The city council of Denver, Colorado has voted to reverse its 30 year ban on pit bulls, a breed that has gained notoriety for aggression resulting in numerous injuries and deaths across the country. If signed by the mayor, the new rule allowing pit bulls within the city limits will require that owners obtain a breed restricted license, registering their dog with Denver Animal Protection. With a proposed limit of two pit bulls per household, owners must also provide proof of microchipping and two emergency contacts with a promise to notify authorities if their dogs run loose. Akin to being on probation, if a dog maintains a clean record for three years, owners will be able to apply for a regular license taking the dog off the registry.
Iowa Specific Breed Legislation | Efforts to Prevent Dog Attacks
Closer to home, in Iowa, the state also gives cities power to create bans or breed specific legislation. Just this last November, to mixed reviews in the community, the city council of Sioux City, Iowa agree to end its 11 year ban on pit bulls and pit bull mixes including American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Traveling east across the state, pit bulls are legal to own in Des Moines, but breed specific legislation requires owners of these so named “high risk” dogs to carry $100,000 in insurance coverage and to keep dogs on a leash no longer than six feet.
Davenport Iowa Dog Ordinance | Dangerous and Vicious Dogs
At the eastern limits of the state, Davenport has no breed specific legislation banning pit bulls specifically, but owners with dogs deemed dangerous – generally defined as untethered and displaying aggression, or vicious – being involved in an unprovoked attack on a person or other animal causing injury or found dangerous on two or more occasions – may be subject to serious consequences including personal injury lawsuits brought by the injured.
Contact an Iowa Dog Bite Lawyer
Anyone who has been a victim of a dog bite can attest to the lasting fear and anxiety that results from an attack and many bear the scars and disfigurement for a lifetime. Regardless of the breed, many agree that community safety boils down to whether a dog owner lives up to their responsibility which unfortunately can be hit or miss. If you or a family member is seriously injured in a dog attack, it is important to seek the help of an experienced premise liability, personal injury attorney who can hold the responsible party accountable. Contact the Iowa dog bite injury law offices McDonald, Woodward & Carlson PC for help today at 563-355-6478.