A bill proposed at the Capitol would prevent convicted felons from owning or possessing a vicious dog. State Senator Dave Hansen says those criminals already can't own a gun, so why should they be allowed to have a vicious animal that could easily hurt someone?
Hansen says the problem came to his attention after talking to members of the Green Bay police department. Officers told him they're frequently entering homes of serious felony offenders where large attack animals are being kept for protection. Hansen says those criminals are clearly using the animals as weapons.
Currently, animals are only labeled as vicious if they attack or endanger a person's safety. Hansen says it's still not clear if the bill will target specific breeds, but the decision of what's considered a vicious dog would be left up to the state Ag Department.
Violators of the proposal could face additional jail time and fines of up to $10,000.