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This kinda stuff scares me. What do you guys think?
— Kenn
By Amanda Marrazzo for Chicogo Tribune
Elgin, Illinois — Elgin’s effort demonstrates the difficult balance for communities in trying to protect citizens from dog attacks while avoiding the outcries — and potential lawsuits — from those who say pit bulls are unfairly demonized.
Joe Remijas dresses up his dog Taysia with feather boas and paints her toenails when he takes her on weekly visits to a nursing home and hospital in Elgin.
A certified therapy dog, Taysia has brought cheer to hundreds of ill and elderly people over the past seven years, he said.
Taysia is also a pit bull. So in order to keep her, Remijas will likely have to secure $100,000 in liability insurance and post a “dangerous dog” sign on his property, restrictions the Elgin City Council will impose on dangerous and vicious dogs if an animal control ordinance it is considering becomes law. The measure narrowly won preliminary approval last week.
The proposal doesn’t ban pit bulls outright but does classify them as dangerous. Other breeds would only be labeled dangerous if they attack a person or another animal, or vicious if the victim is seriously hurt or killed.
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