Article published Nov 10, 2009
Proposed Elkhart animal ordinance emphasizes owner responsibility WSBT-TV Report
A proposed animal ordinance in Elkhart County doesn't ban breeds of dogs, but it may allow residents to keep so-called "dangerous animals."The ordinance defines as dangerous any animal that has seriously injured a human or another animal, or has been loose and shown aggressive behaviors, more than three times in a year.
Owners would have to pay a $500 fee and get $300,000 in liability insurance, among other things, to keep the animal.
“What we tried to do was to take that ordinance and write into it factors that would help protect the people of Elkhart,” said ordinance committee member Jim Piechorowski.
Those factors weren't necessarily breed-specific, he added, but placed the responsibility for bad behavior on owners and not the animals.
Residents were allowed to voice their opinions on the ordinance, but since breed-specific language was not included, many pet owners did not object.
http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20091110/News01/911119995/1130
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