Following the deaths of several household pets and attacks on human, the Benicia City Council voted to approve an ordinance amending the animal control title of the Benicia Municipal Code of dangerous or potentially dangerous animals.
The ordinance change would include improving the hearing procedures to determine if an animal is dangerous or potentially dangerous, improving the conditions required to keep a dangerous or potentially dangerous animal, improving the procedures for impounding animals, requiring training classes for cases where a dog chases or attacks, and setting time standards for abating animal nuisance
The City Council voted on the ordinance at its Tuesday meeting. Before voting on the ordinance, the Council allowed for public comment on the topic.
Constance Burrell was the first speaker to approach the lectern. This was Burrell’s first time speaking at a City Council meeting and she thanked City Attorney Heather McLaughlin, who helped craft the ordinance.
“We think this is a robust animal ordinance update and really addresses the issues that happen to both Leilani and Kim Kirby with two dogs jumping their fence and killing their cat and with me being attacked by five pit bulls,” Burrell said. “So I really recommend your approval of this and am really pleased with the attention and focus were given to us.”
Next to speak was Susan Redactie who was at the meeting to support her friend. Redactie said she did research into what other cities had done with dangerous animals and thought this ordinance was weak compared to others.
“Before putting this in a final thing, you look over Marin County Ordinance 8.04.181, San Francisco Dangerous Dog Protocol, CA food and Agricultural code 31621,” she said. “According to the Marin County director of animal services, by the way, it’s a police captain there. She also respected all the different animal groups in the state. She’s an expert in dangerous dogs hearings. She trains police and other people in them. She might be a good person to consult for us as well.”
Gretchen Burgess was the last speaker of the evening. She cited the experience of the effect of a dog attack as to why she supported the ordinance change._The City Council regrouped to discuss and vote on the ordinance change.
Councilmember Tom Campbell opened the discussion by asking whether the ordinance had provisions pertaining to a dog who demonstrates the dangerous behavior. Mayor Elizabeth Patterson then explained the ordinance does address such circumstances. City Contract Attorney Kat Wellman would further elaborate if a person moves from Benicia and then returns to the city with a dangerous animal, they would have to register the animal and it would be put down for a repeat offense.
The City Council would vote unanimously to approve the ordinance change. A discussion on the Benicia Town Hall Cannabis Survey was scheduled to take place at the meeting, but due to time constraints, the council voted to move that discussion to its Sept. 5 meeting.
The next City Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 22 at 7 p.m.

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