 |
|
|
|
Pit bull attack prompts renewed push for ordinance
7/8/2009
Cat Andersen/Eyewitness News
Indianapolis - A stiff two-year jail sentence for a man whose pit bulls mauled a neighbor is giving new life to a proposed law aimed at controlling the breed. The debate will likely move from the City-County Council to the legislature next year.
"I'll never be the same because I don't have my leg that the good Lord gave me," said Brenda Hill, 68.
Part of her leg had to be amputated after she was attacked by two pit bulls. The owner of the two dogs, 32-year-old Lee Carroll, received the maximum sentence of two years in jail this week.
"It'll never take the place of my leg," said Hill.
City-County Councilman Mike Speedy says he understands. He says a pit bull charged him a few years ago.
"It was in a frenzy and in a rage and I thought, 'Boy, am I glad that dog is tied up.' And just as I thought that, its big thick collar just snapped off," he said.
Speedy says the owner stopped the dog in time, but Hill's incident has re-energized his push for a city-county ordinance requiring all pit bulls to be registered and sterilized.
"That will help separate the responsible owners from the irresponsible owners," said Speedy.
The Humane Society says Speedy is taking the wrong approach by singling out one breed. It says the dogs are docile if cared for but like any animal, if they're tortured they will become vicious.
"When a Rottweiler or a German Shepard or a Cocker Spaniel or a rooster is somehow trained to fight, that's immoral and inhumane and that needs to be addressed by our legal system, not dog by dog," said John Aleshire, Humane Society of Indianapolis.
There could also be enforcement problems.
"Whenever you target one specific breed, you run into enforcement issues, breed identification issues," said Aleshire.
Still, Speedy argues, "These small groups were bred for fighting and they continue to be fought here in the city and that generates a specific problem. Yes, all dogs can be trained to be vicious but not all dogs bite the same as a result of their breeding."
The Marion County prosecutor says he's not looking for breed specific legislation. He wants laws with stiffer penalties.
"What we're going to do next legislative session is approach the legislature and ask them to bump the penalties for crimes like this across the board," said Carl Brizzi, Marion County prosecutor.
The prosecutor says right now, if an animal is recklessly let loose, the most someone can be charged with is a D felony. They want to raise the charge to a C felony which can carry a maximum of eight years in jail.
|
|
|
|
|
