Leash law explained by Pratt officials

A recent report of a pit bull attack on a family pet and the pet’s owner at Lemon Park has raised issues among some local pet owners about the enforcement of a city leash law.
Pratt Police Chief Nate Humble said the leash law ordinance, 6.04.140 Running at Large, makes it unlawful for any person to willfully allow any animal or fowl under his or her control to run at large within the city. The ordinance does not specify the penalty for violation.
“A dog’s got to be under control,” said Pratt Animal Control Officer Kris Dover. “People have got to keep their dogs under control, no matter what.“ According to information shared at the recent Pratt City Commission meeting about the attack at Lemon Park, the aggressive dog, which was riding in the front of a vehicle, jumped out a window to attack Troy McEachern and his small dog who were walking by. It remains to be seen if the report of the incident resulted in a fine or not.
Since the breed of the aggressive dog involved with the Lemon Park attack was identified by several sources as a pit bull, there have been unsubstantiated reports that pit bull attacks have been on the rise since city officials lifted a breed ban and changed wording to ban “dangerous animals” from city limits.
Pratt Area Humane Society Manager April Hemphill said she did not have data immediately at hand that might document the number of pit bulls that have been brought to the shelter since last May.
“I feel we’ve had fewer pit bulls in as strays and we haven’t had any confiscated,” Hemphill said. “We haven’t had any we’ve had to quarantine for bite cases.“
Police Chief Nate Humble said he is following through with research on the pit bull matter as he was requested to do at the last city commission meeting and will have a report available to present at the March 18 city commission meeting.