Dangerous Dog Debate Heats Up

INDIANAPOLIS -- Hundreds of people attended a public meeting at the City-County Building in Indianapolis on Wednesday to discuss how the city can deal with dogs that pose danger to the public.

The crowd was standing room only in the open meeting about dog violence. Councilwoman Sherron Franklin is sponsoring an ordinance that she said would protect the public from dangerous dogs.

Some people at the meeting expressed concern about how the proposal might impact dog ownership, 6News' Ericka Flye reported.

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Ordinance Targets Dangerous Dogs

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A recent dog-mauling case has placed the issue in the spotlight. Amaya Hess, 2, suffered severe injuries when she was attacked by a pit bull. Some said the focus should be on all breeds of dogs considered to be dangerous.

"It was a tragedy about Amaya Hess. I don't argue that point, but we don't hear about all of those. It's only when it's a pit bull that's involved," Needham said.

Being close to any dog strike fear in some people, leading some of the forum's participants to say that they no longer feel safe walking neighborhood streets.

Many forum participants said safety is the dog owner's responsibility and that the focus should be on owners who fight dogs and teach them to be vicious.

The meeting was designed to help craft the dog ordinance. It will introduced June 19 at the City-County Council meeting.

The ordinance would require dangerous dogs to be confined by owners. Violators would be fined $100.

Upon a third violation, the dog would be taken from the owner. The ordinance would also set a limit of two dangerous dogs per person.