn't take effect until 2008- when all the numbers are in for the year.
Waltman: I don't think anything should be off the table and you know if there's a belief out there that it's bad owners, then we should build into that.
Mayor McMahon: So we need to educate them and if we can't educate them then we'll enforce it even further. We've gotta protect the general public. That's the goal.
The Humane Society worries the city ordinance is flawed- we'll let you know what it's asking for instead tonight at 6. Live in Reading- Karin Mallett 69 News Berks Edition.
Karel Minor: We think it actually comes down to dogs that are unsupervised, unsterilized dogs are far more likely to bite regardless of the breed.
And owners better own up. This month- a Reading police officer was assigned to help humane society officers with increased enforcement sweeps. Some are random checks- others are targeted to complaints. >> Minor: It's not just pit bulls- we're checking licensing and rabies vaccination status and making sure that everybody is taking care of their dogs whether it's a pit bull or a Chihuahua.
Jeff Waltman: 60 percent by one breed whether it's a popular breed or not is too much. It's a problem.
City councilman Jeff Waltman says he'll recommend including dog owners in on discussions about whether the city needs to act now. The dangerous dog ordinance wouldn't take effect until 2008- when all the numbers are in for the year.
Waltman: I don't think anything should be off the table and you know if there's a belief out there that it's bad owners, then we should build into that.
Mayor McMahon: So we need to educate them and if we can't educate them then we'll enforce it even further. We've gotta protect the general public. That's the goal.
The Humane Society worries the city ordinance is flawed- we'll let you know what it's asking for instead tonight at 6. Live in Reading- Karin Mallett 69 News Berks Edition.
This isn't the first time this debate has come up in Reading.
Based on a 1998 ordinance that established the precedent -- pit bulls were labeled an aggressive breed between 1999 and 2003.
Between '98 and 2002.., Reading averaged about 88 dog bites a year.
About 40 of those each year were from pit bulls.
At the current pace... pit bull bites could surpass 40 in 2007.