Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Vicious Dog Ordinance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council tightens language for declaring a dog 'vicious' in Sioux Falls ordinance
Summary
Council adopted amendments to Chapter 90 of the Sioux Falls Code to broaden criteria for declaring an animal vicious — adding a 'serious injury' definition and 'contributing pack behavior' — and passed an attorney‑requested wording amendment before final adoption.
The Sioux Falls City Council adopted amendments to Chapter 90 (animals) on Dec. 17 to clarify standards for declaring a dog vicious, following presentations from Police and Animal Control staff.
Captain Garten (Sioux Falls Police) and Patty Beckman, Animal Control Supervisor, said the current ordinance’s technical measuring requirements — measuring wound depth or length of a tooth — hampered the department’s ability to declare animals vicious in severe cases. Beckman described a range of incidents over the past year, including facial bites to children and a fatal attack on a smaller dog, and said the proposed language would add a definition of "serious injury" (substantial risk of death, prolonged disfigurement or impairment) and "contributing pack behavior" to allow authorities to address more severe incidents.
Councilor Branco moved an amendment requested by the city attorney to adjust the ordinance language; the council approved the amendment and then adopted the ordinance, 8–0. Beckman said the intent is not to euthanize more animals but to make it easier to address cases that meet the severe‑injury threshold.
