Keeping a pit bull in New York City would put a bite in the wallet if the City Council approves an aggressive plan to require $100,000 in liability insurance on each of the fearsome dogs.
Pit bulls are declared a threat to public safety in a bill that went before a council committee yesterday – prompting animal-rights activists to call the plan unconstitutional.
Dr. Neal Cohen, the health commissioner, said pit bulls are being held to a higher standard “based upon a public-health assessment that that breed poses a greater risk, based upon their history and their constitution.”
“We will look at the constitutionality of this, but we want to shift responsibility to the dog owner to let them know that we’re putting teeth in the bill now that makes them more responsible and accountable for the actions of their dog,” said Cohen.
In fact, the bill would put a tight collar on any dog – not just pit bulls – deemed dangerous by the commissioner. The city would be given expanded powers to seize dogs that bite or attack, even before a hearing.
Pit bull owners who don’t get liability insurance would face fines ranging from a maximum of $5,000 for a first offense up to $50,000 and a year in jail for a third offense.
Elinor Molbegott, a lawyer for the Humane Society, blasted the proposal for overstepping state law and trampling on the rights of dog owners.
“Under terms of the [bill], dogs found to be dangerous may be killed if the owners do not obtain the insurance in a short amount of time after being ordered to do so,” said Molbegott.
Lisa Weisberg of the ASPCA said the proposed law targeting pit bulls violates a 1998 state law that specifically bars local government from singling out any one breed of animal for special restrictions.
And Weisberg asked how the city would determine which dogs are pit bulls, often any of a wide-ranging mix of breeds.
The bill targets Staffordshire pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire pit bull terriers, American pit bull terriers and any other dogs that look or have the characteristics of those breeds.
Cohen said some fine tuning of the pit bull description may be required.
City Council Health Committee Chairman Victor Robles (D-Brooklyn) told Cohen he’s concerned the sweeping powers the bill calls for could put innocent dogs at risk of being seized and possibly put to death.