Hunter
08/01/22
Owners of pit bulls and other dogs that have the characteristics of pit bulls in the Benton County town of Keystone have been notified although they were warned that they would have to give them up, the county sheriff has no plans to remove any of the pets.
The Gazette reported last week that owners of pit bulls in the town were given verbal warning of the ordinance that bans the dogs in city limits. In addition to the city ordinance, Benton County has its own ordinance that prohibits pit bulls and other dogs that have “the characteristics” of pit bulls. The county seat of Vinton also has an ordinance banning pit bulls.
Several of those dog owners reported that a member of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office came to their residences and told them they had 7-10 days to remove the dogs or they would be taken from them.
Sheriff Ron Tippett told the Gazette that no official notice was given, just a verbal heads up reminding residents of the ordinance. He believed five residents were contacted.
The warnings reportedly stemmed from a June 18th incident in the town when a 2-year-old girl was taken to a hospital after being attacked by a stray or abandoned pit bull-style dog. The girl’s father notified authorities; the owner of the dog was never identified and the animal was euthanized at a Belle Plaine veterinary clinic.
The city plans to address the issue at their next City Council meeting on Thursday. The newspaper reports that families of the dogs will be joined by Humane Society State Director Preston Moore, who will call for a suspension of enforcement of breed restrictions, followed by permanently removing the ordinance.