For nearly 90 minutes Auburn dog owners barked at council members Monday night over a proposed ordinance that would label any dog weighing more than 30 pounds "potentially dangerous."

The council heard heated, but considerate, passionate and often emotional pleas.

"It's very difficult for me to come down here," said one Auburn dog owner, as he choked back tears.

More than 100 residents packed council chambers -- standing room only -- to say the same thing: The city's proposed dog ordinance goes to far.

Jim Nicholson only heard about the proposal two hours before the vote -- he was first in line for the meeting.

"They're profiling, it's not right," says Nicholson.

The original proposal would have labeled all dogs over 30 pounds as dangerous. That includes Murphy.

"That would be the same as saying anybody over 150 pounds is terrorist," says Nicholson.

And any potentially dangerous dog unleashed -- could be deemed dangerous. And that's where the consequences are steep. Dangerous dogs would require a quarter million dollars worth of liability insurance, among other things.

"This is not a about a city-wide epidemic," said Auburn mayor Pete Lewis. "This about a few irresponsible owners who are not taking care of their pets."

After hearing countless residents, the entire council agreed that they need to think more before they vote.

The city says it was only thinking of people like Nel Stanford when it proposed the ordinance. Her cat, Fluffy was mauled last month by a Husky.

"I went and looked out that window. It was too late -- I had to pick up my dead baby," says Nell Stanford. "I had him for 14 years, we understood each other."

Council tabled the vote and will consider changing the language in its next committee meeting.

For more information, check out the article in our newspaper partner, the King County Journal.