New Bedford dog ban changes

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) – After eight years lobbying for change the state-wide law has been signed banning discrimination of dogs by breed.

The dangerous of dogs based on breed has been a heated debate in many communities.

Emanuel Macial New Bedford’s animal control officer says that it’s not the breed that determines the dangerousness of a dog.

Other provisions have been made to the law that had not been updated for 40 years. Including animal control officers only need to hold a stray for seven days instead of 10 days.

Macial says it was just too stressful for them to keep the animal any longer.

The last change is all dog officers will now be considered animal control officers and there will be mandatory training within one year of being hired.