Excelsior Springs’ regulations regarding dogs that threaten to attack or attack humans have changed – and a decades-long, breed-specific ban has ended.

On Monday at the Hall of Waters, the City Council approved an ordinance to amend Chapter 210 of the city code, which covers dangerous dogs. The revised code categorizes threatening or attacking dogs into three categories – potentially dangerous, dangerous and vicious, as Paul Campo, city attorney, explained during a July work session and reiterated shortly before the vote.

Animal control officers will determine if a dog fits into any of the three categories, Campo said. The categories “do carry consequences,” he said.

“Once your dog gets labeled (as) one of these three, then … (there are) certain behavior modifications,” Campo said.

Owners whose dogs have been labeled potentially dangerous, dangerous or vicious have the right to appeal to the city manager to get the label removed, Campo said. And as he pointed out, the revised code includes a “good-behavior provision” for dangerous and potentially dangerous dogs.

Per the ordinance, owners of dogs deemed potentially dangerous may request the label be removed after 24 months, if provisions set by the city are met, including behavior modification training. Owners of dogs deemed dangerous may request that label be removed after 36 months, if compliance with provisions are met.

“With the vicious dog, there’s really no compromise,” Campo said. “The dog gets put down.”

The legislation also “repeals the breed-specific … pit bull ban,” Campo said.

And as was mentioned during a question-and-answer session, the amended code includes a section covering dangerous cats. Animal control personnel requested that be added, according to Campo.

“We’ll kind of see how that goes,” he said.

Mayor Pro Tem and Councilman Stephen Spear thanked Campo and others for working on the ordinance, including Excelsior Springs Police Chief Greg Dull.

“I know that was a lot of work, Paul, on your part and, Chief Dull, on your part, getting feedback from animal control,” Spear said. “But (I) greatly appreciated all the effort that went into that.”

Councilman Mark Spohn agreed. Spohn also thanked Spear for bringing the issue to the council’s attention and keeping the council focused on it.

“I think it’s an important ordinance and I know his two pooches will appreciate the repeal on the pit bull ban,” he said.

Spear gently corrected Spohn. His dogs are English bulldogs, rather than pit bulls, he said.