THE SELMA TIMES-JOURNAL

The city is beginning to crack down on vicious dogs that are not properly restrained and housed. Hopes are to prevent incidents such as what occurred a year ago.

 

The particular focus is on pit bull owners who leave the dogs plenty of opportunity to run free. The City of Selma has a vicious dog ordinance that requires all pit bulls to be kept inside a pen, and inside a fenced yard.

“The city is starting to take a more aggressive approach enforcing its vicious dog ordinance,” said Lt. David Evans. “The public has had time to adjust since the ordinance passed, and we're going to step up enforcement.”

 

The City Council passed “The Leash Law” ordinance on July 11, 2005, which has more teeth to allow enforcement once a problem is identified. City officials want to avoid encounters with a particular breed, like what happened with Reggie Martinear last year.

“I was going to work one morning about 4:30 when I got blindsided,” Martinear recalled. “When I noticed anything they were on top of me.”

Martinear said a pair of pit bull dogs that were apparently on the loose attacked him in June 2005. The dogs knocked him down and left some scars. He said he remained home from work at the Vaughan Wellness and Fitness Center for two weeks following the attack.

“I was twisting and turning and calling for God,” he said. “I had my cell phone but I couldn't reach it. A car drove up and they were on their cell phone calling the police. When the police came they had to spray them to get them off, away from me.”

Martinear said the dogs were tested and didn't have rabies.

“They should be fenced in,” Martinear said when hearing police would begin enforcing the new requirements.

Article Two, Section 10 of the vicious dog ordinance prohibits dogs from “running at large.” All dogs must be confined inside a fence, or confined. Working dogs may be confined by electronic systems, leaving at least 20 feet around the exterior of properties. If walking for exercise they must be on a leash, according to the ordinance.

Animals found in violation may be impounded.

The ordinance has a specific section that deals with vicious animals, and is primarily defined as “any animal owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of animal fighting, or any dog trained for fighting.”

 

http://www.selmatimesjournal.com/articles/2007/07/05/news/local/news%20965.txt