ELKHART — A dog attack is prompting Elkhart City leaders to consider increasing requirements and possibly even banning pit bulls. A 4-year-old girl is in serious condition after a pit bull bit her several times in the face. It happened as the city was already looking to tighten its animal control ordinance.

“Right now the family is going through a very traumatic ordeal,” said Pastor Kevin Adams.

Adams has been in touch with the family of 4-year-old Damonica Paul. Last week, the little Elkhart girl was bitten in the face by a pit bull in a neighbor's back yard.

“We're really concerned about this situation and what happened,” Adams added. “And I think this is an issue that we need to take a look at.”

For the last couple months, Elkhart city leaders have been looking to upgrade the current animal control ordinance, especially with pit bulls. City Council President Rod Roberson says the recent pit bull attack increases the urgency for that.

“I literally know in our neighborhood pit bulls are a menace — it’s like having a loaded gun,” Roberson said. “I’m just so sorry for this family, but there are things that we can do to tighten these laws.”

He says that could include everything from requiring licensing, shots and registration for pit bulls, and maybe even insurance, and also looking into the possibility of a ban for such animals in the city.

“There are many municipalities that have a law against the breeds themselves, with a grandfather clause for those owners who are responsible who have them right now,” Roberson explained.

Raquel House wants some changes. She says she sees many young people walking pit bulls in her neighborhood where there are a lot of children.

“I see them walking down the street in my neighborhood and in other neighborhoods all the time, and I just feel it's a constant threat,” she said. “I just feel like there needs to be better guidelines established.”

In addition to this most recent incident, an Elkhart police officer was bitten by a pit bull in April, and a pit bull mauled its owner in February. A couple of years ago, a female postal worker in Elkhart was also severely bitten by a pit bull.