Shon
07-21-2004, 10:12 PM
Court Permanently Ends Arlington Pit Bull Business
ARLINGTON - The city won a permanent injunction and damages Tuesday in a suit against two Arlington residents whose home pit bull business has drawn numerous neighborhood complaints.
The Tarrant County civil court ordered Donald and Donna Norton to refrain from breeding or selling pit bulls from their home, from disposing of waste in the storm drainage system and from owning more than two dogs at a time. The court also ordered each to pay the city $5,000.
The injunction goes into effect in 30 days. The Nortons could not be reached at their home Tuesday.
Since October 2002, Donald Norton has been issued at least 84 criminal citations and has had at least 47 pit bulls at his home on Seegers Drive, officials said. Earlier this month, the city removed the dogs from his property, said Toby Goodman, the attorney representing the city.
John Durrell, the Nortons' neighbor, said the noise, stench and fear of living next door to dozens of pit bulls has tormented his family for two years. Although he has his doubts, Durrell said he hopes that the injunction will return peace to his southeast Arlington neighborhood.p>
"They have altered the quality of life for my family. We've been pretty much captive in our house," Durrell said. "It's taken a long time for the city to intervene. I wish they had a long time ago."
Donald Norton has pleaded guilty to at least 18 of the offenses and has 37 cases pending in municipal court, Goodman said.
Walt Cleveland, who represents Norton on the misdemeanor offenses, said an Arlington municipal judge has sentenced his client to community service in lieu of fines. Norton has filed for indigent status, Cleveland said.
ARLINGTON - The city won a permanent injunction and damages Tuesday in a suit against two Arlington residents whose home pit bull business has drawn numerous neighborhood complaints.
The Tarrant County civil court ordered Donald and Donna Norton to refrain from breeding or selling pit bulls from their home, from disposing of waste in the storm drainage system and from owning more than two dogs at a time. The court also ordered each to pay the city $5,000.
The injunction goes into effect in 30 days. The Nortons could not be reached at their home Tuesday.
Since October 2002, Donald Norton has been issued at least 84 criminal citations and has had at least 47 pit bulls at his home on Seegers Drive, officials said. Earlier this month, the city removed the dogs from his property, said Toby Goodman, the attorney representing the city.
John Durrell, the Nortons' neighbor, said the noise, stench and fear of living next door to dozens of pit bulls has tormented his family for two years. Although he has his doubts, Durrell said he hopes that the injunction will return peace to his southeast Arlington neighborhood.p>
"They have altered the quality of life for my family. We've been pretty much captive in our house," Durrell said. "It's taken a long time for the city to intervene. I wish they had a long time ago."
Donald Norton has pleaded guilty to at least 18 of the offenses and has 37 cases pending in municipal court, Goodman said.
Walt Cleveland, who represents Norton on the misdemeanor offenses, said an Arlington municipal judge has sentenced his client to community service in lieu of fines. Norton has filed for indigent status, Cleveland said.