CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C., Oct. 4 (UPI) -- After a series of fatal pit bill attacks on people and other dogs, the breed will be banned from Marine bases worldwide, The U.S. Marine Corps has decided.
A pit bull attacked and killed a 3-year-old boy at Camp Lejeune, N.C., in 2008 and another attacked other dogs at Yokota Air Base in Japan in August. The U.S. Marine Corps to set the policy in August, Stars and Stripes reported.
In addition to pit bulls, Rottweilers and any dogs with "dominant traits of aggression" are not allowed on Marine bases. Marines and their families living in base housing may keep their pets if they apply for a waiver by Oct. 10 and if the dog passes a behavior test.
The policy comes on the heels of similar policies by local government and public housing facilities, Daisy Okas of the American Kennel Club in New York said.
"We're seeing breed-specific bans pretty regularly," she said. "We're very against it. We look at how a dog behaves. It's a frustrating topic."
The Army has a similar ban at privately run housing facilities, but not at regular base housing.
The Navy and Air Force leave jurisdiction over the matter to base commanders.
