HOBART | City Councilwoman Monica Wiley, D-at large, recently gave city officials something to chew on when she asked them to consider passing a dangerous dog ordinance.

She wants the law to define dangerous as well as list the five most dangerous breeds. She also wants it mandated that dangerous dogs are identified with iridescent tags and that owners pay fees that could fund bonds to protect dog bite victims.

"We have to do some serious thinking," Wiley said.

She said the issue likely will surface at Wednesday's City Council meeting, but realistically, the existing dog ordinance won't get changed until sometime next year.

"It's too important an issue to let go," she said.

Building Commissioner Carroll Lewis, whose department is in charge of enforcing the existing dog ordinance, agrees.

"The dog ordinance the city has now is very vague. It does not address different breeds in any way or form. It's reactive, not proactive," he said.

He said the current ordinance does place some restrictions, including leashing of dogs while they are being walked. Owners can be cited for loose dogs and for their continuos barking.

"I had a woman call in and complain about a pit bull attacking her fence and biting off a portion of it. But the dog didn't leave its property so there was no violation," he said.

Wiley said she's also received complaints from residents.

"I had an elderly woman call me to tell me she's afraid to leave her house because of a dog in her neighborhood," she said.

Officials in some communities, including Merrillville, already have approved dangerous dog ordinances, even requiring owners to have a tracking microchip inserted into the dog's neck.

Merrillville Police Chief Joe Petruch said the town's ordinance, passed five years ago, also specifically lists American pit bull terriers as potentially dangerous and requires owners to prove they have $500,000 in liability insurance.

The ordinance says owners must show proof of insurance, agree to keep their dog behind a 6-foot security fence and agree to muzzle and leash the dog when it's off the owner's property.

Petruch said some dog owners do comply, but many only come under the town's radar only when there's a problem or a complaint.

"We have a good ordinance but people play dumb. ... Most people don't comply so we have to take action," he said.

Some communities, including Burnham, have considered banning pit bulls. Hammond, East Chicago and Lake County also have insurance requirements for owners of pit bulls and pit bull-type dogs, according to Matt Lubarski, director of the Animal Control and Adoption Center of Lake County.