City Toughens Up on Specific Dog Breeds to Prevent Dog Bites

Christina Cole

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Most people consider dog, man's best friend, but sometimes they can prove to be man's not so very good friend.

One Iowa community is taking action to secure their city against potentially vicious dog breeds. Other cites have already banned specific dog breeds due to dog bites, dog attacks and even a fatality.

Loca is just one of many examples of a normal pit bull that lives in Centerville, Iowa, who is loved by her family. She roams in her back yard on a chain, but for other pit bulls and even some rottweilers in Centerville, that could all change.

The Centerville City Council is working to strengthen the city's vicious animal ordinance because a number of residents have expressed concern.

The city is focusing on banning pit bulls and rottweilers or strengthening the rules on keeping them locked up. They are trying to be fair while also keeping children and neighbors safe.

Ottumwa Police Chief said, it's an all too familiar story for Ottumwa, which already has a similar ordinance.

"We had quite a few incidences of pit bulls attacking people with quite a few injuries resulting from those attacks. The attacks culminated in the death of a young child back in 2001, I think it was... and the city council decided we needed to do something about the pit bulls in town," Chief said.

Pit bull terriers are specifically outlawed by Ottumwa's Dangerous Animal Ordinance.