MONROE, Wash.-- Are all dogs created equal?

That is the divisive question that pitted neighbors against neighbors in this Western Washington as the city considered imposing harsher punishments in case of attack by certain breeds of dogs it believes to be more dangerous.

On Tuesday hundreds lined the sidewalks to denounce breed-specific legislation as discriminatory and unfair to dog owners. One speaker said the type of dog one owns is irrelevant. He said he doesn't own pit bulls; he owns pets.

Monroe city leaders originally had 12 types of dogs, including different pit bulls, on a list of breeds it considers especially dangerous. Those dogs would have stricter punishment for attacking.

But after Tuesday's protest, city leaders put a hold on specifying breeds until they gather more information.

"Sixty percent of all fatalities last year were caused by pit bulls," said council member John Stima. "There was a whole community that was living in fear because of the animals that were getting out."

Then why shouldn't the owners be held punishable?

"They are being held responsible. But what I'm trying to do is prevent; not just punish," Stima said.

Dog trainer Peggy Wooolworth says dogs who attack usually have trouble at home.

"When you evaluate the home you will find that the owner is not socializing the dog, not taking responsibility, not fencing," she said.

That's precisely why the law should punish the deed and not the breed, according to protestors.

"Animal Control needs to deal with that dog individually not say 'there's a hundred dogs that look like him. I'm just going to do it off of appearances,"' said Sam Wirsching, a dog lover. "I'm very much for owner responsibility."

City leaders plan to look into breed-specific legislation again in six months.