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Municipal leaders had been expected to pass the amendment, which would have strengthened existing regulations on dangerous animals, including pit bulls. Many council members had voiced support for the proposal as late as Monday.
But no one made a motion to vote on it during the meeting. A motion and a second is needed before the council can pass or reject an item.
"There's no rhyme or reason to it," said a stunned council President Fred Pitts afterward.
As president, Pitts can not motion for a vote. Ward 5 Councilman Jonny Davis said he would have made the motion but knew he wouldn't have received a second.
"It changes every day," Davis said. "Come back tomorrow. It'll be different."
Several people and organizations had lobbied against the ordinance in the days leading up to the expected vote. Among them were Tupelo veterinarian Stephen King and Tupelo Kennel Club member Tere Woody, both of whom publicly addressed the council at the meeting.
They argued breed-specific legislation unfairly punishes responsible pet owners and isn't truly effective anyway. But others, including Tupelo-Lee Humane Society Director Debbie Hood, had favored the tougher rules because of the city's high number of pit bull complaints.
Woody also questioned the constitutionality of the ordinance, which, in its current form, has been law in Tupelo since 1988. City attorney John Hill has defended it as legal and noted that it hadn't received a single challenge since taking effect.
Woody and King had urged city leaders to postpone a decision until they could create a more reasonable ordinance.
"I'm happy with the outcome," said Ward 3 Councilman Jim Newell, who opposed the proposed amendment. "There is concern, but I think we need to go back and start over."
Tupelo's current ordinance, which also singles out pit bulls, remains in effect despite this week's failure to strengthen it.
emily.lecoz@journalinc.com
That said,I feel the majority, not all, of dogs attacks are a result of mistreatment at some point. I remember having a situation where a normally gentle dog would go crazy around a few certain folks.I could not understand it for the dog played with neighborhood kids, waited with them for the school bus and knew exactly when to head back to the bus stop to meet them.Tupelo started the on a chain, in a fence deal so I temporarily put up a run wire in the yard until a fence was built. One time I left but had to return quickly and low and behold found these folks hitting the dog with a stick, unable to escape. Yet their parents were the primary complainers that the dog was vicious to their children.
Since having a fence, I find kids aggrevating the dogs through the fence,I find objects that were apparently thrown at them in my yard etc. And folks wonder why they bark at them.
I have a dog that is mostly pit bull but sweet as can be. Loves to be petted, played with, taken on walks etc. The dog is not kept in Tupelo due to Tupelo's rules. It is very leary of folks thus I suspect has been abused in the past. I am fortunate to have other property close enough to maintain care for them daily and enjoy them outside Tupelo.
Bottom line, my experience has been most dogs that cause problems are really a result of people. Leave other folks dogs alone period, no matter the breed. Dont provoke them. If you provoke a person they respond, some in harsher ways than others. Do you expect different from dogs. Yes there are some that snap for some reason unprovoked or at least in a way most wouldnt consider it to be provacative.
One can find many articles about bulldogs and even other breeds with very different statistics and opinions.Yet a very common point made is they are usually mannered inresponse to others.
Pit bulls are known for being very thoughtful in their actions, loyal to their caregivers for good or ill.Many other breeds are also.
I love animals. My experience is even the most mistreated can eventually find trust again in humans. But you have to earn it.
While we are at it, I want an automatic weapon. I think that we should not regulate this weapons due to the fact that a few bad apples would misuse them and pose a danger to the public. Hey. I'm a responsible owner with a gun safe. Just focus on putting the bad apples in jail while the rest of us responsible gun owners can enjoy our automatic weapons.
You know what? Why the regulations on fireworks?? Remember the M-80? Bring those back. I practice much care in setting off dangerous fireworks. Why should unresponsible people that set off fireworks that let their kids get their hands blown off keep me from buying them?? They are the unsresponsible ones while I take all the safe precautions.
You know what a fun game is? Yard Darts. Who ruined that for the rest of us? You got it, people who were not careful and abused them. Now why should that keep me from buying yard darts to play with my kids?
Lets go further, Speed limits. Now I drive a car that was built to run on the Autobahn. why should speed limits even be around. I wear my seatbelt, have a safe car than can handle speed, have completed a driving course at Skip Barber, and observe the rules of the road. Now why should some unresponsible car owners keep me from that? I could get to work twice as fast!
I also want to drive an ATV on the road, have a pet honey badger, Not be required to have life jackets on a boat, Buy solid Ammoninum Nitrate by the ton for yard and farmland, and many other harmless things since I am responsible..
Glad to have someone who believes the same things.
I'm not aware of the current numbers but I am aware of historical numbers. And I'd say roughly 10 years ago, rottweilers were responsible for nearly double the canine homicides as pit bulls. Unfortunately, strong/stout breeds. when raises improperly, can do more damage that a small dog. Regardless, responsibility still falls on the owner.
But what this all boils down to is one simple fact... One cannot look at an individual dog, recognize its breed, and then state whether or not it is going to attack.
AMEN!! Agree 100%!
Now can we please move forward and get that Humane Society Director dismissed? You do not care for animals by euthanizing them or unfairly punishing one breed for for a specific dogs (and owners) actions.