Revision proposed for dog breed ban ordinance in Sherwood

SHERWOOD, Ark. – A proposed revision to an ordinance in Sherwood would lift the current dog breed-specific legislation they have, something some residents are hoping won’t happen.

Currently, there is a ban on pit bulls and similar breeds inside city limits, under breed-specific legislation, which animal control says causes problems when trying to adopt out mixed breed dogs.

Officials said the kennels at the Sherwood Animal Shelter are often at or near capacity.

Captain Jamie Hartman, social services captain for the Sherwood Police Department, says a large percentage of the dogs coming through their doors are mixed-breed pit bulls, like Hashbrown.

“Everything we’ve seen from Hashbrown indicates that he would be a really, really great dog,” Hartman said.

Hashbrown does have some setbacks though, as he needs to be in a cat-free home and needs a tall fence. The current city ordinance bans mixed breeds like Hashbrown from being within city limits. He has been at the shelter for more than a year and a half.

“If we’re able to get some different language included in a revised ordinance, it would just make it a lot easier to place animals and find them permanent placement,” Hartman said.

News of the possible revision doesn’t sit well with moms Stacey Sanchez and Lindsay Johnson.

Sanchez said her daughter Analeigh was attacked at 20 months old and was fortunate enough to survive.

“They tore off her bottom lip and part of her chin,” Sanchez said.

Johnson said her son Robby was attacked and died after walking out to get the mail when they lived in Faulkner County.

“I step outside and he’s nowhere and you just get that gut feeling,” Johnson said. “All I heard was her (her daughter) gut-wrenching scream and her just fall to the ground.”

In the revisions, there is a section that would prohibit a person from owning what is classified as a “vicious” dog in the city.

“We want to make sure that we’re able to do enforcement whenever we have a dog bite or an injury to another animal, another human and then we can take appropriate measures with that specific animal or owner, no matter what kind of breed it is,” Hartman said.

Johnson said she doesn’t think it’s enough.

“This ban doesn’t need to be lifted because it doesn’t just hurt the family and the child, it hurts everybody,” Johnson said.

Hartman added that having a revision will help them educate owners as well as bring people into compliance.

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