Prairie Village votes to repeal pit bull ownership ban

Prairie Village’s ban on owning pit bulls will be lifted today, Feb. 11, after the city council voted to repeal it. 

An amendment requesting the repeal on the ban of owning pit bulls within city limits was approved in a city council vote on Feb. 3, according to KSHB Kansas City. 

According to Fox4 News, pit bulls were originally banned in 2006 after a man in Independence, Mo. was attacked by three pit bulls while mowing the lawn of a vacant lot that he owned. After the incident, more than 4,400 people petitioned to ban the breed of dogs.  

Breeds that were banned in the area consisted of the Staffordshire bull terrier, the American bull terrier and the American Staffordshire terrier, as well as other dogs who had characteristics of those breeds, KSHB stated. 

By owning one of these dogs, you could receive up to a $1,000 fine, 30 days of imprisonment or a combination of the two, according to the Animal Legal and Historical Center. 

Freshman Phoenix Fisk, who owns a pit bull, believes that the ban is unfair and was relieved to hear that it is being lifted. 

“I thought it was stupid because they’re not mean unless you make them mean or they have mental issues,” Fisk said.

Fisk adopted her pit bull, Vanessa, after only two months of fostering her. Vanessa developed fear-based aggression and anxiety after being repeatedly attacked as a stray, which is similar to cases with other pit bulls. Since then, Vanessa has become less anxious and feels safe in her home.

“[People] judge pit bulls before they even know them,” Fisk said. “Yes, they can be a little mean, but it’s only because they were raised that way.”

While Fisk lives in Fairway where pit bulls are not banned, the ban has still affected her. Before she adopted her dog, her family had to make sure if it was even legal to own.

“Whenever I talk about her at school, people are like, ‘wait, isn’t your dog not legal?’” Fisk said.

The repeal of the ban has also spread to the KCK area, as well as other areas throughout Kansas and the country.