Resident wants to ban pit bulls

SPRING VALLEY — A Spring Valley resident was unsuccessful in her attempt to have pit bulls and other vicious dogs banned from the city limits. Rita Peterson addressed the city council at Monday’s meeting about her concerns about pit bulls and Rottweilers in her neighborhood and throughout town.

“I was hoping that maybe we could get an ordinance of some sort,” she said. “I’d be real happy if we could just eliminate them from town altogether.”

If a total ban wasn’t possible, Peterson suggested banning them from within six blocks of a park, playground, school and daycare center.

Mayor Jim Narczewski said the city already had an ordinance against dogs running loose, and said he didn’t think the city could ban a specific breed,

City Attorney Jim Andreoni said the city had looked at a ban 10 to 15 years ago, but it was a more general ordinance against vicious dogs.

“My recollection is that we never passed it,” he said.

Peterson said one dog is often loose in her neighborhood, and one of neighbors called the daycare center when the dog was loose to warn the owner not to take the children outside. She then asked about a heavier fine for violators.

Andreoni said the current fine structure calls for a fine of up to $200 for the first offense, $300 for the second offense, and up to $500 for the third offense.

Peterson said her goal was to keep a child from being injured.

Police Chief Mike Miroux said there had been two incidents with the dog in question, an American bulldog. One incident in 2007 resulted in injuries to another dog, and another incident in 2006 involved the same dog running loose.

Alderman Walt Marini said that if there is an ongoing problem with the dog, neighbors need to call the police whenever they see the dog running loose.

Narczewski asked Miroux to speak with the owner, and he agreed.

After the meeting, Narczewski said there’s some real question about whether a specific breed can be banned.

“I don’t if you can or not,” he said. “I know some other communities have tried it; I don’t know if anybody’s been challenged.”