The Ames City Council reviewed a new ordinance Tuesday dealing with dangerous animals.

“This is a hot topic, and we are prepared to discuss the issue more. We’d be happy to, actually, since we want all affected constituents to know about this ordinance,” said Ames Police Chief Chuck Cychosz.

The ordinance defines a dangerous domestic animal as an animal that has inflicted serious injury on a person or animal without provocation, killed a domestic animal, is owned primarily for animal fighting or poses a potential risk because of its breeding or training.

If an animal is deemed dangerous, it must be registered as such, and can be secured by an animal control officer.

If the officer determines that the owner failed to keep the animal in compliance with the criteria mentioned above and that the animal is a risk, it must be euthanized, although this can be appealed.

Also, if an animal has been listed as dangerous but shows no signs of such behavior for 36 months, the animal can be reviewed, and may have the label lifted.

“My concern is that this is all reactive action, and there’s no proactive compromise in here. I just hope there’s no fudge room for animals that are dangerous and are allowed to live,” said Dan Rice, 1st Ward city councilman.

Some citizens showed their concern over the ordinance at the meeting. Nancy Christiansen, of the Cyclone Country Kennel Club, said some of the definitions needed beefing up.

“There isn’t any provision for animal self-defense. We are also concerned about the breeding provision; if we’ve learned anything from Michael Vick, not all dogs bred to fight are capable of doing that,” she said.

Ultimately, the ordinance was sent back to staff for further discussion.

Also heard at the meeting was a motion to revoke the beer license of Ames Gas, 326 Lincoln Way, for multiple infractions of selling alcohol to a minor. In each of these infractions, it was the owner cited, and not an employee, for selling alcohol to a minor.

“The fact that the owner was cited on four separate occasions, months apart, shows negligence and a refusal to learn from past mistakes on his part,” Cychosz said.

The motion passed unanimously.

During the public forum, one citizen also spoke on alcohol vendors and the effect they had on him.

“I lived on Chamberlain for a year-and-a-half, and the outdoor liquor service at that time was almost too much for it to be that close to a residential area,” said Bob Anders, 1315 Big Blue Stem Circuit.

“The council should consider proximity to residential areas before granting outdoor liquor service. Some service areas start building in decibel at 10 [p.m.], and then crescendo at 2 in the morning, and that’s not appropriate for residential areas.”