Tag Archives: breed ban

Gering Councilman Dan Smith told other Council members at their last meeting that other communities have breed specific bans.  He cited pit bulls and rottweilers has having dangerous reputations.

Councilman Larry Gibbs said council had opted not to ban specific breeds in the past, instead focus on vicious and dangerous dogs.  But, he feels the current ordinance does require that a history or incident would have to occur for an animal to be deemed dangerous or vicious.

Gerring’s current Vicious and Dangerous Dog ordinance permits a dog deemed dangerous to be returned to its owner, but the dog must be leashed and muzzled, or an officer responding to an event involving the dog could immediately dispatch the dog.

Questions were raised concerning who determines a dog dangerous under the current ordinance.  According to Police Captain George Holthus, prior City Prosecutors have required that a judge be involved when declaring dogs vicious or dangerous, however current prosecutors believe that police can deem dogs vicious and put into step the next proceedings.

Councilwoman Monette Ross supported the theory that pit bulls are dangerous dogs.  “You can’t count on what it is going to do, one minute it is just sitting there and the next thing, it is a killing machine.”

Smith asked that a proposal for designing a breed-specific ban go before the public safety committee.

Please send your POLITE, RESPECTFUL and INFORMATIVE correspondence to:

Mayor EDWIN MAYO
Email to:  mayormayo@gering.org