By a consensus decision the Junction City Commission has decided to leave a ban on pit bull dogs in the city in place. That followed a second consecutive meeting where supporters of  lifting the ban urged the governing body to take that action.

Commissioner Tim Brown cited examples where people had been killed by pit bulls. He stated that he loved dogs, “but there are bad owners and bad dogs, and there’s just nothing you can do about it.” He said he could not support changing the pit bull ordinance, and noted that it’s the responsibility of the city commission to protect the citizens of the community by whatever means necessary, no matter how unpopular that decision.

Commissioner Nick Allbritton said officials needed to look at something, noting that there are pit bulls in the city. Commissioner Phyllis Fitzgerald said the elected officials received a lot of messages from people that wanted to see the ban lifted, but many others that wanted to see it stay in place. Fitzgerald told the story of her niece who was attacked by a pit bull when she was two years old and has scars on her face today as a result. She said the commissioners are responsible for the safety of the community and she was not in favor of lifting the ban.

Commissioner Jeff Underhill asked the question how do you regulate or manage bad dog owners and answered it by saying the City can’t manage everybody or dog owner. He favored keeping the ban in place. Mayor Pat Landes added not everyone is responsible and indicated there was no support on the governing body to lift the ban. He noted if it is going to occur it would have to be through a public vote.