City shows its dog laws do have teeth
The city of McMinnville has shown its dog laws have more than just a bark. By ordering the death of two dogs that have proven to be a continual neighborhood nuisance, City Judge Tim Reed proved the laws also have bite.
It’s a welcome sign to see the city looking out for the safety of its residents. There’s no doubt aggressive dogs pose a serious risk, especially for small children. Putting an end to such a threat can become necessary.
While it’s not always a positive step to invite more government intervention into our lives – to the point where beloved pets can be seized and killed – innocent people must be protected. Dogs that have proven to be vicious cannot be allowed to roam freely.
The city should be applauded for taking the appropriate action in this case. Based on the accounts of several people, these aggressive animals were not being contained. This is a situation which cannot continue indefinitely.
If aggressive dogs are loose and presenting a problem, the owners must make sure the animals are properly restrained by fence, leash or chain. If the owners aren’t going to handle the situation, it’s the city’s place to intervene. McMinnville officials have been forced to kill aggressive animals in the past, the last time coming in January, 2003.
Glancing at the city’s dog laws, it would be appropriate for Warren County government to tighten its animal restrictions. Free-roaming dogs present problems outside McMinnville city limits, but employees at the animal shelter don’t have the same authority to issue citations and take dog owners to court who don’t live in McMinnville.
As animal shelter manager Beth Farmer said yesterday people usually respond if you hit them where it counts – their wallet. What’s vital to note is both city and animal shelter officials stressed most dog owners are quick to handle a problem once they realize it’s bothering their neighbors.
Unfortunately, there are always people who disregard the law of controlling their animals, even if they are a nuisance. They don’t take the responsibility of pet ownership seriously. As Farmer says, it’s legal for anybody to own an animal.
But pet ownership is a time-consuming, sometimes troubling, responsibility. That’s especially true when the animals are capable of inflicting serious bodily harm such as a pit bull or Rottweiler.
Just like gun owners should take proper precautions to ensure their firearms are in a safe place, dog owners must take the proper steps to ensure their animals don’t cause damage. If dog owners are unwilling to do this, and the animal is a menace to the community, it’s appropriate for the dog to be killed.
This week’s court case has put much-needed attention on the subject of proper animal control. If dog owners show they won’t restrain their animals, the city should rightfully bite back.