The governing body of the city finds and determines:
(a) That as a breed of dogs, all pit bulls are inherently dangerous.
(b) That the possession of pit bulls within the city poses a significant threat to the public’s health, safety and welfare.
(c) That numerous instances of attacks by pit bulls have resulted in serious injuries.
(d) That protective measures by pit bull owners are inadequate to protect the public from attacks by these animals.
(Ord. G-111, Sec. 1)
It shall be unlawful to keep, harbor, own or in any way possess within the corporate limits of the city:
(a) Any warm-blooded, carnivorous or omnivorous, wild or exotic animal (including but not limited to non-human primates, raccoons, skunks, foxes and wild and exotic cats; but excluding fowl, ferrets and small rodents of varieties used for laboratory purposes).
(b) Any animal having poisonous bites.
(c) Any pit bull dog. Pit bull dog is defined to mean:
(1) The bull terrier breed of dogs;
(2) The Staffordshire bull terrier breed of dogs;
(3) The American pit bull terrier breed of dogs;
(4) The American Staffordshire terrier breed of dogs;
(5) Dogs of mixed breed or of other breeds than above listed which breed or mixed breed is known as pit bulls, pit bull dogs or pit bull terriers;
(6) Any dog which has the appearance and characteristics of being predominantly of the breeds of bull terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier; any other breed commonly known as pit bulls, pit bull dogs or pit bull terriers; or a combination of any of these breeds.
(Ord. G-111, Sec. 2)
If any provision, clause, paragraph, subsection or section of the article is declared invalid or unconstitutional, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid or unconstitutional, the validity and constitutionality of the remainder of the article, and the applicability thereof to other persons and circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.
(Ord. G-111, Sec. 2)
Violation of any of the provisions of this article shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $50.00, nor more than $500.00.
(Ord. G-05-03, Sec. 1; Code 2009)