Dog ordinance advances in Minneapolis

Last update: January 10, 2008 - 1:32 PM

A proposal to expand the definition of dangerous or potentially dangerous animals in Minneapolis and to add restrictions on owners of such animals is headed to the City Council for a vote.

A council committee Wednesday finished amending the proposal, which stems from a task force formed after a bulldog attack nearly killed a northeast Minneapolis woman last spring. Although most restrictions mention animals generally, it's aimed mainly at dogs.

The amended proposal still makes it harder for some felons to keep a dog that weighs more than 20 pounds or one that's considered dangerous if mistreated. But an amendment limited that to people convicted of violent felonies within the previous 10 years. An unlicensed dog could be seized in some circumstances.

Still remaining to be worked out before an expected Jan. 18 council vote is whether a dog is dangerous merely if the person keeping it has items or drugs intended to be used to train the animal for dogfighting.

STEVE BRANDT

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