Kelly Erie, public relations and volunteer manager for the Siouxland Humane Society, said Friday that not many pit bulls come into the Humane Society's facility, but when one does, she said the dog has to be adopted out to a place that doesn't have a pit bull ban.

"We don't see a whole lot of pit bulls," she said. "I think it's just because they know they're really not allowed in Sioux City."

A woman who answered the phone Friday at the Sioux City Animal Adoption and Rescue Center told the Journal that Cindy Rarrat, the center's operator, would not comment on the matter.

Sioux City's ordinance describes a pit bull as an American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier or any dog that looks like or has characteristics of being one of those breeds. Although no new pit bulls are allowed under the ban, it grandfathers in pit bulls that were registered by residents prior to April 25, 2009, provided the animals are registered each year.

When lifting the ban was proposed in 2010, the council voted 3-2 to keep it in place. Former councilmen John Fitch, Keith Radig and Rochester voted to retain the ban, while Mike Hobart, who was the mayor at the time, and Tom Padgett, a former councilman, voted to rescind it.