Whole lotta bark, not much bite

Most Dothan City commissioners agreed: A new animal control ordinance will not solve the problem of aggressive dogs roaming freely in some parts of the city.

Commission members heard the voices of opposition which directed them to “enforce the ordinance you got” and voted 5-1 against a new one.

John Craig, who chaired the animal control ordinance committee, was the sole commissioner to vote for the draft which required all animals to be registered and included a mandatory spay and neuter program.

In the end the ordinance designed to protect grew into this rabid document few could support. Shawn Hubbard of Dothan is one dog owner who celebrates its failure.

“I think it’s a huge win for all the responsible pet owners,” he said.

Speaking prior to the vote, Hubbard and others pointed the finger of blame toward animal control officers. Later, he said he did not realize the city only has two animal control officers.
Unless people sign complaints against habitual offenders, it is difficult for animal control to catch all the animals roaming, Police Chief John Powell said.

Commissioner Amos Newsome said the city needs more animal control officers and should consider expanding patrol hours.

“Dogs don’t keep the hours people keep,” he said. “At 5 o’clock, dogs don’t go home. At 5 o’clock they goes on the street. They start roaming the streets 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning. We need animal control 24-7 if necessary, but certainly early evening, early morning hours. If we need to double number of animal control officers on the street, we need to do it.”

During one three-hour morning ride with an animal control officer, Newsome said three dogs, one puppy and one cat were captured.

“We had one dog and several puppies corralled in a storm drainage pipe we could not get out. A lady said ‘that is the same dog that’s been snarling at me for the last week.’ I know it was the same dog, or descendant of the families, that was out there four years ago when I was campaigning for this office. It is the same problem.”

Powell defended animal control. “It is not a lack of anybody not doing their job. It is a lack of participation on the people’s part of following through.”

Newsome affixed blame elsewhere.

“We often hear those on the streets are not doing their job. One can’t catch a dog that recognizes the animal control vehicle,” Newsome said. “The managers of this city and the city manager have not provided to animal control the officers what is necessary to catch the animals.”

The proposed ordinance required a registration fee of $30 for non-neutered cats and dogs. The fee for “dangerous dogs” was $250. Many called the fee an added tax.

“I want to say thanks to Mr. Craig for taking on an impossible situation,” Mayor Pat Thomas said. “He has come up with an ordinance that I cannot support. I have done my fees in my lifetime and I won’t support it.”

Thomas’ comments drew applause from the capacity crowd at the Tuesday commission meeting, the first morning meeting of the board since January.

“I am also concerned over the enforcability of it. Whether I support it or not, Commissioner Craig and this citizens group put their heart into this and I thank them.”

Several of the animal advocates and business owners in the pet care industry serving on the committee ended up opposing the ordinance they helped adopt.

District 1 Commissioner Larry Matthews did not attend the meeting.