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Public Safety Committee Minutes/August 19 , 1987 Page 5 Dr. Ecker and Teresa Lacapo stated that they would prefer that the tatooing required by the ordinance be done by a licensed veterinarian. This recommendation was favorably received by the Committee. Councilman Taylor stated that he was initially somewhat on the slow side to support the proposed legislation; however, he was leaning toward its adoption. He stated that the process of singling out the American Pit Bull Terrier would be appropriate if there is evidence to support that it is a vicious dog. He further stated , based on the information heard this afternoon , that there appears to be such evidence. He also stated that the insurance requirements proposed in the ordinance would be similar to the insurance requirement placed on automobile owners who wish to own a Honda or a Corvette. You pay more for the Corvette and that owner is specifically singled out. He stated that there is a history of this dog becoming potentially dangerous and that the evidence shows that there is a real problem throughout the nation. He concluded that , based on public safety reasons, he would be supporting the bill . Dr. Ecker again stated that she would prefer not to specifi- cally label the American Pit Bull Terrier but believes that it should be since she would not want a pit bull terrier residing next door and would fear for the safety of her family as well as the safety of her animals. Councilman Zakrzewski asked several questions with regard to attack dogs and the rights of the owners of dogs if that dog were to bite someone. He feared that this would trigger the process wherein the dog could be euthanized. Marva Leonard of the City Attorney's Office and the Council Attorney stated that they were working on this specific issue so that such a situation would not take place. They both recommended that with the incorporation of the definition of "criminal trespass", an innocent owner of a dog who does bite someone who comes on to its property (which would fall into the category of a "criminal trespass") would not be subject to the penalty provisions of the proposed ordinance. The Council Attorney stated that there would be amendatory language proposed in this area. Councilman Eugenia Braboy stated that she believes that we must protect the value of human life and that we must emphasize that owners of dogs must be responsible individuals. She stated that we should not place more value on an animal than on that of human life. She stated her belief that the City should make every effort to protect human life and that one way of doing this would be to pass reasonable legislation. She stated that she was, in fact, an "animal lover".