The Covington City Council heard a review of dangerous dog regulations at its meeting Tuesday.

City Manager Derek Matheson brought information on the state, county and other city measures concerning problem dogs.

Matheson said King County Animal Control counts about 4,300 dogs in the city. In Covington during 2008 there were 43 vicious dog calls and nine bite calls.

This year through April there have been 13 vicious dog calls and two bite calls.

The city manager noted the city code has adopted the county code, which does not ban specific breeds, but can declare a dog vicious and take legal action.

Auburn’s measure identifies pit bulls and other breeds as dangerous. Enumclaw has banned pit bulls.

Mayor Pro-Tem Jeff Wagner said he owns two mastiffs and both are well behaved. Wagner said one of his dogs was attacked by a Labrador, which “most people do not consider dangerous. If we are going to look at one breed we are going to have to look at them all.”

Councilman Wayne Snoey said, “I am a strong believer we have to change something to anticipate a problem.”

Snoey said he thought there were more problems with animals than reported because King County Animal Control response is limited due to staffing. The councilman said he “wanted to go on the record declaring (some) breeds are dangerous…. Percentage-wise pit bulls are the largest problem.”

Snoey said he thought the penalties need to increased.

“I don’t want to be here a year from now wishing we had done something,” Snoey said.

Mayor Margaret Harto said she believed education of the public concerning dangerous dogs was the key, because dog owners are the real problem rather than the dogs.

The staff will bring further information to the council concerning community education, financing of increase enforcement and more information about dangerous dogs codes in other cities.