Vicki
Administrator
Whitehall tightens leash on dogs, owners
* Residents respond angrily as enforcement of the city's vicious-dog laws begins in earnest.
By KEVIN CORVO
Published: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 6:09 PM EDT
Almost a year after Whitehall City Council enacted a new ordinance regulating how vicious dogs will be harbored in the city, officials are beginning to enforce the new rules in spades.
The enforcement blitz resulted in several angry residents who confronted council members at their meeting Tuesday, June 16 -- and also resulted in some unforeseen consequences.
The city's initial volley was levied at residents who had not complied with the ordinance enacted last year requiring that vicious dogs be harbored in a proscribed manner that includes a six-foot fence and a covered kennel.
Twenty-six residents were cited, but 13 complied prior to a required hearing in Whitehall Mayor's Court, said Whitehall Service Director Ray Ogden.
Of the 13 who remained in violation, five received an extension and another complied. The other seven appeared June 16 in Mayor's Court.
Three cases were dismissed, according to court officials. One was found to not own a vicious dog; another demonstrated compliance; and another reported the dog had been destroyed.
Another dog owner also reportedly destroyed the dog rather than take steps to comply with the regulation.
Three were fined and one owner demanded a trial. It is set for 11 a.m. July 7.
A set of letters was sent to another group of residents advising them each was in violation of the current city code that limits licensed dogs to three per household.
Among the 11 residents receiving such a letter was Whitehall City Councilwoman Jackie Thompson.
Thompson, who acknowledged receiving the letter, said she once had more than three dogs registered, but now owns only three dogs.
"Right now, we're working only from a list of registered dogs," said Ogden, adding future enforcement would focus on identifying residents who have unlicensed dogs.
Those receiving letters have until July 5 to demonstrate compliance with the ordinance that limits residents to three dogs.
Thompson, after hearing the plight of other residents who had received a letter, said she would introduce legislation increasing the permitted number of dogs.
Patty Manning, of Collingwood Avenue, told council members June 16 she had four dogs and had received a violation notice in the mail.
"It's like being told to get rid of one of your kids," said Manning, who explained the last dog she brought home is a puppy that otherwise must be put to sleep.
"You tell me which one to get rid of ... I can't choose," she said.
Jackie Freng, of Wright Park, told council members she had five dogs and echoed Manning.
"It's like telling us how many kids we can have ... It's not fair. That's all I have to say," Freng said.
Tim Harrison, of Rose Place, appealed to council members to let residents "keep their liberties."
Harrison said he did not desire to own any dogs, but supported the right of others to have any many dogs as they can properly harbor.
"They love these animals -- you can hear in their voices," Harrison said.
Forresta Manns, of Elbern Avenue, said she would like to see the city enact a ban not on a specific breed, but upon any dogs determined to be vicious.
"Any dog can bite," she said.
Public comments eventually turned toward pit bulls and Thompson's renewed effort to ban the breed from the city.
Irene Vanfossen, of Wright Park, told her account of a pit bull attack April 22 while walking her bichon frise.
Vanfossen told council members that her dog required surgery and that she also was treated at a local emergency room. A man accepted responsibility for the dog and agreed to cover expenses, she said, but knew nothing further until receiving a letter that the owners of the dog had appeared in Municipal Court and were ordered to repay her for out-of-pocket expenses in a structured settlement.
"Whitehall needs to do something about the vicious dogs in this city ... if the city can't protect me, then I'll move," Vanfossen said, adding a man later swore at her for causing the loss of the dog that attacked her.
The owner of the dog, Erica Wickham, of Wright Park, also was at the meeting and later challenged Vanfossen, asking why, if she was afraid of the dog, did she pick it up.
"It was a six-month old puppy ... I have a problem with people saying all pit bulls are vicious," Wickham said.
Several others residents began to respond to Wickham before City Council President Brent Howard gained control of the public polling and quelled further comments.
Thompson said Vanfossen already was a victim and did not need to be victimized again at the meeting.
"I agree ... this is out of control," Councilwoman Leslie LaCorte said.
Later, during council polling, Councilman Bob Bailey, who crafted the vicious dog ordinance council enacted in July 2008, said the policy is beginning to have the desired effect.
Bailey said fewer calls about vicious dogs are being made to Franklin County Animal Control, but Thompson later disputed Bailey, claiming calls instead are being made to Whitehall police.
"We have no dog warden yet (and) I see no alternative other than a ban," Thompson said.
LaCorte, who was the only supporter of Thompson's failed ban last year, said while she was disappointed attacks were continuing and that the owners of problem dogs "show no remorse," she thinks the administration is addressing the problem using the current law.
Thompson, meanwhile, said she will move forward with her proposed ordinance to ban pit bulls and will sponsor another amending the maximum number of dogs residents may own.
The ordinance banning pit bulls is scheduled for introduced as draft legislation at the next meeting of council committees, set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, at Whitehall City Hall, 360 S. Yearling Road.
http://www.snponline.com/articles/2009/06/17/multiple_papers/news/allwhdogs%20_20090617_0548pm_8.txt
* Residents respond angrily as enforcement of the city's vicious-dog laws begins in earnest.
By KEVIN CORVO
Published: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 6:09 PM EDT
Almost a year after Whitehall City Council enacted a new ordinance regulating how vicious dogs will be harbored in the city, officials are beginning to enforce the new rules in spades.
The enforcement blitz resulted in several angry residents who confronted council members at their meeting Tuesday, June 16 -- and also resulted in some unforeseen consequences.
The city's initial volley was levied at residents who had not complied with the ordinance enacted last year requiring that vicious dogs be harbored in a proscribed manner that includes a six-foot fence and a covered kennel.
Twenty-six residents were cited, but 13 complied prior to a required hearing in Whitehall Mayor's Court, said Whitehall Service Director Ray Ogden.
Of the 13 who remained in violation, five received an extension and another complied. The other seven appeared June 16 in Mayor's Court.
Three cases were dismissed, according to court officials. One was found to not own a vicious dog; another demonstrated compliance; and another reported the dog had been destroyed.
Another dog owner also reportedly destroyed the dog rather than take steps to comply with the regulation.
Three were fined and one owner demanded a trial. It is set for 11 a.m. July 7.
A set of letters was sent to another group of residents advising them each was in violation of the current city code that limits licensed dogs to three per household.
Among the 11 residents receiving such a letter was Whitehall City Councilwoman Jackie Thompson.
Thompson, who acknowledged receiving the letter, said she once had more than three dogs registered, but now owns only three dogs.
"Right now, we're working only from a list of registered dogs," said Ogden, adding future enforcement would focus on identifying residents who have unlicensed dogs.
Those receiving letters have until July 5 to demonstrate compliance with the ordinance that limits residents to three dogs.
Thompson, after hearing the plight of other residents who had received a letter, said she would introduce legislation increasing the permitted number of dogs.
Patty Manning, of Collingwood Avenue, told council members June 16 she had four dogs and had received a violation notice in the mail.
"It's like being told to get rid of one of your kids," said Manning, who explained the last dog she brought home is a puppy that otherwise must be put to sleep.
"You tell me which one to get rid of ... I can't choose," she said.
Jackie Freng, of Wright Park, told council members she had five dogs and echoed Manning.
"It's like telling us how many kids we can have ... It's not fair. That's all I have to say," Freng said.
Tim Harrison, of Rose Place, appealed to council members to let residents "keep their liberties."
Harrison said he did not desire to own any dogs, but supported the right of others to have any many dogs as they can properly harbor.
"They love these animals -- you can hear in their voices," Harrison said.
Forresta Manns, of Elbern Avenue, said she would like to see the city enact a ban not on a specific breed, but upon any dogs determined to be vicious.
"Any dog can bite," she said.
Public comments eventually turned toward pit bulls and Thompson's renewed effort to ban the breed from the city.
Irene Vanfossen, of Wright Park, told her account of a pit bull attack April 22 while walking her bichon frise.
Vanfossen told council members that her dog required surgery and that she also was treated at a local emergency room. A man accepted responsibility for the dog and agreed to cover expenses, she said, but knew nothing further until receiving a letter that the owners of the dog had appeared in Municipal Court and were ordered to repay her for out-of-pocket expenses in a structured settlement.
"Whitehall needs to do something about the vicious dogs in this city ... if the city can't protect me, then I'll move," Vanfossen said, adding a man later swore at her for causing the loss of the dog that attacked her.
The owner of the dog, Erica Wickham, of Wright Park, also was at the meeting and later challenged Vanfossen, asking why, if she was afraid of the dog, did she pick it up.
"It was a six-month old puppy ... I have a problem with people saying all pit bulls are vicious," Wickham said.
Several others residents began to respond to Wickham before City Council President Brent Howard gained control of the public polling and quelled further comments.
Thompson said Vanfossen already was a victim and did not need to be victimized again at the meeting.
"I agree ... this is out of control," Councilwoman Leslie LaCorte said.
Later, during council polling, Councilman Bob Bailey, who crafted the vicious dog ordinance council enacted in July 2008, said the policy is beginning to have the desired effect.
Bailey said fewer calls about vicious dogs are being made to Franklin County Animal Control, but Thompson later disputed Bailey, claiming calls instead are being made to Whitehall police.
"We have no dog warden yet (and) I see no alternative other than a ban," Thompson said.
LaCorte, who was the only supporter of Thompson's failed ban last year, said while she was disappointed attacks were continuing and that the owners of problem dogs "show no remorse," she thinks the administration is addressing the problem using the current law.
Thompson, meanwhile, said she will move forward with her proposed ordinance to ban pit bulls and will sponsor another amending the maximum number of dogs residents may own.
The ordinance banning pit bulls is scheduled for introduced as draft legislation at the next meeting of council committees, set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, at Whitehall City Hall, 360 S. Yearling Road.
http://www.snponline.com/articles/2009/06/17/multiple_papers/news/allwhdogs%20_20090617_0548pm_8.txt