Pit bull restrictions receive mixed reactions

Pit bull terriers now are classified as "restricted animals" within the city of Kirksville, but owners have concerns about whether it can be enforced effectively.

Beginning Friday a city ordinance will take effect and all pit bull owners  will have to follow a new set of guidelines or obtain an American Kennel Club canine good citizen certification.

"The idea behind this ordinance is to protect the public at large from dogs who have the potential to inflict serious up to fatal dog bites," said Brad Selby, Kirksville Codes and Planning director. "We believe that pit bulls fall into this category."

Kirksville has had reports of violent dogs with pit bull characteristics and there are concerns for city workers who have to be near these dogs, Selby said.

Selby said a pit bull would be classified under the new ordinance as a dog that has any percentage of Staffordshire terrier, American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier or has the physical characteristics of one.

Owners can come to the police station and have a DNA test done for $60 to see if their dog has any trace of pit bull blood, Selby said.

Debra Hudman, a Kirksville resident and dog owner, said she wonders whether restricting pit bulls will lead to the correction of the aggressive dog problem.

"I think that those owners who are concerned with following the law will go down and do their best to attain the certificate," Hudman said. "Those owners who have the dogs who were the initial concern will probably either not follow the law or get another breed of large dog."

Dog owner Nicci Warner said she thinks the problem is not the type of dog that is owned, but how it is treated and trained.

Warner said her dog falls into the category of looking like a pit bull, as she does not know the specific genetic makeup.

She said despite the pit-bull like look, her dog is well-trained.

 New guidelines for pit bulls include: All dogs must be registered, dogs cannot leave a house alone if an indoor pet, outdoor pets must be enclosed by a 5-foot fence and owners must have $100,000 worth of liability insurance on their pet.

Selby said dogs must also be on a leash of no greater than 4 feet long when outside the fence.

"I think that the financial burden could be a problem for some owners, but we are talking about the safety of the public," Selby said.

To avoid this financial burden, owners can attempt to attain an AKC Canine good citizen certificate at a testing facility, Selby said.

If owners obtain this certification, they do not have to have the fencing or the liability insurance.

Hudman said she plans to try to have her dog certified because some people claim her mutt looks like a pit bull.

She found a testing facility in Columbia that will have a testing session April 17, Hudman said.

Warner said she plans to attempt to attain this certificate when the school year is complete and before the 60 day grace period  to comply with the ordinance ends on  May 1.

Warner said some of the AKC test includes the dog showing no interest in a crowd and not pulling on leaches around people.

Hudman said she is worried it will be difficult to enforce the ordinance.

"They know the problem areas and those will probably be enforced quickly," Hudman said. "I am worried about neighbors who just don't like a dog."

Warner said actively enforcing the ordinance potentially could be an expensive process for the city.

Warner also said she has concerns about what will happen to the dogs whose owners cannot afford to keep them.

Selby said those dogs would go to the Humane Society, although it is unlikely they will be adopted.

"This is going to weed out the dogs who are owned by these irresponsible dog owners," Selby said. "It may weed some of the responsible owners out too and that is unfortunate."