Animal shelter to Elgin: Don't ban pit bulls Comments
October 30, 2009
By MIKE DANAHEY mdanahey@scn1.com
ELGIN -- Don't ban pit bulls, but consider other options.
That was the message that Michelle Groeper, director of operations for Anderson Animal Shelter, delivered to the Elgin City Council Wednesday night during the public comment portion of the council's meeting.
The city has been looking into a pit bull ban at the suggestion of some council members after a Chihuahua was mauled to death in May during an attack by two pit bulls.
Contacted Thursday morning, Groeper said the South Elgin shelter does not support such a ban, nor one that would grandfather in current pit bulls and not allow anyone from having any more such dogs in the future.
Reading from a prepared statement Wednesday evening, Groeper said, "Although we applaud your efforts to help ensure the safety of your constituents from dangerous dogs, we believe that any ordinance banning specific breeds is ineffective in addressing the issue at the heart of the problem -- irresponsible owners who don't abide by existing animal laws and don't provide appropriate care to their dogs."
Speaking on behalf of the shelter, Groeper presented information to council members supporting its belief that a breed-specific ban is not the way to control aggressive animals.
"More than 70 percent of all dog bite cases involve unneutered male dogs; 97 percent of dogs involved in fatal dog attacks in 2006 were not spayed or neutered; 78 percent were maintained not as pets but rather for guarding, image enhancements, fighting or breeding.
An unneutered male dog is 2.6 times more likely to bite than is a neutered dog," Groeper told the council.
"Only 10 percent of bites are inflicted by dogs unknown to the victim. Half of all bites are inflicted by the family dog," she said.
Groeper, an Elgin resident, said her research shows that breed-specific legislation has been costly and ineffective in improving public safety. Breed-specific legislation also has proven to be difficult to enforce, she said.
As an alternative to a breed ban, the shelter would like the city to form a task force on canine aggression that would "help to ensure the safety of Elgin residents better than any kind of breed banning ordinance," Groeper said.
The task force would look at how the city, which has one dedicated animal control officer, could better enforce the city's existing ordinances, regardless of breed, Groeper said.
The task force also would provide a community education program to teach responsible pet ownership, the role spaying and neutering can play in a pet's behavior, and emphasize dog bite prevention.
"If you choose to pursue any of these or other initiatives in lieu of a breed ban ordinance, please know that we at Anderson Animal Shelter stand ready to help in any way that we can," Groeper said.
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/1854879,3_1_EL30_20PITBULLS_S1-091030.article
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