Following months of conversation with other Jefferson County municipalities regarding the high-profile issue of specific dog-breed bans and the ability of local government to deal effectively with dangerous animals, the Arvada City Council has amended sections of the city code pertaining to animals to facilitate more effective enforcement of code violations.

Chapter 14, Animals, of the Arvada City Code, was amended at the Oct. 16 Arvada City Council meeting. Amendments include, but are not limited to, the following:

· An owner or custodian of an animal convicted of a code violation may now be required to provide proof of liability insurance in the amount of at least $100,000 to cover any damage or injurythat may be caused by the animal.

· A section has been added to the code defining a habitual offender. A habitual offender is a person who accumulates three convictions for separate and distinct code offenses.

· The term "vicious animal" has been replaced with "dangerous animal." A dangerous animal is defined as an animal that, without intentional provocation, engages in any of the following behaviors:

- Causes bodily injury to any person at any place within the city.

- Approaches any person in a menacing or terrorizing manner, or in an apparent attitude of attack, while off the owner's or custodian's property.

- Kills another animal while off the owner's or custodian's property (this behavior is a new amendment to the code).

- Attacks any person who is lawfully on the owner's or custodian's property.

"By amending the city code dealing with dangerous animals, the Arvada City Council is confident that we are addressing the issue in a fairer and more effective manner than by a blanket 'specific breed' ban," stated Mayor Ken Fellman. "We will closely monitor how these new provisions operate for our animal management staff, prosecutors and court system, but most particularly whether they address the safety of our citizens," he concluded.

The new ordinance goes into effect on Oct. 30.