Mount Clemens, Michigan, is now a nice place to visit!

Mount Clemens is just north of Detroit. This is an article from the Mount Clemens Daily Tribune:

Mount Clemens removes pit bulls from dangerous animal ordinance
By Mitch Hotts 02/22/2012 6:48 AM

The Mount Clemens City Commission voted 5-1 Monday night to remove language targeting pit bulls from a dangerous animal ordinance, a move that will alleviate pit bull owners from a number of regulations.

Commissioners said the breed specific wording that was included in the law back in 2009 was discriminatory because it assumed all pit bulls were dangerous, and made the ordinance difficult to enforce.

“It’s the owner that needs to be taken care of, not the dog,” said Commissioner Roger Bunton. “If a gun owner fires a gun, he’s responsible for where the bullet goes.”

In 2009, the City Commission voted to amend the dangerous animal ordinance to include breed-specific language that singled out pit bulls for additional regulation including requirements for a 6-foot capped kennels and a muzzle when the dog is outdoors.

That was in response to a petition circulated by residents on Gallup Street who asked the city to provide extra tools to combat pit bulls running loose in their neighborhood. Residents were particularly concerned about young adults walking the pit bulls without controlling them.

Since that time, there have been no reports made to the city concerning pit bull attacks, officials said.

When the commission approved the ordinance in 2009, they agreed to review it after two years had passed, so the measure came up for review earlier this year.

Commissioner Lois Hill, who opposed the initial ordinance in 2009, and Commissioner Ron Campbell asked for the language to be removed. “I know for a fact that not all pit bulls are vicious,” she said.

The revised ordinance will define a dangerous animal as one that has the propensity to attack without provocation based on police reports and court records.

Bunton said he was watching the Westminster Kennel Club dog competition on television one night and learned working dogs, such as pit bulls, are naturally protective, need to be well trained and are not meant for novice dog owners.

“That’s what we need to educate our community about,” he said.

Mayor Barb Dempsey voted against the revision. She said since the change was not made during a public hearing, not everyone in the community had a chance to comment on it. She predicted anti-pit bull forces may lobby for the change to be undone at a future meeting.

The ordinance amendment was applauded by homeowner Dave Sutton, whose pet boxer mastiff mix had “some pit” in it.

“It’s not the breed, it’s the people who own the animals,” Sutton said. “For every bad story about pits you hear, I can supply you 1,000 stories of good animals.”

http://www.dailytribune.com/articles/2012/02/22/news/doc4f44e4501df37886678500.txt

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