Oakland Community Lifts Pit Bull Ban

Pit bull ownership is now allowed in Hazel Park, with some restrictions, including behavior assessment and insurance coverage requirements. (Photo by Getty Images via Flickr)

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The much maligned pit bull has caught a break in one Oakland County community.

The city of Hazel Park has lifted its ban on the pit bull terriers, known for their strong jaws, after emotional testimony at a city council meeting Wednesday by supporters of a woman who says her dog, Ice, saved her from a serious injury after her former boyfriend violently attacked her.

Jamie Kraczkowski told WJBK-TV in March that Ice grabbed her former boyfriend’s pant leg and held on when he reportedly drunk and argumentative, allegedly slammed her her head against the wall and broke her cell phone when she attempted to dial 911.

“She was done with him abusing me - and abusing her,” Kraczkowski told WJBK at the time.

When police investigated, they gave her five days to find a new home for Ice, who was in violation of a ban imposed in 2008 and amended in 2011. At the time, it was the best solution available to city officials after dozens of people had been bitten by the dog in recent years, City Manager Edward Klobucher said.

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“We can’t ban stupid owners so we looked to try to address what was a serious public health situation when we had 40-something bites by pit bulls in the past few years,” he said.

But on Wednesday, that changed.

“It’s not just just pit bulls,” Magan Bouchard, one of those testifying, told the city council. “I’ve got nieces and they have a pit bull and live Up North and the dog protects the baby.”

Bouchard’s husband, Al, said pit bulls get an undeserved bad rap.

“Pit bulls aren’t the problem,” he said. “The people that own them and raise them are the problem. They’re the ones who need to be put to sleep.”

With Wednesday’s action, pit bull ownership isn’t without restrictions, among them:

• The dog must complete a behavior assessment
• The owner or keeper must erect a fence to secure the dog
• The owner or keeper must purchase insurance that covers dog bites
• The dogs must be licensed and current on vaccinations
• More information is found on Hazel Park’s Animal Control site.

Hazel Park resident Suzanne Rondeau said the rules are resonable.

“They need to be licensed, they need to be neutered, they need to be spayed, they need to be trained and then you’ve got a wonderful thing going on and that’s what Hazel Park has asked: basically for just responsible ownership,” she said.