Vicious dogs okay, but…

NVC puts the bite to dog owners.

Vicious dogs are still allowed in the City of North Vancouver, but owners must meet new regulations to get their license.

Under the City’s new definition, a vicious dog is one that is considered likely to kill or seriously injure a human.

“Our council decided not to go breed specific,” explained City Mayor Darrell Mussatto. “We realize all dogs under the right circumstances will bite.”

“We want to identify the ones that are vicious or dangerous and then we have a whole set of criteria with that dog that has to be done.”

As of Monday, dogs that are deemed vicious in the city must be spayed or neutered and the owner must show proof of $1 million in liability insurance before they can get a license.

Coun. Bob Fearnley, the only councillor to vote against the new bylaw, said he believes vicious dogs should be banned completely.

“Why do we even want them in the first place?” he asked. “Why not go that extra step and say ‘we don’t allow them.’”

By Jennifer Maloney – staff reporter
Outlook
March 9/06