In a 5-0 vote, the council denied a request by some residents to ban the dogs within city limits and, instead, toughened its current pet ordinance on how to deal with problem animals.

Mayor Gerald Sherratt said the issue heated up last summer when a petition was circulated in a city neighborhood where a girl was attacked by a pit bull.

"It went for the face and cut her up pretty badly," said Sherratt. "The neighbors of the [dog's] owner got up in arms."

Under Wednesday's change to the ordinance, problem dogs will now be labeled in one of three categories with matching fines.

If a dog is labeled aggressive, then an owner could be subject to a $500 fine. If a dog is deemed dangerous, a $700 fine would apply; if considered vicious, the owner would face a $1,000 fine.

The dollar amounts are significantly larger than previous fines.

Alisa Haller, who heads the southwestern Utah city's animal control division, said the ordinance will help enforcement efforts of problem animals because higher fines will, they hope, compel pet owners to keep their animals in secured areas or to make sure they are muzzled.

mhavnes@sltrib.com