The municipal code of Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, makes it unlawful for any person to own, harbor or keep any pit bull terrier (as defined in the law including certain mixed breed dogs). Any dog determined to be a pit bull terrier by a court shall be destroyed or removed from the city.
Sec. 6-94. - Vicious dogs and other vicious animals prohibited.
(a) Keeping pit bull terriers prohibited. Because of the great inherent danger to the public health, welfare and safety, no person shall own, harbor or keep any dog commonly described as a pit bull terrier within the city. The term "pit bull terrier," as used in this section, shall be defined as any of the following:
(1) A bull terrier breed of dog.
(2) A Staffordshire bull terrier breed of dog.
(3) An American Staffordshire bull terrier breed of dog.
(4) An American pit bull terrier breed of dog.
(5) A dog of mixed breed or of other breed than the breeds listed in this subsection, which breed or mixed breed is known as a pit bull dog or pit bull terrier and has the appearance and characteristics of being predominantly of any of the breeds listed in this subsection or any combination thereof.
Any such dog shall be impounded by an animal warden and held until a determination is made by a court of competent jurisdiction that the animal is a pit bull terrier. The court shall order that any dog determined to be a pit bull terrier shall be destroyed or removed from the city.
(b) Keeping vicious animal prohibited; exception. No person shall own, harbor or keep a vicious dog or vicious animal. This subsection shall not apply to guard dogs maintained for security purposes, provided that such guard dog has been professionally trained for that purpose and the nature of the dog is noted upon the license application at the time such license is issued. As used in this subsection, the term "vicious dog" means:
(1) Any dog with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack unprovoked, or to cause injury to or otherwise threaten the safety of human beings or domestic animals;
(2) Any dog which, without provocation, attacks or bites or has attacked or bitten a human being; or
(3) Any dog which, without provocation, seriously injures or kills another dog or domestic animal.
(Code 1975, § 8-11-9; Code 1997, § 6-101)