Council won’t ban pitbulls
Animal regulations may get more bite
The Auburn City Council put worries of a ban on pitbulls to rest Monday. More than a dozen attendees and a few TV news crews turned out for Monday’s council meeting for an item about overhauling animal ordinances in the city. The meeting came days after a judge ruled four pitbulls that attacked a 17-year-old in Auburn on Sept. 16 were “vicious.” The animals will be euthanized, according to previous reports. Last month, City Councilman Kevin Hanley suggested city staff study a restriction or ban on the pitbulls. Pitbull supporters launched a “pit in” to support the breed over the weekend and several attended Monday’s meeting. Mayor Mike Holmes reminded attendees that the council was not about to ban pitbulls. “The city is not going to enact legislation to ban specific breeds from this community,” he said. “State law prohibits this kind of action.” State law allows for regulating specific breeds only through spay/neuter or breeding programs, city attorney Michael Colantuono said. On Monday’s agenda, city staff sought the council’s OK to update the city’s animal regulations, which haven’t been changed since 1997. Colantuono said the city’s lack of zoning ordinances about animals was “unusual and a little old fashioned.” Code enforcement officer Jennifer Solomon said stronger laws on the city books and increased penalties could help control chickens, horses and nuisance animals, such as barking dogs. Councilwoman Bridget Powers asked what changes to city ordinances would have prevented the pitbull attack in Auburn. “It goes back to animal owners’ responsibility,” said Police Chief Valerie Harris. “The big issue here is putting responsibility back on owners.” Harris did encourage citizens to report dogs that may be of concern. Indicators that a owner may not be taking good care of dogs, such as excessive barking or poor sanitation, could help police identify dogs that are being abused and could become dangerous. Hanley mentioned recent pitbull attacks covered in the media, including an incident last month in Merced County in which a 17-month-old boy died. “There are very responsible dog owners out there and some that are not responsible,” he said. “I want to be proactive and prevent a future occurrence.” Dawn Capp of Sacramento organized a “pit in” Sunday and videotaped testimonials from pit bull owners at Regional Park in Auburn. She thanked the council Monday for not seeking a pitbull ban. “There’s individual variance in every breed of dog,” she said earlier. “It’s a matter of selecting and managing an individual dog, not judging every dog by its breed.” But Lynn Howe of Loomis is concerned the council can still seek a breed-targeted spay/neuter program. She said such a program would be a “huge nightmare” because of the difficulty in identifying pitbull mix breeds. She also said Hanley’s list of media stories “sensationalizes” pitbulls when many other dog breeds are responsible for attacks. “This is a witch hunt of an animal,” she said.
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auburn city Council notes In other business Monday night: • The Auburn Urban Development Authority awarded a contract for $239,698 to Gabe Mendez, Inc. for the repaving of the jury parking lot in Old Town. Work should start in late November and continue through late January. The work would not interrupt the Auburn Farmers’ Market on Saturdays and would impact up to 30 percent of parking spaces at any given time, said Engineering Division Manager Bernie Schroeder. • Councilman Kevin Hanley reported that city residents have two more weeks to sign a petition asking for greater fire safety in the canyon at auburn.ca.gov. Some 200 signatures have been gathered, he said. • The City Council directed city staff to study uses for city-owned property on Brewery Lane, including possible use as employee parking for Old Town businesses. • Mayor Mike Holmes dedicated the meeting to the memory of those who lost their lives in the Fort Hood shooting.
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Thank you for not banning pit bulls! Please dog owners..be responsible!
Hanley: “I want to be proactive and prevent a future occurrence.”
Come on!
There are enough laws to cover the situation. The problem is not a lack of laws, its a lack of enforcement.
You cannot prevent future occurrences unless you have a crystal ball. People will always break laws, no matter what law you create.
INFORCE LEASH and BARKING LAWS!!! Too many people ignore Leash and Barking Laws!!! It is a source of Revenue, just llike parking,speeding and not paying your taxes. To many innocent people,women with babies,children and seniors, loose dogs no matter what size or breed it is one of their major fears . Yes I said Fears. Just 1 incident in a neighborhood can scare people away.
Another reason for mandatory carry laws.
I think JonGreen has a lot in common with John Wayne. (no offense to either)
"Councilman Kevin Hanley reported that city residents have two more weeks to sign a petition asking for greater fire safety in the canyon at auburn.ca.gov. Some 200 signatures have been gathered, he said. "
Greater fire safety? what does this mean? More tax dollars spent? people cant be accountable for their own property? we have fire protection already....
I agree with watchit, enforce the laws we already have - especially leash laws. If dog owners were responsible and had control over the large and potentially dangerous animals they choose to keep, we wouldn't need to worry about our safety around them.
John Wayne was one of my favorite actors...maybe we should put together a hunting party just like the deer hunt...
Obewan,
...composed of 12-year olds with belt-fed automatic weapons?
I high 5 the people for not banning Pit-bulls, (American Pit-bulls Red noses, blue noses, Bull Terrier, etc,.) There is a very large variety of "Pit-bulls" . They are wonderful family dogs, and all around great natured animals, very loyal and extremely smart. Thank you for acknowledging that it is the owners who are at fault, for the behaviour of their animals. That goes for any animal.
Auburnite-This property is on the canyon and does not belong to indiviual
citizens.
Responsible pet owners spay or neuter there animals. Dogs are considered a kennel when there are more that three. Enforce kennel laws.
Skeptic...oozies might be the best way to go..that way the younguns can just cover a wide sweeping swath as the pack starts to attack them with their mighty jaws and teeth...the word will travel fast during the night howling and as the dogs figure out man is out to get them....these wild packs might just decide to sneek out at night and hunt down man....
I am with John Green. Let people protect themselves.
Bumper $ticker Ideas:
"Don't ban pit bulls; Ban pit bull owners."
"Pit bulls don't kill people, pit bull owners kill people."
"Pit bulls are people too."
"My other gun is a pit bull."
One more bumper sticker idea:
"Friends don't let friends own pit bulls."
Obewan is an Idiot......I know he always has a sarcastic comment on most of the posts here but when I read them I think "Is he the town Jester or just popping off "almost always about something he knows little about. C'mon man.......if a dog(any breed) attacked you, what would be your first response? Crap yourself ? Fight or flight?......I hope your Mom or some other loved one is not put in this situation and then tell me what your real response would be. If some *!&^#% thought he could control 4 pitbull dogs and confide them to his backyard and not think that they would or could escape and harm the general public.......Shame on him......but to make light of this type of situation involving public safety in OUR hometown ..........shame on you..........I totally agree with Jongreen about protecting yourself and if those dogs had come my way we would be talking about 4 dead dogs and the right to bear arms!!!!!!!!!
Joe......Your post is reprehensible and inciteful. I may be mistaken, but I believe Jongreen's response was tongue in cheek. You don't have the right to blaze away at any number of dogs that are simply "coming your way" as your comment would suggest. And unless your pointing your gun at them as they approach, it's a sensless thought.
$239,698 and the city have no money?
Auburnite 1 fire engine with 3 firefighter's can't stop a fire comming out of the canyon. neither can clearing 100 yards around your home.
Joey,,what edah ididot emean:) Youth havvth no hummor...
why is it that when a dog breed other then a pit bull attacks some one no one really knows about it but heaven for bid if a pit bull attacks someone its front page news and plastered every were. its not the breed that is the problem its the owners and how they train their dogs. most of the time dogs don't attack unless provoked to or are scared for their own lives. i think they should enforce more laws against animal abuse. now days if your caught abusing your animal you pay a fine and most likely get your animal back or worse you just get a warning and check up on the situation. if your caught abusing your animal i think that should automatically terminate your right to own any animal of any kind. just like we have laws enforcing sex offenders to be known so should they with abusive owners so that they may never buy or own another animal again. their beautiful animals and great companions. don't destroy the breed get rid of the irresponsible owners!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!