Thanks to Jodi for this alert!
Please note that a breed ban is one of over a half dozen different suggestions for ordinance revision, and not all council members are in favor of the idea. Additionally, these ideas are in the early formation stages, and the specific breeds that would be affected by a ban have not been selected yet (although “pit bulls” would almost certainly be included, as the council’s informational material included a news article about another city’s pit bull ordinance).
Officials in Mason City, Iowa are considering are considering a number of options in an effort to control “vicious” dogs. One of the options under consideration is regulation of the ownership of specific breeds of dogs. The council discussed this issue at a work session yesterday afternoon, but took no action. This is expected to come up at a future council meeting.
Please take the opportunity to send your POLITE, RESPECTFUL and INFORMATIVE letters in opposition to an ordinance that would regulate and/or restrict the ownership of specific breeds of dogs, and encourage city officials to pursue a breed-neutral vicious dog ordinance.
City of Mason City, 10 First Street NW, Mason City, IA 50401
Phone: 641-421-3600
Fax: 641-423-5369
Email: cityinformation@masoncity.net
Mayor Eric Bookmeyer, mayor@masoncity.net
Max Weaver, weaveratlarge@masoncity.net
Scott Tornquist, tornquistatlarge@masoncity.net
Jeff Marsters, marsterswardone@masoncity.net
Travis Hickey, hickeywardtwo@masoncity.net
Don Nelson, nelsonwardthree@masoncity.net
Janet Solberg, solbergwardfour@masoncity.net
City Administrator/City Clerk Brent Trout
btrout@masoncity.net
(641) 421-2701
Email block for cut-and-paste
mayor@masoncity.net; weaveratlarge@masoncity.net; tornquistatlarge@masoncity.net; marsterswardone@masoncity.net; hickeywardtwo@masoncity.net; nelsonwardthree@masoncity.net; solbergwardfour@masoncity.net; btrout@masoncity.net
City Council meetings are held the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7:00 p.m. Next Council Meeting: Aug 16. Meeting agendas & minutes: http://www.masoncity.net/agenda.aspx?id=1279&catid=58
Dog owner group protests potential city pit bull ban
By PEGGY SENZARINO, peggy.senzarino@globegazette.com
Posted: Tuesday, August 9, 2011 8:20 pmMASON CITY — […]Any changes to the city’s vicious animal ordinance will be considered at a future council meeting.
Ordinance changes under consideration include:
• Making insurance mandatory for dogs the City Council defines as vicious.
• Defining certain breeds or characteristics that could be banned from the city. […]
Capt. Mike McKelvey of the Mason City Police Department and Animal Control Officer Pat Gansen said enforcement of a breed ban might be difficult.
“It’s hard enough to keep ahead of the licensing,” Gansen said.[…]
Fred M. Kray
krisdiaz9
Stop BSL 
please do not ban these beautiful dogs all pits are not bad. they are very loyal,loving dogs,go after the owners.it is how these dogs are raised. my pit has never been mean.or vicious.