June, 2002

In Chicago, a confluence of public opinion, a task force of veterinarians and animal experts, a media personality and one open-minded alderman resulted in the passage this fall of a groundbreaking ordinance that penalizes owners of dogs deemed "dangerous," but which does not distinguish specific breeds or weights of dogs.

Effective November 30, 2001, the new ordinance increases the fines for irresponsible pet owners who allow their dog to run unleashed and, if their dog attacks someone, it may even result in jail time. If a dog is deemed dangerous by Chicago Animal Care and Control, the owners have up to 10 days to purchase no less than $100,000 in liability insurance and to neuter and microchip the dog at the owner's expense. In addition, in several places in the ordinance, the words "dangerous dog" was changed to "dangerous dog owner," reflecting the role irresponsible owners play in their dogs' behavior.

The history behind how the new ordinance was drafted and passed is a potential model for how communities across the United States battling breed-specific legislation can organize. And, as pet columnist and radio personality Steve Dale, who was involved in the drafting of the new ordinance, says, "If we can do this in a city as complicated politically as Chicago, it can be done anywhere."

The battle to draft the new ordinance began after three horrific dog attack incidents, in which two children died and one child was badly injured. Alderman Shiley Coleman, outraged by these attacks in her community, saw a need for action, namely, breed-specific legislation against Pit Bulls and Rottweilers, mandating that the owners of these dogs must carry extensive liaility insurance. After hearing Coleman's proposals, Dale invited her to be on his radio show, PetCentral on WGN, hoping that he and his listeners, would be able to introduce more effective ways of combating dog attacks.

During their on-air conversation, which included numerous call-ins from listeners, Dale says, "I peppered her not only with my emotions, but with facts about why breed-specific legislation doesn't really work." It was all convincing enough that Coleman decided to gather a group of experts together to learn more.

The task force that was assembled included Susan Ferraro, DVM, the president of the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA); Larry Fox, DVM, the director of education for the CVMA; Patricia Montgomery, the executive director of the CVMA; Gene Mueller, DVM, the former commissioner of Animal Control and the current president of Chicago's Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Lynn Mooney, the program coordinator for the Central States Regional Office of the Humane Society of the United States; Nikki Proutsos, the commissioner of Animal Control; Dale and Alderman Coleman. It was this group that eventually drafted the new ordinance.

Both Ferraro and Dale emphasize that what they did in Chicago can be done on a national scale. "I would encourage other veterinarians and veterinary organizations to get in there and take an active role. It's important, we have a lot to offer and we have a lot of knowledge. That's where our input can be invaluble," says Ferraro. "Journalists, breeders, groomers, dog trainers, people who know about comparion animals and veterinarians were a big part in this story. There doesn't have to be an immediate person to take the lead. I would go to the politician who really wants the breed-specific [laws] and say, `Look at what they did in Chicago,'" says Dale. "They have most of the problems you have and they came up with a better solution."

DogWorld, April 2002. Reprinted with permission.