A bill forbidding felons from owning vicious dogs passed the state Senate Judiciary and Corrections Committee unanimously Tuesday.
The Green Bay Police Department requested the bill be brought to the committee. State Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay, authored the bill, which both Democratic and Republican committee members recommended.
Hansen said police officers were increasingly encountering the vicious dogs of criminals.
This bill is about public safety and protecting our police officers,"" Hansen said in a statement.
Felons are not allowed to own guns, and Hansen said they similarly should not be allowed to own violent trained dogs.
Hansen also said the dogs are often used for activities like dog fighting or intimidation.
A high-profile case of an alleged criminal owning vicious dogs ended in Madison only last spring.
Forty-one violent pit bulls were euthanized at the end of March after being confiscated from Robert Lowery, who was found guilty of drug trafficking, according to the Capital Times.
The Dane County Humane Society was unable to pay for the housing and care needed for all the dogs.
