Animal Control
Two dog attack incidents signal a need for greater vigilance on the part of all dog owners.
Warning, the following story contains graphic imagery that may be upsetting to some people.
Maureen Hickey was walking her two small dogs (on leash) in October on Lincoln Avenue. She said a pit bull belonging to someone visiting a homeowner on that street ran out and attacked one of her dogs, causing a serious injury that required several veterinarian visits over a period of months. You may have seen Satchel with his cone, bravely walking with Paige and Maureen this winter. Fortunately, by this early summer, Satchel had made a full recovery. Maureen filed a report with Animal Control, but by the time they responded, the visitor and her dog had moved on.
“Animal Control did contact the owner by phone a week or so later and placed the dog in ‘quarantine’ with the owner for 10 days. She was required to update the dog’s rabies vaccination. That was it,” Maureen told me.
This incident of negligence on the part of that now absent dog owner ended up costing Maureen $2,500 in vet bills.
Maureen says she’s also had a number of other close calls in the neighborhood.
This morning, Dan Carter was walking his small dog on Washington Avenue. Carter says the owner of a German shepherd at no. 541 lost control of the dog and it ran out. Dan picked up his own dog to protect it and the shepherd bit him on the hand. Dan, too, filed a report with Animal Control. (That number is 231-882-9505.)
Animal Control Director Kyle Maurer was out on patrol when I called him for comment today.
The Village ordinances related to dogs deal with cleaning up after them and require them to be leashed in any public area (including Elberta beach!). It seems like they may be due for an update. The ordinances can be found on the Village website, in this searchable pdf.
Here they are, in order from oldest to most recent.
I don’t think I’m editorializing too much when I say it seems fair that people should feel comfortable walking their leashed dogs in our village on our public streets without fear of being attacked by unrestrained animals.
Do you have any thoughts about our ordinances? Please share them below.
I think we can all agree that this shouldn’t happen to a dog. Or a human.
I live on the Platte River. One Winter when there was deep snow on the banks I heard splashing and a commotion in the river. A deer was running in the river attempting to get away from my neighbor's German shepherd. It was brutal to watch. People love their dogs but I think most dog owners have little concept of the brutality dogs are capable of. And yes, ordinance needs to hold dog owners accountable.