Wednesday's dog attacks in Omaha have renewed the ongoing debate over the possibility of banning pit bulls. It brings out strong emotions on both sides of the argument.

Many cities across the country ban the breed including Denver and most of Kansas City. Closer to home, Council Bluffs adopted a ban in 2005.

Neighbors around 14th and Pine, near the spot where Wednesday's attacks occurred, say they would like to see a ban in Omaha.

The year before the ban in the Bluffs, there were 29 reported pit bull bites in the city. Last year there were two and so far in 2008 there have been no pit bull bites reported in the Bluffs.

Only pit bulls that were already in the city prior to the 2005 ban are now allowed in the city and those are under heavy restriction.

Assistant City Attorney Don Bauermeister says, "There's been less attacks. The numbers have gone down. We don't have as many pit bulls in Council Bluffs as we did in 2003, 2004."

In Omaha, City Councilman Jim Vokal says, "Certainly, something needs to be done. We have to protect the health and safety of Omaha."

While Vokal says we can't let this attack cause a quick reaction without merit, he says we do need to change.

He says, "We can't sit back and do nothing and that's historically what we've done. Not we as a council but we as a community, including the Humane Society."

The Humane Society's Pam Weise says, "We haven't been a big proponent of a pit bull ban because there's no evidence that the ban accomplishes what the city is trying to do."

But Weise adds that the Nebraska Humane Society will meet with city leaders and work with them on whatever they decide to do.

Weise says that the pit bull is now number-one when it comes to dog bites in Omaha. She says it passed German Shepherds a few years ago.

So far this year there have been 210 total dog bites reported in Omaha. Of those, 48 involved pit bulls. Last year there were 524 bites and 88 of those involved pit bulls. In both of those years, the Humane Society says Labs were the number-two biters.