Grosse Pointe Shores votes to ban pit bulls after Detroit Lions player's dog attacks neighbor

On Tuesday, a small town just north of Detroit, Michigan passed a measure banning pit bulls. Grosse Pointe Shores' city council approved the ban by a narrow vote of 4-3 following a lengthy debate in which concerned residents on both sides passionately defended their positions.

Dozens of communities in the state have banned the notorious breed, a trend that appears to be growing both domestically and abroad.

As FOX2 Detroit reports, the ban prevents any new pit bulls from being allowed in Grosse Pointe Shores. Those who already own them will be allowed to keep their pets, so long as they abide by a number of conditions.

Those who wish to hold on to their pit bulls must install a fence on their property that is no less than six feet tall, keep the dog on a leash, and take out a $100,000 liability insurance policy for potential attacks.

The move was proposed after Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery's pit bull attacked a small cockapoo earlier this year, as well as the dog's owner. The cockapoo was injured so badly that it had to have its leg amputated.

The owners of the cockapoo, Mark and Dana Owen, sued Montgomery, who agreed to have his dog euthanized. According to the Detroit Free Press, Mr. Owen was present at the meeting on Tuesday evening. Just before city council members were set to vote, Mayor Ted Kedzierski asked him how he felt.

"I do support the ban," Owen replied. "No one else in this room has been on the ground, screaming for his life. I have zero feeling now on the side of my hand" and "my three-legged dog tries to walk and falls on her face after three surgeries, $16,000. It's been absolute hell."

Detractors, including the mayor himself, argued that the ban would be difficult to enforce, and likely cost a lot of taxpayer money. One resident even suggested it was "implicit racism" because the breed is "usually, maybe associated with the African American community, the Latino community."

"That hurts the diversity and inclusivity of Grosse Pointe Shores," she added.