AMORY - City officials are considering beefing up Amory's dog control ordinance that pertains to pit bull dogs and other dangerous breeds of dogs.

At the Nov. 10 meeting of the Board of Aldermen, Ward 3 Alderman Tony Poss said he wanted the current animal control ordinance reviewed so that a tragedy such as happened near New Albany recently may be averted here.

A child was mauled to death by a babysitter's pet pit bull there on Nov. 5.

Poss pointed out that there are pit bull owners in his ward in Amory where the dogs are not penned and the yard is not fenced. The dogs are on lines.

"What if a child wandered into this back yard or if the dogs got out?" Poss said, noting that it is also very near to the Amory Middle School campus.

Poss also said the board needed to look at limiting the number of dogs that a pet owner was allowed to have in their yard in the city limits. He said it was a matter of noise and sanitary conditions.

Board attorney John Creekmore said the city's current animal control ordinance does not specify the number of animals a person may have in their yard. But the ordinance does say that if the animals disturb neighbors or are in an unclean condition as to be a health hazard, that the city can take action against the pet owner.

"We could specify breeds for a pen requirement if we wanted," Creekmore said.

"I just don't want anyone hurt or attacked by a dog here," Poss said. "I'm an animal lover myself, but we have to protect our people."

Amory's animal control ordinance which was amended in 2009 does not specify animals by breed. It does, however, refer to actions that the police department should take if a vicious animal bites a person.

Poss wants the ordinance to be more proactive in protecting the public.