VICIOUS DOGS: Des Moines Changes Policy | News

The Des Moines city council took another step toward cracking down on vicious dogs and their owners.

Last fall, we shared Dani Housley’s story when her toy poodle, Charlie, was mauled to death by an American bulldog, belonging to her neighbor, Brandon Kam.

Housley brought her case to city council in November, and Monday, the council voted to expand Des Moines’ “dangerous dog” definition to include dogs which attack and kill domestic animals outside their own property.

The council says this is aimed at forcing owners to be more responsible.

“I`ve voted dozens and dozens of times to put a dog down when I know that the dog was misled, mis-handled, treated badly, wasn`t held accountable, and it`s sad because a bad dog owner cost a dog its life,” Council member Chris Coleman said.

Under the new law, Brandon Kam`s American bulldog would be classified as vicious and he would be required to carry a large insurance policy, spay or neuter the dog, and confine or restrain it at all times.

A second infraction would call for the dog to be euthanized.