Action 3 News - Omaha, Nebraska News, Weather, and Sports | Dangerous Dog Ordinance Approved
Member Center:
Omaha, NE -- Is your dog a good citizen or a danger to the community? The city of Omaha says it will be the judge of that. It's a dangerous dog crackdown. The city wants to take the bite from bad dogs and bad owners. The ordinance passed today means muzzles and monitoring of Pit Bulls, but focuses even more on the people.
Omaha puts dangerous dog owners on notice.
"We are holding the right end of the leash responsible. We are going after reckless owners," says Judy Varner, President, Nebraska Humane Society
If owners don't follow the city's new rules, they can wave goodbye to their dog. With only Councilman Frank Brown voting no, many outside the chamber support his decision.
"The responsible people are going to pay," Tracy Jordan who is against the ordinance.
"For the vast majority of dog owners who license their dogs and keep their dogs on their own property, who never come in contact with us, there will be no change whatsoever."
"I have never done anything wrong. I have never broken any laws, nothing."
The law requires muzzles on pit bulls and other dogs deemed dangerous, including any that bite when unprovoked and chase people down streets. Only those dangerous dogs that pass a canine good citizen test can breathe free outside the fence.
"Instead of wearing a muzzle, they will be presented with a vest that their dog will have to wear at all times saying breed ambassador."
"The humane society has outlandish fees right now. Those people can't afford to get their dogs out of the pound when they are impound, how are thy going to be able to afford a training program."
The ordinance also restricts the time a dog can be tied up to fifteen minutes and says someone 19 or older must be present when they are outside the home.
The rule passed today still with one unanswered question, how much will it all cost to enforce.
Reported by: Dave Roberts, dgroberts@action3news.com
