The parents of the toddlers who were attacked by pit bull mixes a few months ago said they are relieved Springfield City Council passed the pit bull ban, but say they are frustrated with some of the things people say to and about them online.

Four-year-old Evy and 3-year-old Lane were attacked while playing in their backyard by two dogs belonging to a neighbor. Their mom, Christin, was also injured by the dogs.

The incident happened just as a council committee began considering a bill that would ban new pit bulls from city limits. Last Monday that bill was narrowly approved by City Council.

"It was definitely a relief for that part to be behind us," dad Travis Atwell said. "I was glad it passed but wish it had been a landslide."

Mayor Ken McClure and council members Phyllis Ferguson, Jan Fisk, Craig Fishel and Tom Prater voted to begin phasing out ownership of pit bulls starting Jan. 1. Under the new ordinance, pit bulls registered before the deadline would be allowed to remain in Springfield.

The Atwells attended two council meetings when the issue was discussed. Travis Atwell spoke at both meetings, urging city leaders to pass the ban.

The story of the attack was in the News-Leader, as well as on local news stations.

In the months since, Travis and Christin said they've received numerous nasty messages and Facebook comments from pit bull owners and advocates.

"I had a message last night saying, 'Because of your ban, think of all the bodies that are going to be in the freezers at the shelters,'" Christin Atwell said.

Travis Atwell nodded, adding that they've never been physically threatened.

"I've had countless messages accusing us of being bad parents and many saying we falsified the attack," he said. "I was petrified sitting on the front row (at council meetings), feeling 200 people breathing down your neck."

The Atwells said no one ever confronted them at the meetings, but a city official insisted they be escorted to their car by police officers both nights.

Travis Atwell said people have accused him of "having an agenda" against pit bulls or that the children's injuries weren't caused by pit bulls in the first place.

Travis Atwell said his social media accounts are not set to private because he has nothing to hide and he wants people to see he is a good parent.

He said he continues to have dialogue with people who disagree with him, as long as it's a civil, intelligent discussion.

"I'm a gun owner and with the recent Las Vegas shootings, man, I'm not for gun control but if I believed that forfeiting my guns would save human lives, I think I'd do it," he said. "It seems like that option is not even on the table for pit owners. And that is the sad thing.

"The threats and the boycotts and the accusations just confirm that mindset — that I want my dog at all cost."

Atwell said he's been warned a few times by a local news station saying "we are getting vulgar emails and you guys need to be very careful."

"It's almost as if our fault is our kids weren't mauled as bad as other pit bull victims," he said.

Following the attacks, the children and Christin Atwell were treated in the emergency room. The wounds were cleaned and dressed.

Lane received bites to his face, ears and back. Evy had a bite on her upper thigh. Their mother had bites on her side and arm. All three said they were stiff and sore when the News-Leader visited them a few days later.

Travis Atwell said his wife and children have all but recovered physically, save a few scars. Emotionally, though, the children still struggle with fear. He said the kids' bad dreams are not nearly as common as they were a few months ago.

The attack happened when the toddlers were playing in a kiddie pool in the backyard. Christin Atwell was watching them through the kitchen window and heard the dogs barking.

Christin Atwell ran out the back door to save them and was also bitten. Travis Atwell, who was inside the house at the time of the attack, heard the commotion and came outside. He was able to kick the dogs away and end the attack.

The dogs were placed under quarantine with the Springfield-Greene County Health Department and eventually put down after the dogs' owner signed them over.

Since the ban was passed earlier this week, many pit bull owners and supporters have expressed their disapproval on social media and via emails and phone calls to city officials.

Some local residents have threatened to boycott Mexican Villa and other businesses associated with the five City Council members who voted in favor of the ban. Councilwoman Phyllis Ferguson is the chief operating officer and treasurer for Mexican Villa.

Councilman Craig Fishel, owner of Fishel Pools, told the News-Leader he has received "a lot of not-friendly emails" but he's not taking it personally.

"Being immature, calling names that won't influence me at all. It's about public safety," Fishel said. "If we can prevent any child from being attacked, that's what I care about."

During a council lunch meeting Tuesday, Councilman Tom Prater said there is a "vocal minority of citizens" who continue to "bully" city leaders.

"It's a disappointing thing that I didn't realize our citizens had the capability to do," said Prater, who also voted in favor of the ban.

Leaders of some pit bull advocacy groups say they are discouraging the calls for boycotts, which they say are putting pit bull supporters in a negative light.

The group Citizens Against BSL began circulating petitions Wednesday in an attempt to overturn Springfield's new pit bull ban, scheduled to be phased in starting in January.