is now heading in another direction, including banning leashes over 4 feet long.
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The Tuscaloosa City Council's public safety committee revisited Thursday the controversial issue of requiring some dogs to be muzzled in public.
Dozens of dog owners bombarded the City Council's public safety meeting Thursday to protest the idea of muzzling large dogs that are out in public. Because of their objections, the City Council is now changing its direction.
The City Council wants to put more teeth into its animal cruelty laws in an attempt, members said, to rein in vicious dogs such as pit bulls.
"Really going after some of the people who have been very irresponsible dog owners," said Kip Tyner, of the Tuscaloosa City Council.
At first, some council members pushed to force owners to muzzle certain large breeds, but instead, they have decided to target owners who train their dogs to be vicious.
Tyner wants to beef up monetary fines for cruelty to $500 and add time behind bars.
"Hopefully, but making it as hard on them as possible through their pocketbook and jail time, maybe that might be the best solution," Tyner said.
Tyner is also proposing that Tuscaloosa ban heavy chain collars used to develop dogs' necks for fighting, outlaw the practice of letting a dog live its entire life on a chain and ban leashes more than 4 feet long.
Dog owners, such as Brooke Voss, said those suggestions are easier to swallow than the idea of muzzling her dogs, Barkley and Sadie, whenever they are in public.
"I'd hate to put a muzzle on my dogs. Yes, they're very large -- they weigh 100 pounds each -- but they're also very friendly, and I'm very cautious," Voss said.
Barkley and Sadie are 10-month-old mixed breeds. Voss takes them out to play in local parks and public areas almost every day. She agrees that the key to wiping out vicious dogs is to go after abusive owners.
"I think it has a lot to do with the owners. If they stick their animals in small cages or hit them with hoses, it makes them mean," Voss said.
The full City Council will consider these ideas in the coming weeks.