City to allow some pit bull adoptions

At least for now, pit bulls and pit bull mixes in the Springfield shelter will be able to be adopted by a couple of rescue groups.

The new policy is technically just a six-month trial, but Councilwoman Cindy Rushefsky, who announced the change at Monday's City Council meeting, said she expects it will become permanent.

"I know this is a policy that we've been trying to get changed for eight years," she said. "So we are very happy about it."

The dogs would still have to be deemed adoptable, just like any other breed, but this is a change that could save pit bulls that until now have been euthanized regularly. Over the past four years, 365 pit bulls have been euthanized by the Springfield-Green County Health Department, according to data provided to city council members.

That's been part of a ordinance that requires owners to register pit bulls, pay an annual $50 registration fee, have a microchip inserted under the dog's skin and other stipulations.

Health department officials say this does not change the current ordinance, but does allow them to avoid euthanizing adoptable pit bulls.

Opponents of "breed-specific legislation" have been vocal in the past, and especially in the last two months, urging council to adopt vicious-dog legislation that doesn't single out pit bulls.

Groups first started coming in groups to speak to council, and later attended quietly, wearing orange T-shirts to identify themselves.

"Citizens have provided feedback and Councilwoman Cindy Rushefsky and other council members have further supported this policy change," Mayor Bob Stephens said. "Other issues examined by the (Animal Issues Task Force) are still being considered, but this was a change staff felt could be made, following certain requirements."

Those requirements include:

•An aggression test by Animal Control staff and an outside, qualified person. Any animal showing dog, person or food aggression will not be a candidate for adoptions.

•Any dog with a previous bite history is not considered adoptable.

•Adoptable pit bulls will be microchipped and vaccinated before being sent to one of two adoption partners. The dog will be required to be spayed or neutered by the adoption partner.

•The adopting agency will be required to sign a liability waiver before taking the dogs to hold the city harmless against the future actions of the dog.

The health department has previously said the pit bull ordinance is working to help keep Springfield citizens safe. The department last year recorded the fewest number of dog bites in a decade, and had seen a mostly steady decrease in pit bull bites since the registration ordinance was passed in 2006.

Rushefsky said she's comfortable with the policy change as long as the dogs are being tested just like all other breeds.

She thanked the health department's director, Kevin Gibson, for allowing the trial period.

"I know this was a tough move for him," she said. "Many of us get stuck in our beliefs and have a hard time making those changes. So I commend him for that and I commend his staff for the excellent work that they do with the limited resources they have."