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Mesquite asking legislature for right to ban specific dog breeds
By Lynn Proctor Windle, Managing Editor
The Mesquite City Council is joining forces with other communities in asking the Texas State Legislature to allow communities to decide for themselves whether to ban specific dog breeds.
The measure is aimed at pit bulls.
Councilman Dennis Tarpley said constituents frequently ask why the city won’t ban dangerous dogs, namely pit bulls.
Tarpley said state law forbids cities from implementing such an ordinance.
However, last month, the city of Duncanville agreed to help introduce legislature to change that law, and the Mesquite council unanimously agreed Monday to follow Duncanville’s lead.
Tarpley said that in 2007, Texas had the highest rate of fatal dog attacks in the nation. Last year, there were 32 fatal dog attacks.
Seven occurred in Texas, and six were due to pit bull-type dogs, according to dogbite.org, a web-based activist group dedicated to banning pit bulls.
In Mesquite, there were 366 dog bite reports. Of that number, 124 involved pit bulls.
Tarpley also noted that 23 percent of all dogs in the city’s animal shelter were pit bulls. Many were placed there by owners who had grown fearful of the animals.
By contrast, Duncanville had only 10 cases if reported pit bull attacks in 2007. Another seven were reported during the first five months of this year.
Still other communities attempted to defy state law.
In February, Madisonville, a small community located between College Station and Huntsville approved an ordinance in February that effectively banned pit bulls. But earlier this month, the city council reversed its decision after coming under fire by pit bull activists.
Even though Texas doesn’t allow cities to outlaw certain breeds, the state does have stringent “dangerous dog” laws. Dog owners can be charged with third degree felony following an unprovoked dog attack, regardless of breed, if they knew the dog was considered dangerous. If the attack is fatal, the owner can be charged with a second degree felony.
The measure is aimed at pit bulls.
Councilman Dennis Tarpley said constituents frequently ask why the city won’t ban dangerous dogs, namely pit bulls.
Tarpley said state law forbids cities from implementing such an ordinance.
However, last month, the city of Duncanville agreed to help introduce legislature to change that law, and the Mesquite council unanimously agreed Monday to follow Duncanville’s lead.
Tarpley said that in 2007, Texas had the highest rate of fatal dog attacks in the nation. Last year, there were 32 fatal dog attacks.
Seven occurred in Texas, and six were due to pit bull-type dogs, according to dogbite.org, a web-based activist group dedicated to banning pit bulls.
In Mesquite, there were 366 dog bite reports. Of that number, 124 involved pit bulls.
Tarpley also noted that 23 percent of all dogs in the city’s animal shelter were pit bulls. Many were placed there by owners who had grown fearful of the animals.
By contrast, Duncanville had only 10 cases if reported pit bull attacks in 2007. Another seven were reported during the first five months of this year.
Still other communities attempted to defy state law.
In February, Madisonville, a small community located between College Station and Huntsville approved an ordinance in February that effectively banned pit bulls. But earlier this month, the city council reversed its decision after coming under fire by pit bull activists.
Even though Texas doesn’t allow cities to outlaw certain breeds, the state does have stringent “dangerous dog” laws. Dog owners can be charged with third degree felony following an unprovoked dog attack, regardless of breed, if they knew the dog was considered dangerous. If the attack is fatal, the owner can be charged with a second degree felony.
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