BOTHELL, Wash. -- Diane Selin made an emotional plea to city leaders on Tuesday: ban pit bulls within city limits.

The plea is the latest fight in Selin's crusade which began in August after her own Yorkshire terrier was attacked and killed by a pit bull.

"His jaws just laid right into the side of Ty. And I just started screaming for help," she said.

Since her dog's death, Selin says she's seen an alleged dog-fighting ring busted in Pierce County. She says she's heard the story about a possible pit bull attack in Seattle's Magnuson Park.

Now she's begging the city of Bothell to take the lead and ban the breed.

"Do I want to take a dog away from somebody? I'd hate to have my dog taken away. But if it's a dangerous breed, I feel it might be necessary," she said.

In the neighborhood where Selin's Ty was attacked, the pit bull owners are still afraid of a possible lawsuit. And they fear the city might enforce a breed ban.

At a safety committee meeting on Tuesday, the city's mayor and the police chief said an outright ban would be tough to enforce.
As a result, the authorities are leaning toward singling out pit bull owners for tighter regulations.

In addition to registering the dogs, they want owners to carry extended insurance, install reinforced fences or kennels, use restraints or muzzles when in public and possibly test every dog for aggressive behavior.

"What we'd like to do in the city of Bothell is take a careful approach -- one that is ultimately enforceable, and one that will provide the best level of protection for our citizens," said Bothell Mayor Mark Lamb.

The city says it already has tough dog laws. It adds there have only been 24 vicious dog complaints in Bothell in the last four years, but the only time a victim mentions a breed is when it's a pit bull.

Some others who attended the meeting echoed Selin's sentiments.

"The breed doesn't belong in our community, period," said a woman who spoke up at a meeting.

Bothell plans to have at least two more public hearings on pit bull regulations. City council members say they'd like to have a new law on the books before the end of the year.