GALLIPOLIS — Gallipolis City Commissioners will decide whether or not to pass the first reading of an ordinance during tonight’s regular meeting that would place a ban on pit bulls inside the city limits. The ordinance would still have to pass a second reading during a future meeting before the ban could be instituted.

City officials called for an amendment to the Gallipolis ordinance defining dangerous and vicious dogs during a Feb. 3 meeting after a young girl was seriously injured by two pit bull dogs inside a city residence in January. Following the meeting, it was incorrectly reported that legislation had been enacted to ban the dogs from inside the city limits, when in fact approval was granted for the drafting of legislation that would ban pit bulls if passed.

The amending legislation that the city will be voting on during tonight’s meeting is found in chapter 505 of the codified ordinances of the city of Gallipolis under dangerous and vicious dogs.

The proposed amendments would make it unlawful to own, possess, keep, exercise control over, maintain, harbor, transport, or sell any pit bull dog within the city. Pit bull terriers being defined to include any American Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier breed of dog. In addition, any mixed breeds of dog that contain an element of or are identifiable as being partially of the aforementioned breeds are also included in the ban.

If this ordinance passes its second reading, a violation would carry a first degree misdemeanor charge and the pit bull would be confined by the dog warden until removed from the city or ordered by the court.