(Spirit Lake)– The Spirit Lake city council voted four-to-one Tuesday to approve the first reading of a proposed ordinance dealing with vicious animals.
Instead of banning breed-specific dogs, it designates certain breeds as being vicious and spells out requirements owners of those animals will have to meet in order to keep them in the city.
Councilman Jeff Thee cast the lone no vote, saying he had concern over not banning the breeds. Thee said that while the council could always revise the ordinance, that it shouldn’t wait until something tragic happens to do that. Adding he believes in “an ounce of prevention over a pound of cure”.
Councilman Clyde Ihrke defended the proposed ordinance, saying he views it as a good compromise, adding it wouldn’t be fair to ban the certain breeds just because some owners aren’t responsible.
