Council Bluffs officials did not violate the rights of dog owners when they banned keeping pit bulls and similar dogs within the city, a federal appeals court has affirmed. The city’s ordinance, which took effect in 2005, bans owning, keeping or selling pit bulls, defined in the law as any "American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier," or any dog with "the majority of physical traits" of one of those breeds. The ruling last week by the St. Louis-based Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals came in a May 2020 suit filed by a group of residents working with the nonprofit Animal Farm Foundation, arguing the law was unconstitutional. It affirmed a district court judgment. A suit by the group against a similar law in Sioux City , filed in 2016, ended with the repeal of that city’s ban . But Council Bluffs held its ground. "The City of Council Bluffs is pleased that the Court of Appeals confirmed that the ordinance is rationally related to the city’s duty to provide for public safety and welfare concerning dog bites," attorney Sara Bauer said. "The city hopes the matter is concluded but will continue to defend the […]
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