Pit bulls suffer from an image problem like perhaps no other breed of dog.
While many people view the dogs as lovable and loyal pets, others see them as nothing more than a fearsome set of jaws and teeth.
In Fort Dodge, the new Animal Control Ordinance Review Committee may discuss the possibility of banning the breed.
But there appears to be no support for a pit bull ban among the candidates for mayor and City Council in this year's election.
Here, in the second of a series of articles on city issues, those candidates discuss their thoughts on the possibility of a pit bull ban.
MAYOR
Councilman Matt Bemrich: ''I would not want to ban the breed,'' he said. ''My first instinct is that a responsible dog owner who has a pet that might be considered vicious because of its breed should not be penalized because their dog hasn't done anything wrong.''
''My first instinct is to deal with the people that cause the problem,'' he added.
Bemrich said he thinks the city should adopt a ''zero tolerance policy'' regarding dogs running loose.
Councilwoman Cindy Litwiller: ''I think we need to look at ways to take additional precautions,'' Litwiller said. ''I don't think we need to go so far as to ban them.''
The candidate said she believes the dogs should be muzzled while they are being walked. She added that pit bulls should be kept in fenced-in kennels in which the fence extends beneath the surface of the ground so that the dogs can't dig their way out.
Litwiller said she believes a liability insurance requirement for pit bull owners should be considered. She added that the city's $2 fee for dog licenses needs to be reviewed.
COUNCIL
AT-LARGE
Andy Fritz: ''I do not believe that a breed specific ban is the answer,'' Fritz said. ''I think we've got the right laws in place.''
He said he thinks the existing animal control laws need to be more vigorously enforced. He added that residents have a role to play in that enforcement by reporting problems like dogs running loose.
Eugene Newsome: Newsome owns a pit bull named Baby.
''She's never, ever, ever attempted to show a hostile attitude toward anyone,'' he said.
Not surprisingly, Newsome is opposed to a pit bull ban. However, he said he would support a measure requiring pit bull owners to have liability insurance.
''I think that would calm some of the fears of the public,'' he said.
Dennis O'Farrell: ''The way I see it, it's not fair to ban the breed,'' O'Farrell said. ''The fair way to handle it is to deal with each dog individually.''
The candidate said he believes a dog's training, handling and use is more important than its breed in determining if the animal will behave in a vicious way.
Robert ''Barney'' Patterson: He is opposed to a ban on pit bulls.
''I really don't think we should be singling out any one breed of dog,'' he said.
COUNCIL, 2ND WARD
Rita Carlson: ''I believe we shouldn't target one specific breed,'' Carlson said.
She said she thinks the existing animal control laws must be enforced.
Councilman Don Wilson: ''I would not support a total ban on pit bulls,'' Wilson said.
He said he believes any dog that bites a person should be confined to a kennel with walls at least six feet high.
COUNCIL, 3RD WARD
Margy Halverson-Collins: The candidate said she wants to wait until the Animal Control Ordinance Review Committee issues its recommendations before she offers an opinion on the issue. That committee will submit its report to the council by the end of December.
She said that dog owners must accept responsibility for their animals.
Halverson-Collins said pit bulls ''are not a family dog.''
Richard Higgins: During a Sept. 21 City Council workshop on animal control laws, Higgins went to the podium and told the elected officials that he was in favor of a pit bull ban.
He's since changed his mind.
''I would not support banning pit bulls at this time until I have more information on this particular issue,'' he said Wednesday.
Higgins said if he's elected he'll try to raise dog license fees in order to generate money to hire a second animal control officer.
COUNCIL, 4TH WARD
Tom Hemann: ''I'm not in favor of a ban on pit bulls at this time,'' he said. ''However, I feel that they should be contained in a manner that they would not be at risk of injuring any one person or animal. If it showed vicious traits than it should be banned on an individual basis.''
Hemann said he's not a fan of pit bulls.
''I feel they are intimidating because of their looks and bark and I wouldn't trust their personality,'' he said.
Kelly Hindman: Hindman opposes a pit bull ban.
He said some of those dogs ''might be fine pets that don't cause anybody any problems,''
Hindman said he wants to see the recommendations of the Animal Control Ordinance Review Committee before he offers any suggestions.
Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net