By KALEY CONNER

kconner@dailynews.net

Emotions ran high at Thursday's Hays City Commission meeting, as commissioners voted 4-0 to pass stricter regulations for pit bull owners.

The new ordinance automatically classifies pit bulls as "dangerous," meaning owners must keep them securely confined at all times, pay an increased registration fee of $50 annually, keep them muzzled in public and provide an identification microchip.

Another provision that would have required owners to obtain public liability insurance in a single incident amount of at least $100,000 was removed by a 3-1 vote. Vice Mayor Chris Channell objected. Commissioner Henry Schwaller IV said he contacted local insurance providers and found policies to cover pit bulls are not readily available.

"Nobody wants to insure a pit bull because ... it's just too risky," Schwaller said. "Insurance companies do not want to touch this."

Channell said the Kansas Supreme Court has declared pit bulls represent a public health hazard not posed by other breeds of dogs.

"And that they possess both the capacity for extraordinarily savage behavior and physical capabilities in excess of (other breeds)," Channell said. "That's already on record with the state of Kansas."

The ordinance defines pit bulls as any of several dog breeds.

Commissioners also heard from several pit bull owners who urged the commission to reconsider breed-specific legislation. Among them was Mandy Wallgren, who came with her certified service dog Brodie, who is classified as a pit bull. Wallgren said a dog's behavior depends on its upbringing, not breed.

"I propose a different set of solutions, that we react to the behavior and not the appearance of animals," she said. "All dogs, regardless of breed and size, should have consequences if they bite animals or people."