The city of Jordan is considering a dangerous-dog ordinance that would establish a procedure by which a dog may be declared dangerous or potentially dangerous.

"It is very important that we closely monitor and regulate dogs after
they have attacked or bit someone," Police Chief Bob Malz wrote in a
report to the council.

The proposed ordinance also allows, among other things:

- an animal control officer to designate dogs as potentially dangerous;

- potentially dangerous dogs to be impounded if they are an "immediate threat to public safety";

- the city to require the owner of a potentially dangerous dog to have a microchip implanted in the dog for identification;

- the owner of a potentially dangerous dog to appeal the designation;

- the owner of a potentially dangerous dog to have an annual review of the designation for a fee of $50 a hearing;

- the city to require that potentially dangerous dogs be licensed for an annual fee of $50 and registered;

- an animal control officer to seize potentially dangerous dogs if the dogs are not enclosed, restrained, registered, or insured;

- a potentially dangerous dog that has bitten someone to be quarantined and examined for rabies;

- potentially dangerous dogs to be disposed of, if they are not reclaimed within 10 days of confinement.

According to the proposed ordinance, a dog may be declared dangerous if it:

- has without provocation, inflicted substantial bodily harm on a person;

- has killed a domestic animal without provocation while off its owner's property;

-
or has been found to be potentially dangerous, and after the owner has
notice that the dog is potentially dangerous, the dog aggressively
bites, attacks, or endangers the safety of people or domestic animals.

In a 5-0 vote, the Jordan City Council approved the first reading of
the ordinance. Councilmembers Barry Ullmann and David Hanson were
absent from the meeting. The ordinance will not take effect until after
a second reading, public hearing, and publication of the ordinance.