DETROIT (WXYZ) — Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones is pushing for changes to the city's current animal ordinance that she hopes will help prevent another deadly mauling by dogs like the attacks that killed nine-year-old Emma Hernandez last month and four-year-old Xavier Strickland in 2015.
The proposed changes include mandatory spay/neuter for animals 18 inches in height or over and 35 pounds in weight or heavier.
An exception would be made to the mandatory spay/neuter if someone obtains a breeder's license. Even with that special license, if a breeder's dog is captured at large, their license will be revoked.
Owners of large animals must also be approved for a special animal license and not have any previous potentially dangerous or dangerous animal complaints against them.
The owners must also undergo a mandatory criminal background check and not have any outstanding blight violations.
Xavier Strickland Update and Amendments Memo Final by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit on Scribd
