SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – On Tuesday, the Sioux Falls City Council unanimously passed an ordinance in response to several dog attacks.
In the ordinance, a Dunbar Scale is being used to assess a dog attack on other dogs.
The Dunbar Academy, which developed the scale, said the tool is not designed for dog-on-dog attacks, but only a dog attacking a human.
While addressing the City Council last week, City Attorney Keith Allenstein pointed to two recent occasions where he believed the current city ordinances were insufficient.
“Young children, significant injuries that resulted in a situation where we were unable to have the proof we needed,” said Allenstein.
And in a separate attack, a dog was killed by several other dogs.
“We even had video on that. It was still difficult to distinguish what dogs specifically did what, but clearly they were operating in a pack mentality. So we’ve defined that,” said Allenstein.
There are two categories in which the city can place a dog that attacks.
“Called restricted, that allows you to comply with certain requirements and get your dog back. We also have what’s called a vicious declaration. If that declaration upheld, and the person always has a right to appeal either one of these, then you do not get your dog back and your dog is euthanized,” said Allenstein.
Benny is a dog owned by Robert Hoffman of Mitchell. Hoffman said a dog entered his yard. Benny attacked and injured the other dog. He was told to either move the dog out of the county or put his dog down.
Both Mitchell and Sioux Falls use the Dunbar Scale.
“It’s called a Dunbar Scale to create some objective criteria for when we would do the vicious versus the restricted,” said Allenstein.
Other changes to the ordinance allow action against a dog if there is a serious injury or risk of death or if a pack of dogs attacked together.
Dakota News Now has reached out to the City of Sioux Falls for further insight into the use of the Dunbar Scale and will update you with their response.
Copyright 2024 Dakota News Now. All rights reserved.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
