11 Mississippi cities, counties ban pit bulls
Twenty-nine municipalities and counties in Mississippi have some ordinance or restriction on pit bulls, including 11 that ban the breed that some consider the most dangerous.
Holmes County Sheriff Willie March has advocated for his county to join those that ban pit bulls following the March 31 fatal mauling of 3-year-old Christopher Malone.
Christopher was attacked by two pit bulls, succumbing to his injuries on the same day. On Wednesday, an unidentified 4-year-old girl was brutally mauled at her grandfather's home in Harrisville, an unincorporated part of Simpson County.
While several areas in the state restrict or ban ownership of the breed, getting others to enact similar laws has not worked in other areas.
In 2010, Hinds County enacted a ban on pit bulls following a fatal attack on 5-year-old Anastasia Bingham of Terry.
That same year the city of Jackson attempted two ordinances that would ban pit bulls, but both failed after opposition from the city's animal control chief, dog owners and some members of the City Council.
On the statewide level, state Sen. David Blount, D-Jackson, in 2010 and 2011 unsuccessfully pushed "dangerous dog" legislation that would allow someone to be charged with manslaughter, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, if they negligently let a dog run loose and it killed someone. It also would create a penalty of one to 10 years in jail if such a dog caused serious bodily harm.
"My motivation was a young girl in Terry, which I represent, was killed by a dog," Blount said, referring to Anastasia Bingham. "The basic idea is to hold dog owners responsible for an incident like that."
The legislation died in committee. Blount said it was difficult to work out particulars of the legislation or garner support.
"But it's still a problem," Blount said. "I'd be interested in talking to people who can come up with ideas to address this problem."
Holding owners accountable for their animal's violent behavior is an idea many, including dog lovers, support.
Valerie Hicks, a member of the board of directors for the Community Animal Rescue and Adoptions, said her organization is about public safety, including breed-neutral dangerous animal ordinances.
"Any dog has the capacity for this kind of violent behavior," Hicks said. "I don't care if it's a Chihuahua, a pit bull or a Labrador.
"All dogs are individual."
Debra Boswell, executive director of Municipal Animal Rescue League, said some existing animal ordinances should be enforced in areas where they are just sitting on the books.
Enforcement of stronger regulations would help keep bad pit bull owners at bay, and MARL educates pit bull owners on how to not raise their dog to be so aggressive, she said.
To help solve the problem in Mississippi, "We do have a free spay and neuter program for pit bull mixes — it's our way of trying to help the breed," Boswell said. "On a state level, legislators should enact a stronger law. Right now attacks are being handled in a case-by-case basis. Or, register the pit bulls so each county and city knows how many are in the area."
For Hicks, a self-described pit bull fan, the breed is one that can be the most loveable and loyal, but they must be handled firmly and responsibly.
"Every pit bull needs a home," she said. "But not every home needs a pit bull."
Political editor Geoff Pender and reporter Terricha Bradley-Phillips contributed to this report.
To contact Dustin Barnes, call (601) 360-4644 or follow @DustinCL on Twitter.