Vicki
Administrator
Residents Fight Vicious Dog Ordinance
Posted: Aug 27, 2009 08:21 PM
Updated: Sep 3, 2009 08:38 PM
by Bill Kotowski
Animal control officers receive hundreds of vicious dog calls each year. Of those about one third result in a citation and even fewer end up in court where they can be ordered to be put down.
But for the owners of these dogs giving up what they consider a family member is no easy task.
A pair of those owners attended an advisory board meeting Thursday to plead on their dogs' behalf to more change the ordinance.
Many dog owners consider their pet an important part of the family.
Megahn Layfield, Dog Owner: "I realize that to most people its a dog. But to me he's my baby. He's the biggest teddy bear ever in my opinion."
Unfortunately for Layfield, not everyone agrees. Earlier this year her dog Balou was cited as a vicious dog under Pocatello city code. Since the incident Balou has been locked up in the Animal shelter awaiting a court date to determine if he is in fact a vicious dog. If he's convicted, he could be euthanized.
Megahn Layfield, Dog Owner: "Its not right. I just want other people to not have to go through this with their animals. Our animals are our children. We shouldn't have to see them get locked up."
In an attempt to free her four legged friend Layfield and several others attended an advisory board meeting for the department of animal control to ask them to better define the city's definition of a vicious animal.
Susan Roper, Dog Owner"We're here to try to change that code. To protect the ones we love and to help them and to protect other dogs in the future."
Under the city's current ordinance a dog can be considered vicious if it shows an "apparent or perceived attitude of attack." While some believe that wording to be ambiguous and unclear... animal control officers say its necessary to keep the public safe.
Mary Remer, Animal Control Director: "I don't feel like somebody should have to be injured. Its how they feel. If they feel like they are being threatened then I think the victim has that right to step up and take that person into court."
Once the dog has its day in court it, if its deemed vicious the owner then has a new list of rules to comply with. Some of these rules include using a muzzle and chain when the dog is in the yard or keeping it in a kennel. A second violation could result in the dog being put down.
Mary Remer, Animal Control Director: "If you dog has been deemed to have that type of tendency I think you need to step up and be a little bit more responsible to make sure the public and your dog is being protected."
Layfield and Roper both have court dates pending to decide their dogs' futures. In the mean time they say they'll continue their fight so others don't have to go through a similar situation.
Susan Roper, Dog Owner: "Once its all said and done I will not stop fighting for the rights of our animals."
The advisory board will review the current ordinance as well as animal ordinances in other Idaho cities to see what might be done. If they decide to do anything it could still be a while before there are any changes made.
http://www.kpvi.com/Global/story.asp?S=11005611
Posted: Aug 27, 2009 08:21 PM
Updated: Sep 3, 2009 08:38 PM
by Bill Kotowski
Animal control officers receive hundreds of vicious dog calls each year. Of those about one third result in a citation and even fewer end up in court where they can be ordered to be put down.
But for the owners of these dogs giving up what they consider a family member is no easy task.
A pair of those owners attended an advisory board meeting Thursday to plead on their dogs' behalf to more change the ordinance.
Many dog owners consider their pet an important part of the family.
Megahn Layfield, Dog Owner: "I realize that to most people its a dog. But to me he's my baby. He's the biggest teddy bear ever in my opinion."
Unfortunately for Layfield, not everyone agrees. Earlier this year her dog Balou was cited as a vicious dog under Pocatello city code. Since the incident Balou has been locked up in the Animal shelter awaiting a court date to determine if he is in fact a vicious dog. If he's convicted, he could be euthanized.
Megahn Layfield, Dog Owner: "Its not right. I just want other people to not have to go through this with their animals. Our animals are our children. We shouldn't have to see them get locked up."
In an attempt to free her four legged friend Layfield and several others attended an advisory board meeting for the department of animal control to ask them to better define the city's definition of a vicious animal.
Susan Roper, Dog Owner"We're here to try to change that code. To protect the ones we love and to help them and to protect other dogs in the future."
Under the city's current ordinance a dog can be considered vicious if it shows an "apparent or perceived attitude of attack." While some believe that wording to be ambiguous and unclear... animal control officers say its necessary to keep the public safe.
Mary Remer, Animal Control Director: "I don't feel like somebody should have to be injured. Its how they feel. If they feel like they are being threatened then I think the victim has that right to step up and take that person into court."
Once the dog has its day in court it, if its deemed vicious the owner then has a new list of rules to comply with. Some of these rules include using a muzzle and chain when the dog is in the yard or keeping it in a kennel. A second violation could result in the dog being put down.
Mary Remer, Animal Control Director: "If you dog has been deemed to have that type of tendency I think you need to step up and be a little bit more responsible to make sure the public and your dog is being protected."
Layfield and Roper both have court dates pending to decide their dogs' futures. In the mean time they say they'll continue their fight so others don't have to go through a similar situation.
Susan Roper, Dog Owner: "Once its all said and done I will not stop fighting for the rights of our animals."
The advisory board will review the current ordinance as well as animal ordinances in other Idaho cities to see what might be done. If they decide to do anything it could still be a while before there are any changes made.
http://www.kpvi.com/Global/story.asp?S=11005611
