The Decatur County Board of Commissioners
June 10, 2008
Comment in Talk Bainbridge
In response to a citizen, Dane Eidson, regarding dog control, County Administrator Tom Patton stated "We do need to re-establish animal control policy in the county." He stated they are "actively working with the Humane Society trying to get control of the stray dogs that are out there in the county."
Paul Fryer, local attorney, stated he would like to see the State Law enforced.
Mr Fryer addressed the Commissioners regarding a 5 year old girl that was mauled by a dog recently. He pointed out there is a state law (4-8-22-c) that requires "each local government shall designate an individual to carry out the duties of a dog control officer." Eddie Alday has been added to the county staff recently as the county code enforcement officer.
Mr Fryer told commissioners that right now no one is sure what their job is, sheriff's are there to keep the peace. the health department is there to check for rabies and the code enforcement officer should be there to enforce the State law.
Paul Fryer showed them pictures of the injuries to the 5 year old girl after the vicious dog attack. Mr Fryer urged commissioners to designate someone to enforce the state laws relating to dangerous dogs and give them the resources to do their job.
State Law 4-8-21 states a "Dangerous dog" means any dog that, inflicts a severe injury on a human being without provocation OR aggressively bites, attacks, or endangers the safety of humans without provocation after the dog has been classified as a potentially dangerous dog and after the owner has been notified of such classification.
It also defines a "Potentially dangerous dog" as any dog that without provocation bites a human being on public or private property. More of the State Law
According to the Sheriff's Department, on Sunday, May 25, 2008,
Deputy Vincent Edmond reported the complainant said he and his juvenile daughter went to 286 Smith Landing Road to see his friend. He and his daughter were standing outside his vehicle in the yard waiting and when his friend came out a door, the dogs ran out and began biting his daughter.
The complainant fought both dogs off his daughter and was bitten by one of the dogs in the process. Both dog owners told Deputy Edmond the dogs were ill tempered towards strangers and that probably was the reason they attacked his daughter. EMS responded and transported both victims to the hospital.
Deputy Edmond advised the dog owners to keep the dogs confined and not to let them roam free and that the Health Department would follow-up with them about the dogs.
County on an Ordinance
The County is working on a nuisance ordinance that was presented at the planning board last month. They county is now working through concerns raised by citizens regarding some of the provisions.
Regarding Animals, it contains these provisions.
No domestic animals shall be permitted to run at large within the jurisdiction of Decatur County. It shall be unlawful for any domestic animal to be running at large on the streets, roads, or sidewalks of Decatur County, unless said domestic pet is under the control of a leash, collar, or chain. All domestic animals shall have a collar with rabies vaccination attached. If any domestic animal is to be kept outside, it shall be the responsibility of the owner of any domestic animal to have the animal roped or chained, or provide a proper enclosure or structure secured from the ground to a sufficient height so that the animal cannot escape enclosure.
For properties developed for residential, structures for horses, cows, other livestock, fowls, or kennel for dogs shall not be located closer than 100 feet from any property line. All animal enclosures or yards shall at all times be kept in a clean condition to prevent any condition detrimental to the public health of the Decatur County. No more than one horse, cow, or other type of livestock shall be kept per acre of land. No person shall deposit, or cause to be deposited, the carcass of any dead animal hi the streets, roads, alleys, woods, or waters within the limits of Decatur County.
There are between 30 and 50 dog bites reported each year to the Health Department here.
