Dog bites are some of the most dangerous kinds of personal injury that you can suffer. Not only are they traumatic events that can scar someone – both physical and mentally – for life, they can also lead to severe health complications, including rabies.
Unfortunately, the majority of dog bites come from one breed of dog: Pit bulls. Despite making up only 6% of the dog population in the United States, pit bulls accounted for 71% of the fatal dog bites in 2016.
Because of how dangerous they can be, numerous cities have laws that specifically regulate pit bulls. Kansas City is one of them.
Pit Bull Laws in Kansas City
In an attempt to keep pit bulls out of the city, Kansas City enacted a mandatory sterilization law for pit bulls back in 2006. The law, which affects American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers, as well as any dog that has traits of any of those breeds, requires pit bull owners to sterilize their dogs. It only provides a limited number of exceptions to the rule, and owners can face steep fines and even criminal charges if they don’t comply with it.
Mandatory Sterilization for Pit Bulls
Any dog from the targeted breeds, or any dog that has the traits of one of the targeted breeds, has to be spayed or neutered. The only exceptions are if the dog is under eight weeks old, has been in Kansas City for fewer than thirty days, is a show dog or has a valid permit as a breeding dog, or can’t be sterilized because of a medical condition.
If a pit bull owner doesn’t get their dog neutered or spayed and one of these exceptions doesn’t apply, then the penalties are surprisingly harsh.
A first violation comes with a fine of up to $500 and the impoundment of the dog. To reclaim the dog, the owner has to pay the applicable fees and have the dog sterilized. If they don’t, and are caught breaking the law again, the violation becomes a misdemeanor criminal charge, which comes with a fine of up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail.
St. Joseph and Kansas City Dog Bite Attorneys
While these laws might seem draconian to some, they are meant to protect innocent people from being attacked and hurt by dangerous dogs. By preventing these kinds of attacks, laws like Kansas City’s minimize the odds of a serious dog bite. The injuries that these bites can cause can change someone’s life.
If you or someone you love has been hurt in a dog attack, having a personal injury attorney like those at the Smith Law Office can make a huge difference. By representing your interests both in and out of court, we ensure you get the compensation and care that you need and deserve. Contact us online or at (816) 875-9373.