Colbert County, AL: Uniform dog law aids enforcement (not BSL)

http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20091025/ARTICLES/910255040/1011/NEWS?Title=Uniform-dog-law-aids-enforcement

Uniform dog law aids enforcement

By Michelle Rupe Eubanks, Staff Writer
Published: Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 10:13 p.m.

COLBERT COUNTY – A uniform vicious dog ordinance in Colbert County has made enforcement much easier and is making the community safer, animal control officials say.

When the Muscle Shoals City Council adopted its vicious dog ordinance earlier this month, the law for dealing with the animals became uniform throughout Colbert County.

“This is going to help us in a lot of ways,” said Kenny Price, supervisor at the Colbert County Animal Shelter. “We won’t have to enforce different ordinances in the different cities. I feel we’re making a step forward to be a model community for the rest of the state.”

The ordinance will allow Price and other animal control officers to issue citations to owners of dogs that are the subject of complaints. It also gives owners an opportunity to correct the situation involving the dog by providing appropriate kennels, which will be inspected by animal control officials.

Price said he’s already had to enforce the ordinance in Sheffield.

“I’ve been to the same home three times, and before the ordinance, I didn’t have the authority to confiscate the animal and give the owner a set number of days to fix a secure kennel for the animal,” he said. “With this (ordinance), I’ve been able to do this, and now the dog, which has been deemed vicious, will be muzzled for safety and have a kennel.”

Once a complaint has been issued about a dog and an animal control officer has identified a problem, owners will have seven days to get a kennel in order.

The ordinance, which is designed to correct problems rather than punish, could also help dog owners avoid litigation, Price said.

“I can confiscate an animal, but I don’t want to fill the shelter with them,” he said. “I’d rather work with the public on this and give them time to comply. It just makes for a safer environment for people to walk through their neighborhoods without feeling threatened.”

In Muscle Shoals, the number of complaint calls about vicious dogs are lower than in Sheffield or Tuscumbia, according to Police Chief Robert Evans, but he said the need for an appropriate law when a situation arises is still relevant. Fewer than two dozen calls come in each month in the city, while Sheffield and Tuscumbia have almost three dozen complaints per month.

“We haven’t had to respond to a call yet,” Evans said. “But if you’re the person affected by a vicious animal, then it’s a problem for you. We can’t base this on numbers, because it’s complaint generated. Whoever is affected, it’s a problem to them.”

Although some breeds are more apt to have vicious tendencies, Evans said no breed is being targeted with the ordinance.

“It’s based strictly on the animal and its behavior,” he said. “Any animal that has a propensity to bite could be affected, but even smaller dogs can bite others or their owners at times.”

Michelle Rupe Eubanks can be reached at 740-5745 or michelle.eubanks@TimesDaily.com.