Sioux City councilman learns the hard way that pit bulls aren't the only dogs that bite people

The shoe is on the other foot for a Sioux City, Iowa, city councilman who spearheaded a campaign to ban pit bulls in the city.  Despite vocal opposition from defenders of the maligned breed, the ban passed a city council vote last September.  (It allows owners to keep pit bulls they currently own, provided they are registered with the city, but prevents future pit bull ownership.)

Now the councilman, Aaron Rochester, is appealing a decision by the Sioux City animal control department branding his own dog -- a yellow Labrador retriever -- as vicious following an attack on a neighbor.  The dog, named Jake, will be euthanized if the decision stands.

Sioux City police say Jake attacked a neighbor who was walking on the sidewalk past Rochester's house.  The man suffered bite wounds on his thumb, which required five stitches, and scratches as a result.  The hospital where he received treatment called police to report the incident, prompting animal control to seize and impound Jake.

Lancaster approves mandatory sterilization of pit bulls and Rottweilers

Lancaster city officials voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt an ordinance designed to discourage gangs by imposing penalties on the owners of dogs deemed "potentially dangerous" or "vicious." 

The new law specifically targets two breeds of dog that officials say are favored by gang members: pit bulls and Rottweilers. When the law goes into effect in 30 days, it will require that all pit bulls, Rottweilers, and pit bull and Rottweiler mixes with "predominant physical characteristics" of those breeds be spayed or neutered. (Puppies under 4 months of age and dogs considered to be at high risk for surgical complications will be exempt from the spay/neuter requirement.) Our colleague Ann Simmons at the L.A. Now blog reports:

Opponents of the ordinance turned out in force at the council's meeting Tuesday night and argued that the new law could lead to racial profiling by law enforcement officials, who they said might unfairly accuse black or Latino males seen with a pit bull as a gang-bangers.

But Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris, who pushed for the new regulations, said he was confident that law enforcements officials could properly identify gang members.

Some critics suggested that Parris invite gang members to sit down and discuss the issue. But the mayor dismissed this idea.

"I have no desire to work with them," he said. "I have no desire to help them. The only thing I want to do is crush them and remove them from the community. ... The days of accommodating a gang member are over."

Under the new law, dogs who act aggressively "unprovoked" may be considered "potentially dangerous." 

Opponents of the ordinance turned out in force at the council's meeting Tuesday night and argued that the new law could lead to racial profiling by law enforcement officials, who they said might unfairly accuse black or Latino males seen with a pit bull as a gang-bangers.

But Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris, who pushed for the new regulations, said he was confident that law enforcements officials could properly identify gang members.

Some critics suggested that Parris invite gang members to sit down and discuss the issue. But the mayor dismissed this idea.

"I have no desire to work with them," he said. "I have no desire to help them. The only thing I want to do is crush them and remove them from the community. ... The days of accommodating a gang member are over."

Under the new law, dogs who act aggressively "unprovoked" may be considered "potentially dangerous." 

Lancaster weighs breed-specific legislation for pit bulls and Rottweilers

In an effort to crack down on gangs, Lancaster is considering a plan that would also crack down on dogs -- specifically, pit bulls and Rottweilers.

A proposed ordinance, to be voted on tomorrow, would impose harsh penalties on the owners of dogs labeled "potentially dangerous" or "vicious."  It would also require that Rottweilers, pit bulls and mixed-breeds with the physical characteristics of either breed be spayed or neutered.  Our colleague Ann M. Simmons explains the Lancaster mayor's position:

"I want gangs out of Lancaster," Mayor R. Rex Parris said in a recent interview. "I want to make it uncomfortable for them to be here. Anything they like, I want to take it away from them. I want to deliberately harass them....

"It's really like [gangs] having a weapon that they are allowed to display and intimidate people," Parris said. "If they have a pit bull, they may as well put a sign on their head saying, 'Come get me.' "

But Simmons found that many Lancaster residents are opposed to legislation singling out these much-maligned breeds and spoke out against it at a recent council meeting: