Post by RealPitBull on Feb 19, 2008 13:08:45 GMT -5
Lubbock ready to address dog attacks
www.lubbockonline.com/stories/021908/loc_248420847.shtml
By Robin Pyle | Avalanche-Journal
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Story last updated at 2/19/2008 - 3:13 am
City officials hope to have a solid plan to address roaming dogs within the next 30 to 45 days.
Lubbock could have an ordinance on the books within 90 days, Mayor David Miller said Monday afternoon at a news conference held to address the growing problem of dog attacks in the area.
The issue is being put on a fast track, he said.
Community outcry over pit- bull attacks in the past month has prompted city officials to take action, and the attack on a 3-year-old boy over the weekend by a pit bull-boxer mix made the situation even more serious, Miller said.
"We need to do something different," he said. "I don't know all the options yet, but I do know we are going to be working hard to do something different."
Some possibilities include dog registration and microchipping, the mayor said. Banning a specific breed of dog is illegal in Texas.
Residents will be invited to a public hearing in the next 10 to 14 days to suggest ways the city can get a handle on the problem. The mayor also is forming a task force to generate ideas, and he said the city will be working together with various agencies to brainstorm solutions.
Miller also is talking with state legislators about the problem.
And despite outcry over pit bulls - which have been blamed for killing at least a dozen goats and two miniature horses in the last month - Miller said it is not necessarily a breed issue.
"This is a citizen issue rather than a dog issue," he said. "This is a dog ownership issue. There are many other breeds other than pit bulls impacting the safety of our citizens."
Still, the city will be working on a plan with the presumption that some dogs are more likely to be strays and some dogs may be more likely to bite, Miller added.
More pit bulls were picked up by Lubbock Animal Services last year than any other breed, according to animal services data. Of the more than 9,700 at-large dogs picked up, 2,330 were pit bull terriers.
Labrador retrievers were next on the list with about 1,570 pickups.
Pit bulls or pit-bull mixes also accounted for the most dog bites last year - 75 of the 247 reported bites were from pit bulls or pit bull mixes, according to animal services. The next breed on the list was a Labrador retriever mix with 17 incidents.
The announcement of a possible future city ordinance dealing with dogs came less than a week after the city announced a zero-tolerance policy in enforcing the city's leash laws.
The mayor said all dogs seen roaming loose will be picked up, and the city is adding more positions to keep up with all the calls, which have spiked in recent weeks.
Miller said the big problem has been residents not abiding by the laws.
Dog owners must keep their dogs on leashes when off their property, Miller said. Owners also are responsible for keeping their property secure so their dogs can't get out.
Violating the leash law can result in a Class C misdemeanor, which carries a fine up to $500. The average fine in Lubbock is about $165.
And if a dog attacks a human, the owner could face felony charges and between two and 10 years in prison.
Residents are encouraged to report all loose dogs by calling 775-2057 or visiting the Web site www.ci.lubbock.tx.us and clicking on Citizen's Help Center.
To comment on this story:
robin.pyle@lubbockonline.com 766-8742
james.gallagher@lubbockonline.com 766-8706
This story first appeared on our Web site at 3:41 p.m. Monday.
www.lubbockonline.com/stories/021908/loc_248420847.shtml
By Robin Pyle | Avalanche-Journal
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Story last updated at 2/19/2008 - 3:13 am
City officials hope to have a solid plan to address roaming dogs within the next 30 to 45 days.
Lubbock could have an ordinance on the books within 90 days, Mayor David Miller said Monday afternoon at a news conference held to address the growing problem of dog attacks in the area.
The issue is being put on a fast track, he said.
Community outcry over pit- bull attacks in the past month has prompted city officials to take action, and the attack on a 3-year-old boy over the weekend by a pit bull-boxer mix made the situation even more serious, Miller said.
"We need to do something different," he said. "I don't know all the options yet, but I do know we are going to be working hard to do something different."
Some possibilities include dog registration and microchipping, the mayor said. Banning a specific breed of dog is illegal in Texas.
Residents will be invited to a public hearing in the next 10 to 14 days to suggest ways the city can get a handle on the problem. The mayor also is forming a task force to generate ideas, and he said the city will be working together with various agencies to brainstorm solutions.
Miller also is talking with state legislators about the problem.
And despite outcry over pit bulls - which have been blamed for killing at least a dozen goats and two miniature horses in the last month - Miller said it is not necessarily a breed issue.
"This is a citizen issue rather than a dog issue," he said. "This is a dog ownership issue. There are many other breeds other than pit bulls impacting the safety of our citizens."
Still, the city will be working on a plan with the presumption that some dogs are more likely to be strays and some dogs may be more likely to bite, Miller added.
More pit bulls were picked up by Lubbock Animal Services last year than any other breed, according to animal services data. Of the more than 9,700 at-large dogs picked up, 2,330 were pit bull terriers.
Labrador retrievers were next on the list with about 1,570 pickups.
Pit bulls or pit-bull mixes also accounted for the most dog bites last year - 75 of the 247 reported bites were from pit bulls or pit bull mixes, according to animal services. The next breed on the list was a Labrador retriever mix with 17 incidents.
The announcement of a possible future city ordinance dealing with dogs came less than a week after the city announced a zero-tolerance policy in enforcing the city's leash laws.
The mayor said all dogs seen roaming loose will be picked up, and the city is adding more positions to keep up with all the calls, which have spiked in recent weeks.
Miller said the big problem has been residents not abiding by the laws.
Dog owners must keep their dogs on leashes when off their property, Miller said. Owners also are responsible for keeping their property secure so their dogs can't get out.
Violating the leash law can result in a Class C misdemeanor, which carries a fine up to $500. The average fine in Lubbock is about $165.
And if a dog attacks a human, the owner could face felony charges and between two and 10 years in prison.
Residents are encouraged to report all loose dogs by calling 775-2057 or visiting the Web site www.ci.lubbock.tx.us and clicking on Citizen's Help Center.
To comment on this story:
robin.pyle@lubbockonline.com 766-8742
james.gallagher@lubbockonline.com 766-8706
This story first appeared on our Web site at 3:41 p.m. Monday.
I look forward to learning much here