The City of Springdale is reviewing the current animal ordinance on potentially dangerous and vicious animals.
The ordinance defines a potentially dangerous animal as any animal that has shown the tendency to attack without provocations is able or likely to injure another person or animal.
One proposal is to add, "approaches a person or domestic animal on the street, sidewalk or public or private property in a menacing fashion such as would put a reasonable person in fear of attack."
Animal Services Director Courtney Kremer said they any changes will determine how they proceed with their daily operations.
"We are kind of up in the air right now until a definitive decision has been made as to how they are going to update or change the ordinance that's currently in place," Kremer said.
Monday night (Jan. 20) the Springdale Ordinance Committee discussed current regulations. Alderman Mike Overton brought up the issue last year, saying he wanted pit bulls banned from the city. The issue was tabled in November of 2013.
The ordinance committee plans to take this up again the first Monday in February.
Current penalties include fines and a mandatory micro-chip. However, Overton said there is a new proposed amendment.
"If you have a person with a dangerous animal dog they are going to have to have a liability policy any existing or future vet or medical bills," Overton said.
The proposal states the pet owner's liability insurance can't be less than $50,000 and has to be bought within 7 days.
Mayor Doug Sprouse said Monday it’s difficult to put dogs into categories, but said once a dog has exhibited vicious behavior, drastic measures need to be taken. Sprouse said he doesn’t think the city is headed in the direction of banning specific breeds, but said he does expect to see some changes made to the current ordinance.
"We are going to make sure that whatever changes are made that we will continue to ensure that people understand the great responsibility it is to have pets and to keep them up," he said. "They need to take responsibility when their dogs do get loose and do damage either to property, to other pets or to people.”
In the February meeting, the ordinance committee will decide whether or not to send the final proposed vicious animal amendments to the City Council for a final vote.