City ponders dog restrictions

Any dog can bite. A joint meeting of the city’s Safety Committee and Street and Sanitation Committee may put the bite on irresponsible pet owners in McMinnville who don’t keep their dogs in check, under control, and on their own property.

According to the Humane Society of America, man’s best friend bites more than 4.7 million people a year, with approximately 80,000 Americans requiring medical attention for their injuries.

The local problem is once again up for discussion by city officials after an employee from McMinnville Electric began to notice an increase in ‘bad dogs’ in the city. After addressing his concerns with McMinnville Electric System general manager/CEO Rodney Boyd, it was brought before the committees.

‘In the last couple of months, the number of bad dogs in certain areas of the city seems to be getting worse,’ said Boyd. ‘He is the same person that has been bitten twice. The last time the dog came out of the fence and bit him.’

After asking around, other employees have had the same concerns and experiences. With this in mind, Boyd has requested assistance from the city to protect his employees with a stricter ordinance, putting the bite on pet owners with fines, requiring dog registration, or beginning a spay or neuter program.

The city’s current animal control policy is vague. Although it defines ‘leash’ as a cord, thong, or chain, it does not state that dogs must be on the leash when off the property. However, it does allow the city to pick up all dogs ‘running at large.’

Also, there is a requirement to license every dog over 3 months old, and a requirement to confine all dogs in season, both of which are not enforced.

Areas which might be addressed in the ordinance include:

‘ how many dogs a person can have

‘ license requirements with encouragement to spay and neuter

‘ fines for dog owners who allow their dogs to roam free

‘ requirements for having dogs with the propensity to be vicious.

Throughout Warren County, animals are allowed to roam freely. Combined with the lack of a spay and neuter program, this creates ongoing problems. With this in mind, the city would like to try to work closely with Warren County officials and make a joint effort to have an impact on the problem by instituting a countywide ordinance.

Despite discussion between city and county officials in the past, no agreements have been arranged that would combat the increasing problem of roaming animals and their irresponsible owners. Currently, the city and county have separate animal control departments that pick up stray and vicious dogs.

Because the city’s Animal Control division is under his department, Public Works director Bill Brock will be working on a new animal control ordinance that is meant to address all the problems with the existing ordinance.

‘I think we need to start making people tie or fence their dog,’ said Brock. ‘We’ve got too many running loose. We have too many aggressive dogs out there. People say ‘It won’t bite.’ No, it won’t bite you, but it will bite me.’

To report stray or vicious animals, residents are encouraged to call the city’s animal control office at 473-2553, or the county’s at 507-3647.