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Fremont bans pit bulls

By WES KAPPELMAN
The Oskaloosa Herald



FREMONT— Fremont decided to kick out all pit bulls this month in response to dogs running loose in the city.

An amendment to Fremont City Ordinance 4-1-7 defines dangerous animals to include Staffordshire terriers, American pit bull terriers and any dog which has the appearance and characteristics of being predominantly of the breeds.

The amendment was passed by the Fremont City Council on Feb. 4 and both the second and third readings were waived. The ordinance has since gone into effect after publication in the Herald.

Council Member Jeff Hopkins said a pit bull owner had not been keeping control of her dog. He said the pit bull had gotten loose and was acting aggressive toward children walking home from school.

“We figured it was best to keep our city safe and pass this ordinance,” Hopkins said. “We can’t have children walking home with that pit bull running loose acting like that.”
Hopkins said the pit bull had run loose almost daily.

Loose dogs are a problem in Fremont, Hopkins said. Fremont Council Member Phil Brown was even bit by a dog running loose during a walk.

Brown wasn’t at the council meeting when the ordinance was passed, but supports the amendment. Brown has been bitten by a loose dog, but he said he was not hurt.

“We’ve had a lot of problems with dogs running loose,” Brown said.

Cracking down on loose dogs has been going on in Fremont for a long time, Brown said.
“Somebody could get hurt,” Brown said.

Hopkins said the Fremont amendment is based on the Ottumwa ordinance enacted in 2003.

Ottumwa Police Chief Jim Clark said the number of dog attacks has decreased since the city banned pit bulls.

“In my opinion, it has made the community quite a bit safer,” Clark said. “It’s worked out real well.”

If an owner has a pit bull, the city gives the owner a week to two weeks to get the dog out of the city, Clark said.

During the first year of implementing the ordinance, Clark said there were some people that just let their pit bulls loose.

“That’s rarely a problem these days,” Clark said.

He said the reason Ottumwa passed the ordinance is the city had a high number of injuries and a death from pit bull attacks.

“As far as other communities, they need to go on their experience,” Clark said.

Oskaloosa had looked at a breed-specific ban when it passed a new ordinance in 2007, but had decided against the idea.

Herald Staff Writer Wes Kappelman can be reached by email at news2@oskyherald.com

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