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City amends animal code to remove breed‑specific rules for pit bulls
Summary
The commission approved changes to Title 6 of the municipal code removing breed‑specific fees and background‑check requirements for pit bulls and updating dangerous‑animal response language and administrative references.
The El Dorado City Commission approved an ordinance amending Title 6 of the municipal code to revise how pit bulls are regulated and to modernize administrative references for animal control.
City staff told the commission the principal change removes breed‑specific requirements that required pit bull owners to pay an additional fee and undergo a criminal background check; under the amended code, pit bull owners will be subject to the same standard requirements as other dog owners, including payment of standard licensing fees and maintaining rabies vaccinations.
Staff said if a pit bull bites someone, the animal will be handled under the city's dangerous‑animal procedures in the same manner as any other dog that bites a person, rather than under a separate, breed‑specific regime. The ordinance also replaces explicit departmental references (for example, a specific department name that previously administered animal control) with a provision allowing the city manager to designate responsible staff, a change intended to avoid frequent code amendments when internal assignments change.
A motion to approve the ordinance was moved and seconded; the commission voted in favor and the motion carried.
