Should Chicago Ban Pit Bulls?

Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd) calls for review of city's policies after jogger is attacked, owner fined

A Chicago alderman on Tuesday called for a fresh look at the city's dog laws, dog parks and even a ban on pit bulls after a jogger was viciously attacked a day earlier.

"I know a number of calls we received here in the past 24 hours all said ban pit bulls," said Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd).

Asked if he agreed with those calls: "Well, I'm not sure yet," he said.

Still, he's convinced a review should take place to possibly strengthen the sanctions against irresponsible dog owners and will introduce a resolution with Chicago's City Council on Jan. 18.

The man who owned two pit bulls who attacked a jogger on Monday currently faces only fines and citations, but the jogger faces years of surgeries and rehabilitation.

The victim's brother, grateful his sibling is alive, is among the first advocates for some kind of change.

"He has caused a whole lot of harm to this particular family with irresponsibility when it concerns the restrain and the constraining of his dogs... he should be ashamed of himself," said Gregory Finley.

But not all owners of dogs exercising at a dog park Tuesday night were on board were an outright breed ban.

"To say that one breed is the problem I think could be jumping to a conclusion. Pit bulls do have that reputation, obviously, but I also know that they can be great dogs if they're trained well and treated well,"said Scott Turner.

A pit bull ban in one Iowa community recently made headlines when it forced a disabled former Chicago police officer to be separated from his service dog. They've since been reunited.

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