Merriam Woods, Missouri Pit Bull Ban

Merriam Woods Village Office
4417 State Highway 176
Rockaway Beach, MO 65740
(417) 561-4341



Merriam Woods to vote on pit bull ban Tuesday

The Board of Trustees of Merriam Woods is expected to vote Tuesday night on an ordinance banning pit bull dogs inside the boundaries of Merriam Woods.

The ordinance, which is based on Springfield's ordinance, focuses on responsible pet ownership more than prohibiting the breed.

The law, which comes on the heels of a dog-bite case in which a resident was attacked in his front yard by two pit bulls, further complements the leash law passed earlier this year that requires all pets to be leashed when away from home.

If passed, the regulations would be effective immediately and would impose several requirements on current pit bull owners. Every pit bull would be required to be registered with the Merriam Woods Police Department. Proof of current rabies vaccination, sterilization and microchip implantation would be necessary to register the animal, along with a $50 fee. In addition, the police department would be required to photograph the dog and maintain a registration file for every dog.

To protect the public, pit bulls would also be required to be kept indoors or outside in a locked pen on property that is posted with warning signs. If the pit bull is being transported to or from its home, it will be required to be leashed and muzzled and locked in a secure, temporary enclosure in a vehicle.

Any pit bull that is not registered or housed according to the new law would be subject to immediate impoundment and disposal. Appeals as to whether the animal is a pit bull dog as defined by the ordinance would be ruled on by the Municipal Court judge.

Comment on the ordinance will be heard at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the Board of Trustees meeting. The public is encouraged to attend. For more information, call Police Chief Gerald Pagan at 561-1001.

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071109/BREAKING01/71109043