From Insurance Journal:
Pine Bluff, Ark., officials have euthanized 85 pit bills since June 16, when a new ordinance took effect, requiring owners to obtain $100,000 insurance policies to cover dog attacks.[.]
Besides carrying insurance, pit bull owners must register their dogs with the city, and have the animals spayed or neutered and marked with a tattoo ID. No one younger than 21 can handle a pit bull in public, according to the ordinance, and the animals cannot be chained in back yards.
As someone who grew up in a house with a pit bull, I do have to say that I am rather sad that local officials are singling out one particular breed of dog. The folks who are buying coverage for their animals are most likely not the ones whose dogs are the problem.
The article does mention that Pine Bluff has become a major breeding center for pit bulls, and if those puppies are going to irresponsible owners, that would certainly be a problem.
And, even though I think it’s extremely unfair and short-sighted to single out one particular breed, it is good to see a municipality “encouraging” some dog owners to take responsibility for their pets..although if I were king, I’d actually push to have dog owners generally held responsible for their dogs’ actions.