ALABAMA -- Although a city ordinance bans pit bulls and other "dangerous dogs" inside city limits, recent incidents have raised concerns about the animals.
Mary Margaret Hampton on Thursday told city council members three pit bulls belonging to a neighbor entered her yard twice since January, killing her Siamese cat and a Chihuahua puppy.
"They tried to attack me," Hampton said. "They tore the gate off the porch and tried to get into my house."
On Wednesday, a Jefferson County deputy sheriff shot a pit bull that lunged at him in Center Point. The dog was one of three that chased a woman into her house, said Chief Deputy Randy Christian. Another of the dogs was captured.
After Hampton's cat was killed, the neighbor's dogs were quarantined and the owners were told they had a week to get rid of the animals or a citation would be issued, a deputy told city officials Thursday night. Despite the warning, the animals were later brought back.
Mayor Tom Henderson said that happens all too often.
"Write them a citation right then. They're illegal period," Henderson said.
Other city officials agreed.
"You have to issue the citation to get the court process started," said Council President Roger Barlow.
Council member Linda Kennemur, chairwoman of the public safety committee, said the issue would be a good topic of discussion for the next community watch meeting, being held Tuesday at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
The city Council in 2008 passed what it calls a "dangerous dog ordinance" that outlaws the keeping of pit bulls and any dogs "with a propensity, tendency or disposition to attack unprovoked" or any dog that is aggressive by nature.
(blog.al.com - Mar 29, 2013)
