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Georgia County Getting Tough on 'Animal Aggressive' Dogs

Georgia County Getting Tough on "Animal Aggressive" Dogs
Coweta County, GA - Commissioners recently upped the ante on aggressive behavior of animals causing significant injury to other animals by amending the county’s ordinance to define and clarify the nature of the injury and provide for the imposition of monetary and other penalties.

Animal Control Manager Bill McKenzie explained the amendment that defines an “aggressive” dog as one that attacks or fights with another animal outside the property of the owner or responsible person and causes severe injury or death to the other animal. The amendment stipulates that a dog defending its owner or itself from attack will not be considered an aggressive dog. The amendment further defines “severe injury” as one that results in death, broken bones or disfiguring lacerations that require multiple sutures.

The amendment calls for cases of aggressive dogs to go before Magistrate Court. If determined to have been aggressive toward other animals, the court can order that the dog be registered at a fee of $500 and that an annual inspection of the premises be conducted to ensure compliance with the court order. The court may also order that the dog be confined to an enclosure on the property with a warning sign posted that indicates the presence of an aggressive dog.

In other news:

Nasty Dog Attack Leads to Lawsuit
Edmonton, CA - An Edmonton woman is suing the owner of a pit bull for $1.75 million, alleging she was seriously injured when the dog viciously bit her on the head. In a statement of claim filed Feb. 8, Rhianna Wingrove alleges Andy Polo is liable for the actions of his dog George, described as a "fierce and mischievous" animal that is accustomed to biting.

Wingrove claims she was sitting in the passenger seat of Polo's SUV on Feb. 10, 2006, when the dog attacked her suddenly and without warning. According to the statement, "it took several people and several attempts to pry the dog from the plaintiff's head." Wingrove alleges she lost a large piece of her scalp and needed several operations, including the use of skin grafts and 37 staples, to repair the damage. She also alleges she suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and has nightmares, anxiety and a phobia and fear of dogs.

Officer Tasers Pit Bull Answering Knife-Throwing Call
North Port, FL - In another police shooting of a pit bull in a week, North Port police were called to a house in the 5200 block of Bullard Street where one man had been reported throwing knives at another man. The alleged attacker came out of the house. When he started to re-enter, police ordered him not to go in. Police say he ignored the order and one forced him down. At the same time, a black pit bull escaped from the house and ran toward another officer. When she tried to avoid the dog it continued to charge her, so she used her Taser, striking it above its eye and on the chest. The dog went down and stayed down.