Is enforcement of a breed-specific law expensive?
This depends upon the chosen method of enforcement and size of the city. Most mid and large-sized cities operate on the basis of “enforcement as you go.” For instance, when Council Bluffs, Iowa (population 60,000) enacted a pit bull ban in 2005, animal control services embraced this method. As a result, the agency did not see a negative affect on its budget. Based on registered dogs, Council Bluffs animal control established a list of dogs in compliance with the ordinance. These owners were required to sterilize, license and microchip their dogs and obtain liability insurance. Afterward, if a complaint was filed, officers could check the list and determine right away if the owner was compliant. If he or she was not, several actions were triggered, including impounding the dog.
