WV City bans pit bulls, current owners must register or dog will be removed [View all]
BLUEFIELD — Click here for video
No new pit bulls may be owned within the city limits of Bluefield after the city board passed an ordinance Tuesday banning the breed.
The city board voted 4-0 with member Dr. Tom Blevins absent to approve the ordinance banning future ownership of the breed. City Attorney Brian Cochran said the ban goes into effect immediately but current pit bull owners have 10-day grace to register their dogs with the city before the animal is removed.
After the ordinance was passed, many citizens spoke out against the vote. Laurie Harman, a local animal rescue advocate and resident, said the decision will have a negative impact on the entire county.
“The Mercer County Shelter is not just the shelter for Bluefield; it is the whole county’s shelter,” Harman said. “Because of this ban, hundreds of dogs at the shelter will die each month. I am one of many who spend their blood, sweat and tears trying to help these animals. Every board member should have worked a day in the shelter’s euthanasia room before being allowed to vote on this ordinance. I would have begged the city to punish these cruel owners instead, but now it is too late. There are no bad dogs born, only bad owners. Come reelection time, we will remember this, and me and other animal advocates in the city will choose to vote in all new candidates to the city board.”
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A lot of people here are animal rescuers and with this ban in place, there is nothing we can do,” she said. “This ban will stop pit rescues. These dogs are hard to adopt not because they are violent but because of bias. You wouldn’t judge a human by their skin or nationality, so why are you judging a dog by its breed? All of these people are willing to work with you. This ban is not going to solve the problem. It will make it worse.”
City Manager Jim Ferguson said as of Monday 41 pit bull owners have registered 58 dogs with the city. Ferguson said 45 dogs have also been picked up for not being registered.
http://bdtonline.com/local/x1915241754/City-bans-pit-bulls
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