New Law Requires Pit Bull Owners to Microchip and Register Their Dogs
All pit bull owners in Poplar Buff will be required to microchip and register their dogs by April 1. The city’s animal control officers will be enforcing the new ordinance. If a pit bull is found running wild, the animal will be checked for microchip to determine who the owner is. If the dog does not have a microchip, it will be impounded. The ordinance also states that if a pit bull or pit mix happens to die, the animal’s owner will not be allowed to replace the dog with another pit bull. This decree is an effort to phase out all pit bulls from Poplar Bluff.
Most Missouri dog attacks in Poplar Bluffs involve pit bulls; although, according to animal control, over 50% of all dogs in the city are pit bulls. This type of breed-specific legislation is not uncommon in Missouri. Other cities such as Dexter and Piedmont have also banned pit bulls completely.
Microchipping dogs of all breeds is common, but the frequency of pit bull attacks in Poplar Bluff has left officials with little choice but to impose this measure. The restrictions leveled at pit bulls can seem unfair to pit bull owners despite the fact that this type of legislation is becoming common across America and the rest of the world.
If a pit bull attacks you or someone in your family, you may be overwhelmed by the complexities of the laws pertaining to this breed and dog bites. An experienced St. Louis dog bite lawyer can help protect your legal rights. Call 866-620-5757 for a free consultation with a skilled and knowledgeable dog bite attorney at Page Law.
