PORTAGE | The City Council nearly will be all about animals when it meets at City Hall at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

On its agenda are amendments to both its animal control ordinance regarding dangerous dogs and pet shop regulations.

The proposed changes to the animal control ordinance have been debated for months. The council dropped the original proposal by Councilman Brendan Clancy after its initial introduction because the language targeted certain breeds, defining them as vicious.

The new proposal defines a dog as dangerous based on its actions and disposition. It also prohibits owning a dangerous dog for the purposes of dogfighting, training, torment or baiting purposes and gives the city authority to deal with such dogs and their owners.

The council also will consider new language for pet shop regulations, which would give the city the ability to close a pet shop based on unsanitary conditions and fine the owner if the pet shop is found to be in violation of city laws. Such violations include a pet dying within a week of the sale, the seller failing to provide information on vaccinations and parasite medication, or a veterinarian verifying, within 10 days of the sale, that the animal has a commercial disease.

In other business, the council will consider:

- A "Buy American" resolution.

- An ordinance amendment that limits the hours for operating power equipment. Currently, city code bans using the equipment from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The amendment would extend that time by one hour to 6 p.m.

- An ordinance amendment that adds language regarding structures that are unfit for human occupancy, unlawful structures and transfer of ownership of a property that is not in compliance with building codes.

- Authorization to advertise the city's 2010 budget.