Keystone pit bull owners served notices to remove dogs

KEYSTONE — After weeks of confusion and uncertainty, some Keystone dog owners were served written notices to remove their “pitbulls” from town.

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office served written notices to dog owners on Friday before the holiday weekend. The county and the city of Keystone have breed-specific ordinances banning pitbulls.

MaKinzie Brecht, a Keystone resident and pit bull owner, said she and a few other residents have received official notices from the City of Keystone and the Benton County Sheriff’s office.

“I’m just appalled at the reaction of the city. They won't even speak to us.,” Brecht said. “We can't get ahold of anybody to discuss the matter or anything.”

Brecht said the dog owners in Keystone have collectively hired a lawyer to deal with this situation moving forward.

The notice states that if the owner “fails to remove the dog as directed and within the prescribed time” of three days, “the City of Keystone will take such steps as necessary to remove said animal from the city limits.”

The notice states that those served have two days to appeal after receiving the notice. The notices arrived on Friday afternoon before a holiday weekend.

Aside from forced removal of the dog, any owner who doesn’t remove their pet would also be fined $750.

Brecht said her dog is registered as an emotional-support animal, which she hopes will save her pet.

In July, owners of pit bulls in this small Benton County town were given verbal warning of the ban on the dogs in the city limits. In addition to the city ordinance, Benton County has its own ordinance that prohibits pit bulls but also other dogs that have “the characteristics” of pit bulls.

The warnings came after a 2-year old girl was attacked June 18 by a “stray or abandoned pit bull-style dog” in Keystone. The girl was taken to the hospital, and her father contacted authorities. Law enforcement took the dog to a veterinary clinic in Belle Plaine. An owner for the dog was never identified and the animal was euthanized.

Humane Society State Director Preston Moore said it’s disappointing the city has taken this step.

“On a Friday afternoon leading to a holiday weekend, no less. My heart hurts for these families,” Moore said.

Moore had offered to work with the city to write new ordinances as he has done for other Iowa cities that have repealed breed-specific bans.

“I unfortunately haven’t been given an opportunity by the city to speak about our proposals,” Moore added. “But we remain committed to assisting Keystone and other communities implement common sense animal policies.”

Last month, dog owners and other residents pleaded with the Keystone City Council to repeal the breed-ban ordinance.

“We will look at this and discuss it in further detail and it will be on a subsequent agenda,” Mayor Mark Andresen said during the meeting. “After further discussion, we will talk about it and get back to you I guess is all we can do now.”

Brecht said she had had no further discussion with city officials before receiving the notice.

No officials with the City of Keystone could be reached for comment on Friday afternoon before publishing. City hall was closed at the time the notices were served.

The verbal warnings issued in July were made after a sheriff’s deputy received a list of addresses from the city.

Sheriff Ron Tippett told The Gazette in August that the office did not give any official notices to residents, just a “verbal heads up” reminding them of the ordinance. He said there were no plans to remove the dogs even though residents who got the warnings said they were given seven to 10 days to comply.

Tippett did not respond to a phone call on Friday before publication.

Breed-specific legislation has been rejected by many groups including the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Bar Association, National Animal Control Association, American Kennel Club, Association of Professional Dog Trainers, National Canine Research Council and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In Iowa, dozens of cities have breed-specific bans like Keystone. They include Belle Plaine, Cascade, Centerville, Columbus Junction, Council Bluffs, Monticello, Ottumwa, Vinton, Walcott, Waukon and Winterset among other small cities.

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