Therapy dog ‘dangerous’? Elgin targets pit bulls, other breeds
Monday, March 8th, 2010Elgin’s effort demonstrates the difficult balance for communities in trying to protect citizens from dog attacks while avoiding the outcries — and potential lawsuits — from those who say pit bulls are unfairly demonized.
Joe Remijas dresses up his dog Taysia with feather boas and paints her toenails when he takes her on weekly visits to a nursing home and hospital in Elgin.
A certified therapy dog, Taysia has brought cheer to hundreds of ill and elderly people over the past seven years, he said.
Taysia is also a pit bull. So in order to keep her, Remijas will likely have to secure $100,000 in liability insurance and post a “dangerous dog” sign on his property, restrictions the Elgin City Council will impose on dangerous and vicious dogs if an animal control ordinance it is considering becomes law. The measure narrowly won preliminary approval last week.
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