Kosciusko has followed other cities in making changes to its dangerous dog ordinance.
“The old ordinance has a list of dangerous dogs, such as pit bulls, rottweilers, etc.,” said Mayor Jimmy Cockroft. “This takes all that out of there and does not make the ordinance breed specific.”
The need to make the ordinance less breed-specific is important to avoid unnecessary litigation, according to Cockroft. By naming breeds, the city was more liable to be sued if action was taken against dogs not listed as one of the dangerous breeds. The new language ensures that dangerous dogs can be any breed. A dog can be declared “dangerous” by either Animal Control Officer Tony Hines or a police officer if, within a 12-month period, it poses a threat of serious injury to any person or other domestic animal.
For a more detailed explanation of the new ordinance, see the legals in the September 5 edition of The Star-Herald.
