Bartlesville's new ' vicious dog' ordinance

Bartlesville is cracking down on dangerous dogs. A new vicious dog ordinance is now in effect in Bartlesville. <br/><br/>The city council passed the measure unanimously Monday night. News on 6 anchor

Tuesday, August 16th 2005, 10:21 am

By: News On 6

Bartlesville is cracking down on dangerous dogs. A new vicious dog ordinance is now in effect in Bartlesville.

The city council passed the measure unanimously Monday night. News on 6 anchor Scott Thompson says one Bartlesville family feels the ordinance still needs some help.

The Bartlesville city ordinance doesn't single out any specific breed of dog. Instead, all dogs have just one chance before they're registered as a "vicious dog".

If that happens, owners would have to post signs warning people that their dog is dangerous. The dog would have to stay in a pen with a top, or a fence that the dog can't jump over. Dangerous dogs are also required to wear a special collar, to make them easy to identify at a glance.

Just a few months ago, a pit bull attacked two small children in Bartlesville. 11-year-old Christopher Bailey jumped in between the dog and his younger brother and sister. They weren't hurt, but Christopher needed major surgery. Their father - Max Bailey - says the ordinance is a step in the right direction, but needs more teeth from animal control officers to be effective. "We'll know that the city is really serious about protecting us when they've provided for more people on the ground. Literally, it just means more people."

Police in Bartlesville hope to eventually track dangerous dogs the same way the state tracks sex offenders.