Are Pitbulls Legal in Iowa

“Basically, this bill has nothing to do with dogs,” Piper said. “What it needs to do is find out if the local government can deny its citizens the right to own something that is otherwise completely legal.” If your city is not listed, please check with City Hall before adopting a dog or settling in with your dog. If you have any comments on this list, contactez-arl@arl-iowa.org. For a complete list of city and county ordinances, click here. Finally, the information contained on this website is not intended to be legal advice. If you are facing BSL in your city, please contact your legislator or lawyer. The Animal Rescue League of Iowa believes that the best way to improve public safety is to regulate dogs based on behavior, not appearance, and that is why we strongly oppose any form of breed-specific legislation (BSL) or other regulations against a dog`s appearance. Dogs that are visually identified as “pit bulls” are the 5th most popular family dog in Iowa (and in the top 10 in 46 states), so unfortunately many innocent dogs and their owners are unfairly targeted by BSL. The national trend is that every year more and more cities reject or repeal BSL than those that add it. In 2019, 21 states went even further and made any form of BSL illegal in their state. She called a non-emergency policy number. When animal control officers arrived at his home nearly an hour later, the smallest dog had lost an eye and the left side of his neck was wide open.

(f) Where the director of public health has seized a pit bull in accordance with this division and the owner of such a dog contests the classification of such a dog as a pit bull, the owner of such a dog may submit a written request to the director of public health for a hearing on that classification no later than seven days after the seizure. The petition must contain the name and address, including mailing address, of the petitioner. The Director of Public Health will then issue a notice of the date of the hearing by sending a copy to the petitioner`s address no later than ten (10) days before the date of the hearing. If the Public Health Director does not receive a written request for a hearing from the owner within seven days of the seizure, the pit bull will be destroyed in a humane manner. (3) The owner shall provide the Director of Public Health with proof that he or she has taken out liability insurance of at least one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00), which covers any damage or injury that may be caused by a pit bull during the term of the licence. The policy contains a provision requiring the insurance company to notify the Director of Public Health in writing at least fifteen (15) days before any termination, termination or expiration of the policy. Pit bulls — the most controversial of all races, both beloved and feared — are once again a target of concern in Iowa this year. 1.

An “owner” is defined as any person who owns, possesses, keeps, controls, maintains, harbours, transports or sells an animal. Ehlert, who has three pit mix rescue dogs, said people across the state have contacted her several times about it. The hearing, if any, shall be held before the Director of Public Health or a Hearing Officer designated by the Director. The plaintiff who owns such a dog bears the burden of proof. All facts which the applicant wishes to take into account must be submitted under oath or confirmation, either in writing or orally at the hearing. The public health director or hearing officer must ultimately determine whether the dog is a pit bull within the meaning of paragraph (b)(2) of this section. Such a final decision shall be deemed to be a final order of the Director of Public Health, which shall be reviewed in accordance with section 4.20.132. Christopher Collins is a police officer who campaigned to abolish the ban on pit bulls in Anamosa. He said race-specific prohibitions are often “based on prejudice” against the poor and racial minorities. Owners of these dogs are required to keep current pet licenses, rabies certificates, proof of sterilization, and proof of insurance coverage, such as a home insurance policy or tenant policy with a minimum liability of $100,000. The animal must also be locked up in accordance with the code and the owner must complete a high-risk compliance form. 3.

A licensed veterinarian may temporarily house any pit bull for the purpose of caring for and treating the animal. “Unfortunately, `bully dogs` attract the wrong type of owner. who want a dog that sends a statement that they`re a tough guy with a hard dog,” Walsh said. I think our community is safer when it`s banned. Like Gormley, dog owners and supporters appeared at keystone City Council Thursday night to argue for the possibility of keeping family pets despite an order banning pit bills. 8. The owner must have affixed a prominent and legible pit bull sign at each possible entrance to the owner`s property where the pit bull is held. Such a pit bull sign must be at least eight inches by ten (10) inches in rectangular dimensions and must contain only the words “PIT BULL DOG” in a lettering at least two inches high. Also in August, an 8-year-old boy was hospitalized in Springville after authorities said he had been attacked by two pit bull mixing dogs, and a woman who went to the Iowa State Fair was hospitalized after being attacked by a pit bull near the exhibition center.

according to media reports. When she got to the two dogs, she said, Blue had Chelsea on her throat and the smaller dog was bleeding profusely. She took a broomstick and tried to scare Blue, but she didn`t want to upset the dog any more. The Iowa Veterinary Medical Association also supports the bill. Randy Wheeler, the association`s executive director, said the race-specific bans give the public a false sense of security. The procedures in this subsection do not apply and the owner is not entitled to such a hearing in respect of a dog seized as a direct result of an attack or bite. In these cases, the dog will be handled and the procedures will be subject to the provisions of section 4.20.120. You`ll start receiving our Daily On Iowa Politics updates.

Add erin.murphy@thegazette.com to your contacts. In June, the U.S. Postal Service made the rare decision to temporarily suspend mail delivery to a neighborhood south of Des Moines after a pit bull jumped a garden fence and attacked a postman on East Kirkwood Avenue. These cities discriminate against certain dogs based on their appearance/breed by requiring certain things that they do not require of other dogs. ARL staff can help you navigate through these restrictions as many of them are really easy to comply with (they just seem more difficult than they are). Full descriptions of a city`s boundaries can be found online in their city codes. Adair: Town Hall, (641) 742-3751 (contacted on 18/01/11) Afton: Town Hall, (641) 347-5224 (contacted 18/01/11) Albia: Town Hall, (641) 932-2129 (contacted 10/9/12) Auburn: City Hall, (712) 688-2264 (contacted 21/01/11) Avoca Birmingham: City Hall, (319) 498-4296 (contacted 20/11/12) Cherokee: City Hall, (712) 225-5749 (contacted 10/9/12) Conrad: City Hall, (641) 366-2300 (contacted 21/11/12) Creston: City Hall, (641) 782-2000 Dallas Center: City Hall, (515) 992-3725 (contacted 1/19/11) Des Moines: City Hall, (515) 283-4500. Full code here Ellsworth: Town Hall, (515) 836-4751 (contacted 29/11/12) Evansdale: Town Hall, (319) 232-6683 (contacted 29/11/12) Granger: Town Hall, (515) 999-2210 (contacted 21/01/11) Grundy Center: Town Hall, (319) 825-6118 Greenfield: Full code here. Osceola: City Hall, (641) 342-2377 (contacted 8/10/10) Pleasant Hill: By city hall, the dog must be allowed and kept on a leash or in a fenced garden.

(contacted 19.11.15) Spirit Lake Wellman: City Hall, (319) 646-2154 Unfortunately, Des Moines has not yet made this change. In the fall of 2014, a working group was established to evaluate the regulations and the ARL had two representatives on this working group. At the time, city officials refused to have a conversation with the task force about changing the race-specific part of the ordinance.