Oct 20, 2009 8:15 am US/Eastern
Family Fights To Ban Pit Bull Packs In Mashpee
MASHPEE (WBZ) ―
A proposal to regulate pit bulls in Mashpee has stirred up intense debate among people in this small Cape Cod town.
Melissa and Carmen Shay petitioned the town to consider regulating the breed after a family with six pit bulls began moving in next door.
"I just want to keep my kids safe," said Melissa Shay, the mother of two young girls.
"I think having more than one of these dogs can lead to a pack mentality."
The proposal would limit residents to owning only one pit bull.
Any resident with a mixed breed dog would have to submit DNA results to show it was not predominantly pit bull. And, pit bull owners would have to prove they had $1 million to $2 million in liability insurance.
Brendan Lopes, the owner of the six pit bulls said it wasn't fair to single him out or any one breed.
"My son would be heartbroken if I had to get rid of the dogs," he said.
A number of people got up at the town meeting Monday night to speak out on the proposal, most were against it.
On a voice vote, residents defeated the proposal.
"I'm very happy that the vote didn't go their way it went our way," said Lopes.
For the Shay family, it's a double defeat.
They not only lost the vote, but also their home. The couple recently moved out of their house and put it up for sale.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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