8.2 Pit Bull Leash Requirement
CITY OF SALINA
REQUEST FOR CITY COMMISSION ACTION
DATE
8/02/04
TIME
4:00 P.M.
AGENDA SECTION ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT: APPROVED FOR
NO: 8 AGENDA:
City Attorney
ITEM
NO. 2 BY: G reg Bengtson BY:
ITEM:
Ordinance No. 04-10224
An Ordinance amending ordinance No. 04-10210 related to leash requirements for pit bull dogs.
BACKGROUND:
At the July 26 Commission meeting, the Governing Body directed staff to prepare a revision to the
pit bull dog ordinance adopted June 28, 2004. The proposed revision is to the portion of Section 4
which establishes leash standards and requirements for pit bull dogs when they are not in a locked
pen or kennel. Existing language of this section required the dog to be on a leash whenever the dog
was not indoors or in its pen or kennel. This leash requirement would have applied even when the
dog was in its own yard with the owner. After public feedback and further review, the Governing
Body indicated its support for an ordinance revision allowing a pit bull dog to be "off leash" in the
owner's securely fenced yard when the owner is present outside with the dog. This ordinance
accomplishes that revision. Second reading of this ordinance would occur on August 9. A similar
revision will be made to the "Dangerous Dog" standards in the Chapter 7 code revisions scheduled
for second reading that same date.
EXISTING ORDINANCE LANGUAGE:
Section 4(4)(a) leash Requirement Outside of Pen. No person shall permit a pit bull dog to go
outside its kennel or pen unless such dog is securely leashed with a leash no longer than four (4)
feet in length. No person shall permit a pit bull dog to be kept on a chain, rope or other type of leash
outside its kennel or pen unless an adult is in physical control of the leash. Such dogs may not be
leashed to inanimate objects such as trees, posts or buildings.
REVISED ORDINANCE LANGUAGE:
Section 4(4)(a) leash Requirement Outside of Pen. No person shall permit a pit bull dog to go
outside the owner's residential structure or the dog's kennel or pen unless such dog is securely
leashed with a leash no longer than four (4) feet in length and an adult is in physical control of the
leash; provided, however, that a pit bull dog may be in the rear yard of the owner's premises without
a leash when the rear yard is securely fenced and an adult is physically present in the rear yard with
the dog. No person shall permit a pit bull dog to be kept on a chain or rope outside its kennel or pen
and no pit bull dog may be leashed or tethered to inanimate objects such as trees, posts or
buildings.
COMMISSION ACTION:
Consider Ordinance No. 04-10224 on first reading.