Eureka resident Gary Hansard says he is preparing to pursue legal action against the City of Eureka after one of his dogs has remained impounded for months under the city’s Pit Bull ordinance, an experience he describes as “devastating” and unfair.
A GoFundMe fundraiser, created by an anonymous supporter, has been established to help cover legal costs associated with the case. According to Hansard, the funds are intended to go directly towards attorney fees. A retainer has already been donated, though Hansard said as of last Friday he had not yet spoken directly with an attorney and believes the attorney may be based out of El Dorado.
“A very kind soul is trying to help me,” Hansard said. “This was never about money. The goal has always been to get my dog back.”
Hansard moved to Eureka less than a year ago. Shortly after his arrival, an incident occurred on Aug. 9 involving his dogs and a neighbor’s dogs that were contained inside a fenced yard. According to Hansard, his dogs did not attack but barked, which led to the other dogs inside the fence fighting each other. One dog required stitches.
Following the incident, Hansard admitted to city officials that his dogs were Pit Bull mixes, unaware at the time that Eureka enforces a breed-specific ordinance restricting Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes within city limits. His dogs were surrendered to the city pound on Sept. 7.
Under Eureka City Ordinance 4168, it is unlawful to keep, harbor, own or in any way possess a Pit Bull dog within the corporate limits of Eureka.
Eureka Resident To Pursue Legal Action Against City Over Pit Bull Ordinance Enforcement . . . . . . .(
C.o. n t. i n. u . e d. F. r o.m. P.a. g e. 1.).
The ordinance, which was adopted in 2013, states that the “breeds of dogs known as “Pit Bulls” include any American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or any dog which has the appearance and characteristics of being predominantly of any one or more of the above breeds.” Under defininations within that ordinance, “predominately” means “knowledge through identification procedures or otherwise, or admission by owner, keeper, or harborer that the dog is more than fifty percent Pit Bull. Predominantly also means that the dog exhibits the physical characteristics of a Pit Bull more than that of any other breed of dog.”
In the event that a dog is found to be of Pit Bull origin, “the owner, harborer or person in possession of the animal will be given the opportunity to remove the animal from the City to a shelter or other home within 5 consecutive days of notice or receive a ticket for violation of this ordinance and the alleged Pit Bull will be impounded.” DNA testing later showed that Hansard’s female dog fell under the threshold and was returned to him on Oct. 2. His male dog, Bumble Bee, remains impounded after DNA results indicated a combined Pit Bull breed percentage exceeding the ordinance’s limit.
Hansard disputes not only the interpretation of the DNA results, but the city’s broader application of the ordinance.
“They are going against their own ordinance,” he said. “Everything I did was within the ordinance, but they just went ahead and took my dogs anyway.”
Hansard says he has repeatedly tried to avoid taking the matter to court and offered what he describes as “every option” to resolve the issue without legal action.
“I never wanted any of this to happen,” he said. “I begged them. They are in the wrong, and they refuse to admit it or see it.”
He also expressed frustration with what he perceives as unequal enforcement of the ordinance, citing examples discussed publicly during city council meetings. Hansard pointed to City Council member Miranda Colangelo, who stated during her first meeting as a councilwoman, on Dec. 8, 2025 meeting that she owns a Great Dane/Pit Bull mix that has lived in Eureka for years and has never been seized.
During that same December meeting, the council accepted the resignation of Attorney James Watson. However, the council also noted that the discussion be redirected to the safety committee and reviewed by the attorney. The city recently hired William McClendon to take on the role; however, he hadn’t had the title a week when the GoFundMe was established. As of last Friday, the safety committee (council members Jason Brandt and Jeff Marks) hadn’t yet met with McClendon.
“They are enforcing this when they want and who they want,” Hansard said.
Colangelo, who advocated for Hansard before taking her oath of office, confirmed she did not create the Go-FundMe account and does not know who did. However, she shared the fundraiser publicly and donated to the cause. Colangelo said she believes Hansard is moving in the cor-rect direction by seeking legal counsel.
Colangelo also stated that while she spoke with an attorney months ago regarding the situation, she has not done so recently and is unsure whether Hansard will be using the same attorney. Both Colangelo and Hansard said they are uncertain who created the GoFundMe campaign, which states that legal counsel is prepared to take on the case and help Hansard reunite with his dog, noting that the ordinance may be “arbitrary and capricious” if it is enforced inconsistently. The fundraiser lists a goal of $2,500 for a retainer and $5,000 for the full legal fee.
Hansard has also voiced concerns about what he describes as a lack of compassion from city officials and others he has interacted with during the process.
“I’m angry,” he said. “I have talked to several people, and they have treated me poorly. They have zero compassion, zero sympathy.”
Hansard said that since regaining custody of his female dog, Nova, he has been informed by his grandfather that Hansard will need to find another place to live if Bumble Bee is returned.
“I got Nova back. I can’t have children, so these are my children,” he said. “That’s my baby boy.”
Hansard also criticized breed-specific legislation more broadly, calling it misguided and harmful.
“Breed-specific ordinances punish the wrong side of the leash,” he said. “Make it about the owner, not the dog. This has nothing to do with protecting anyone. It’s simply hate.”
He compared breed discrimination to other forms of prejudice and referenced historical shifts in which different breeds, including German Shepherds, were once targeted.
“It’s not dogs; it’s people training them,” Hansard said. “Ultimately, I don’t want this to happen to anyone else. There is nothing that my dogs did to deserve this.”
When asked if Hansard had visited Bumble Bee, he shared that it is difficult, with limited hours that conflict with his work schedule. “They are acting like they are allowing it, but it is a farce,” he said.
As of now, Bumble Bee remains at the Eureka Animal Pound.
Hansard says he is not backing down.
The GoFundMe fundraiser titled “Help Gary Reunite With His Beloved Dog” remains active. The retainer of $2,500 was privately shared according to Hansard and Colangelo, however, the full fee is $5,000. The GoFund-Me account can be found at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ help-gary-reunite-with-hisbeloved- dog
