LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – A Kalamazoo lawmaker has introduced legislation in Lansing he says will provide guidelines for dangerous dog owners and protect those who come into contact with the animals.
Senator Sean McCann says Senate Bills 1231 and 1232 would provide a framework for determining which dogs are dangerous and require their owners to take steps to protect people from them, including children, pedestrians, letter carriers, utility workers, and animal control officers.
McCann began working on the issue in 2014 as a State Representative.
He says vicious attacks on letter carriers, students, and other individuals who encounter dangerous dogs still occur far too frequently. In Kalamazoo, a letter carrier was violently mauled in 2012, underscoring the need for long overdue and stronger dog controls.
The legislation would not affect, hunting and livestock guard dogs acting as expected, dogs that attack trespassers, dogs that attack people who are in the act of committing a crime, dogs that attack their owner or family members, dogs that attack people tormenting them or attacking other animals who attacked the dog first, and other instances that would excuse aggressive behavior.
“I certainly hope my colleagues in the Michigan Legislature can see the value of us being proactive on this issue, rather than reactive,” Sen. McCann added. “I look forward to working with them on advancing these bills through the legislative process so that we keep more people safe from unexpected dog attacks, especially when it comes to dogs with known aggressive tendencies.”
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