Thursday, November 20, 2008
Sioux City Uses Comment Cards to Track Down Unlicensed Dog Owners
Responsible Owners License Their DogsSioux City, IW - Last summer, dozens of people showed up to city council chambers to voice their concerns about a breed-specific ban in Sioux City. Many filled out comment cards, with their names and addresses. Sioux City officials wisely used the information to track unlicensed dog owners. The town recently passed a pit bull ban, by law, these owners must register their pit bulls or their dogs may be subject to impoundment.
Pit bull laws do not kill pit bulls. Irresponsible owners that do not register their pit bulls after such laws are passed are 100% to blame for the fate of their dogs.Sioux City did not "pull a fast one" they pulled a "smart one" that informs dog owners to be more responsible. The city's recent action reminds DogsBite.org of councilman Brian Powers in Lakewood, Ohio. After pit bull activists spoke out against the Lakewood ban at a council hearing, animal control ticketed activists who failed to comply with existing Ohio state law. Ohio requires pit bull owners to have $100,000 in liability insurance and several other measures.
If citizens choose to speak at a public city meeting, particularly about "responsible dog ownership" and that only "irresponsible owners are to blame for attacks," these citizens need to be accountable, responsible dog owners. Licensing your dog is part of being a responsible dog owner. In the instance of Lakewood, the so-called "responsible pit bull owning activists" were far from responsible and got nailed for it. DogsBite.org sheds no tears over the matter.
City manager Paul Eckert of Sioux City defended the city's decision to use the comment cards. He said, "The conversation was about animal registration and people in the audience that night had indicated that their animals weren't licensed. So, we sent all folks who gave us addresses a courtesy letter, indicating that there's an obligation to have your animal licensed." Eventually, he'd like to see animal control services paid for solely by animal registration revenue.
Amen to that!
Related articles:
09/16/08: Pit Bull Ban Passes in Sioux City, Iowa
07/16/08: Noncompliant Pit Bull Owners Cited After Lakewood Hearing
06/01/08: Pit Bull Ban FAQ by Councilman Brian Powers

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4 comments:
| 11/20/2008 4:20 AM | Flag
Sioux City only has a dismal 15 percent licensing rate which costs the Taxpayers over $300K annually. Currently, the animal control budget is mainly funded through the general fund instead of through licensing revenue.
The entitlement mentality has to stop!
The other part of the story is that the license fees were supposed to be collected by Vets...Yet, many Vet customers were able to pass through the doors without paying the registration fees.
| 11/20/2008 7:55 AM | Flag
I see no problem with this use of contact information. If you make the choice to appear in pulic and state that you are a "responsible dog owner" you better be one.
| 11/20/2008 9:39 PM | Flag
I'm working at a house in Kokomo, IN, right now and the daughter of these people went to Ohio to buy a pit bull. It's about 100 miles to the state line. The mother said the breeder had at least 20 dogs. Before the sale they signed a paper saying they would not fight the dog. Insurance in Ohio is close to $400 per dog, per year, that is $8,000. Anyone with any thoughts on this. I would sure like to hear them.
These people also have a two year old son.
| 11/23/2008 8:59 PM | Flag
No way does she have all of those dogs insured. I wouldn't surprise me at all in NONE were insured.
These people are parasites.
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