Ottumwa pet owners sue over dog ordinance

Pet owners are biting back over a tough new Ottumwa city dog ordinance. Owners of pit bull dogs in Ottumwa have joined forces with the “Animal Foundation” from Washington state, to seek legal action against the city. The group’s filed a writ of injunction in Wapello County district court to stop the city from enforcing an amended city code that went into effect Tuesday. The ordinance bans pit bills from the city limits and dog owners who don’t comply could face arrest or fines. The code also gives police authority to shoot a pit bull, as a last resort. Among other things, the dog owners say the penalty for keeping dangerous animals banned by the code violates part of the 14th amendment of the U-S constitution. They also say the ordinance is arbitrary and capricious. A hearing on the injunction’s to be next week.