13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |Dangerous dog ordinance tabled by council

Dangerous dog ordinance tabled by council

Mary Milz/Eyewitness News

9 p.m. update - The proposal was tabled by the Rules and Public Policy Committee Tuesday night, which makes it unlikely that it will go any further.

Indianapolis - A proposal to toughen the city's dangerous dog ordinance may have more bark than bite. The proposal, co-sponsored by Republican councilors Mike Speedy and Virginia Cain, requires pit bulls to be sterilized and registered.

But Democratic Councilor Angela Mansfield said it has it has "absolutely no chance of passing."

Mansfield and Republican Christine Scales said 15 animal welfare groups and 17 councilors have come out against breed specific legislation "and at least five others have said they will not support it," Mansfield said.

An ordinance needs a minimum of 15 votes to pass.

"We're basically saying breed specific legislation does not work," she said.

Asked about the letter, Speedy said, "I never saw it. If that's out there, it's a disappointment because we won't have a debate on a crucial public safety issue."

Mansfield said the opposition shouldn't come as a surprise.

"I don't think he's been listening to what people have been saying in numerous meetings," she said.

Speedy said the letter doesn't change a thing. He still intends to pursue it.

"Bites are up, the pit bull population is up and we have horrible maulings. We need to do something about it," he said.

Speedy wants three public hearings on the ordinance before it goes to the council for a vote.

Mansfield said, "We've had this debate before only three years ago. We went over it in great detail at many meetings, many community meetings."

She said why go there again if it doesn't stand a chance of passing - especially with the council facing issues like the CIB bailout.

"It's wasting valuable time council members and animal welfare groups could be spending elsewhere in a productive way," she said.

In response, Speedy said, "I don't think public education on an issue that can save lives is a waste of time."

Both agree there's room for improvement when it comes to the current dangerous dog ordinance. Mansfield said at this point, the city doesn't have the resources to enforce it.