Ogden City Council Postpones Talks About Stricter Laws For Pit Bull Owners
KSL News has reported an interesting story pertaining to Utah dog owners. The Ogden city council had been entertaining the possibility of imposing stricter laws for pit bull owners in the city. The council planned to work out details for the proposed amendments on April 21. However, council members say they have received over 20 emails from around the country asking them to refrain from enacting stricter requirements. Due to the recent feedback from dog lovers and animal advocates, the council has decided to postpone the discussion of the amendments until a later date as they consider and weigh these opinions. The issue is a bit contentious, as one councilman worries that these proposals would single out a particular breed of dog. However, others say the amendment would target irresponsible owners and not pit bulls. According to the director of the Carol Conroy Browning Ogden Animal Shelter, pit bulls and pit bull mixes are responsible for 40% of all Utah dog bites reported in Ogden City.
There are 4.7 million people bitten by dogs each year in the United States and although it would be helpful to limit the public's interaction with vicious dogs, it would be better for everyone, if state and local government focused on ensuring every dog owner carries liability insurance. Unfortunately, we are often contacted by dog bite victims who have no way to recover for medical bills and permanent scarring because the dog owner did not have renters or homeowners insurance.
Every year, 800,000 people across the United States, half of them being children, seek medical attention for dog bites. Children are commonly dog bite victims and approximately two thirds of these injuries involve the head or neck area. If you have been injured by a dog bite, please call the Christensen Law Firm’s experienced dog bite attorneys at 801.506.0800.
