Merrillville council worried about pit bulls

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Updated: October 11, 2011 9:14PM

MERRILLVILLE — Town officials are looking at giving the town’s animal ordinance more teeth after learning Monday that owners of pit bulls and veterinarians are getting around the current one.

Several residents in the area of 86th Lane complained to council members about a growing number of pit bulls in their neighborhood, some of which have attacked residents.

“People don’t even want to walk outside anymore,” said resident Marge Knight. “Aren’t they supposed to be muzzled?”

Robin Valle said she and her dog were attacked by a pit bull about a month ago, and another resident, Herman Williams, said a pit bull ran after him while he was going to the mailbox. “That’s the second pit bull that’s gone after me,” Williams said.

Councilwoman Carol Miano, D-3rd, said under the current ordinance pit bulls and other dogs deemed dangerous are supposed to wear a muzzle and the owner is supposed to have $300,000 liability insurance. “The problem is, when people find out they need $300,000 in insurance, they go to their vet and the vet reclassifies the dog as a Staffordshire terrier. They’re not the same,” Miano said.

Police Chief Joseph Petruch concurred with Miano, adding that the majority of dog attacks are done by pit bulls.

Councilman Richard Hardaway, D-2nd, said the town needs to change its ordinance to include Staffordshire terriers as a vicious animal and require their owners to have the same insurance. Other council members agreed with Hardaway.

Councilwoman Chrissy Barron, D-5th, said pit bulls are too dangerous of a dog to be running around unleashed. She added that the owner of the Summerwood complex, where the dog that attacked Valle reportedly lives, indicated to her that the animals wouldn’t be allowed there anymore.

Pit bulls aren’t the only ones targeted under the current animal ordinance. According to Petruch, any dog that has bitten or attacked someone in the past is also considered to be vicious and would have to follow the same rules.

In other matters, Hardaway asked that the no smoking rule within 50 feet of the town hall complex doors be enforced or the sign taken down.

“People have to walk through a maze of smoke to get into the town hall. It’s not right,” Hardaway said. He said town employees are the main offenders.

Council president Tom Goralczyk, D-4th, said town administrator Howard Fink will put out a memo to department heads on Wednesday that the no-smoking rule needs to be followed.