Kenmare dog owners ready to fight
By JILL SCHRAMM, Staff Writer jschramm@minotdailynews.com
POSTED: April 30, 2008
Article Photos
Two dog owners who risk losing their pets because of a new city ordinance banning certain breeds are prepared to battle for the right to keep their dogs. They say they will leave town if their efforts fail.
“My sister-in-law has been on the computer left and right, looking up articles just so we can go in and prove to the city council that our dog is not a dangerous breed,” said Randi Davis.
Davis’ dog, Diamond, is an American Staffordshire terrier, one of the breeds being outlawed.
The ordinance passed by the council April 14 also bans pit bulls, Doberman pinchers, rottweilers and any form of cross of those breeds. Owners must obtain a veterinarian’s certification if there is any question.
The council drafted the ordinance to address citizen concerns about potentially vicious dogs. Although there have been no incidences in which a person has been harmed, the council wanted to be proactive.
The ordinance affects dogs like Diesel, a 140-pound rottweiler who lives with the Brandon Peterson family.
“He’s the nicest dog you will ever meet in your life probably,” Peterson said.
He said the city council needs to find a better solution to address potential problems. Even grandfathering existing dogs would be preferrable to forcing his family to part with Diesel, he said.
“He’s our pride and joy. It’s like coming in and taking one of our kids,” he said. “They shouldn’t make somebody get rid of somebody in their family. I think we all need to work together to come up with something and not kick somebody out of town because that would be just crazy.”
Davis and Peterson say they will move before they give up their dogs.
“I don’t know where we are going to move but we would have to move,” said Davis, who has lived in Kenmare nearly four years.
“He’s a good boy. I will never ever get rid of him,” Peterson said of Diesel.
The city isn’t taking action against dog owners before the May 12 meeting. If it upholds its ordinance, affected dog owners will have 10 days to remove their animals or face fines.
Davis and Peterson say they have hundreds of dollars invested in their dogs that the city needs to consider. They also believe the city ordinance is unfair in singling out certain breeds.
A number of pet organizations are on record as opposed to breed-specific ordinances, including Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the American Kennel Club, the American Humane Society, American Working Dog Federation and International Association of Canine Professionals.
“It’s all in how they are raised,” Peterson said. “If you raise them to be good dogs, they are going to be good dogs.”
Peterson acquired Diesel, who is almost four years old, from a previous owner in Minot. Diesel was in Kenmare for about a year until the Petersons moved to Portal. They moved back to Kenmare a couple of months ago.
In Portal, the city required the Petersons to put up a 6-foot fence for Diesel. The Petersons say Diesel is friendly but his size makes people nervous.
If his dog were vicious, Peterson said he would take action because he has three young children he also would be concerned about.
Davis has owned her terrier for almost three years in Kenmare. She bought the dog from another Kenmare resident.
She keeps Diamond indoors and has never had a complaint or a ticket, Davis said.
“She’s never been a vicious dog. I have a 4-year-old and when my 4-year-old lies down for naps, she lies with him,” Davis said. “She’s not a bad dog. She’s kind of like one of our kids. She’s a good dog.”
