Elkhart, IN: Pit bull ban proposed

**Not to be confused with Elkhart County, IN**

On Nov. 2, Elkhart, IN city council was presented with the first draft of a proposed animal control ordinance that bans “pit bull” type dogs from the city.

Read the proposed ordinance here: http://www.elkhartindiana.org/egov/docs/1256847720_300140.pdf

Most relevant points of the ordinance are as follows:

(c) “American Pit Bull Terrier” means any dog or crossbreed of dog exhibiting those distinguishing characteristics that:

(i) Substantially conform to the standards established by the American Kennel Club (A.K.C.) for American Staffordshire Terriers or Staffordshire Bull Terriers; or

(ii) Substantially conform to the standards established by the United Kennel Club (U.K.C.) for American Pit Bull Terriers; or

(iii) Substantially conform to the standards established by the American Dog Breeder’s Association (A.D.B.A.) for American Pit Bull Terriers.

Technical deficiencies in the dog’s conformance to the standards established by the A.K.C., U.K.C., and A.D.B.A, for American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, or American Pit Bull Terriers shall not be construed so that the subject dog is not considered an American Pit Bull Terrier.

Section 8. American Pit Bull Terriers.

(a) Except as provided in Subsection 8(b), it shall be unlawful for any person to own, possess, maintain, or harbor on any property within the corporate boundaries of the City any American Pit Bull Terriers. The Animal Control Officer shall impound and dispose of any American Pit Bull Terriers found within the corporate boundaries of the City.

(b) A person may own, possess, maintain, or harbor within the corporate boundaries of the City an American Pit Bull Terrier if:

(i) Within 180 days of the effective date of this Ordinance, the person who owns, possesses, maintains or harbors an American Pit Bull Terrier properly licenses such dog as a vicious or dangerous animal under this Ordinance;

and (ii) complies with all the requirements in this Ordinance for maintaining or harboring a vicious or dangerous animal.

Contact info for City of Elkhart officials:

Mayor Dick Moore
Municipal Building, 229 S. Second St., Elkhart, IN 46516
Telephone Number: (574) 294-5471 ext. 240
Fax Number: (574) 293-7964

City Clerk Sue Beadle
229 S. Second Street, 3rd Floor, Elkhart, IN 46516
Telephone Number: (574) 522-5272
Fax Number: (574) 296-9811
sue.beadle@coei.org

1st District Councilman Dave Osborne
1102 McPherson St., Elkhart, IN 46514

2nd District Councilman Brian A. Thomas
914 Strong Ave., Elkhart, IN 46514

3rd District Councilman David E. Henke
1752 Crabtree Ln., Elkhart, IN 46514

4th District Councilman Ron Troyer
1105 Princeton Blvd., Elkhart, IN 46516

5th District Councilman Brent Curry
2312 Hawthorne Dr., Elkhart, IN 46516

6th District Councilman Tonda Hines
710 S. Ninth St., Elkhart, IN 46516

At-Large Councilwoman Mary M. Olson
1632 Brookstone Ct., Elkhart, IN 46514

At-Large Councilman Ralph Bean
1135 Kenmore Ave., Elkhart, IN 46514

At-Large Councilman Rod Roberson
146 Los Angeles Ave., Elkhart, IN 46516

E-mail addresses for city council:
dave.osborne@coei.org; brian.thomas@coei.org; david.henke@coei.org; ron.troyer@coei.org; brent.curry@coei.org; thines@elkhart.k12.in.us; mary.olson@coei.org; ralph.bean@coei.org; rodregina@comcast.net

Previous alerts for Elkhart: http://stopbsl.com/?s=elkhart