Vicious-Dog Ordinance Adopted in Hancock

Hancock County, MS -- The Board of Supervisors adopted an ordinance Monday to regulate dangerous dogs in Hancock County, nearly four months after a man allegedly commanded his pit bull to attack another man at a home in Lakeshore.

The board unanimously voted to adopt a vicious-dog ordinance after the July attack, when investigators say 42-year-old Robin A. Sager fetched his pit bull from a vehicle and commanded the dog to attack a man he was arguing with.

The new law requires owners of "potentially dangerous animals" to purchase a $15,000 insurance policy and have their dogs registered with the county's animal control officer.

The county defines "potentially dangerous animals" as those who have attacked or will attack without provocation.

According to the 13-page ordinance, owners who fail to register their pets, purchase the liability insurance or secure their animals in a fence could have their animals seized by the county and be fined.

After the ordinance was adopted, Clarence Garcia said he wanted the board to do something about stray dogs that have terrorized his Lakeshore home.

Garcia said the board needs to pass a countywide leash law, and not just one for certain areas. "Why do some people have to have their dogs on a leash and others don't?" he asked.

The current law, adopted in 1995, is effective only in areas south of Interstate 10, because of dogs used for hunting in the county's rural areas during certain times of the year.

District 3 Supervisor Lisa Cowand said the board plans to look for a way to adopt an ordinance that would be fair to residents and hunters.

"There's got to be a way to adopt a countywide law that would allow hunting dogs to run in certain areas, during certain times of the year," she said. "I think we could do something that would be fair to everybody."

 

Thanks for posting this Marty.This is the county that I call home.I will be checkin into this today.In this case I can harass the guy across the street whose Chow attacked my son in my front yard.I called the S.O. and then Charles(our animal warden) and filed a report and complaint because I had been having problems with this dog.

 

I live here in Lakeshore.This is quite ridiculous to go to such drastic measures just because of one stupid azz person.If the dog had done it on his own it is one thing but witnesses said that he went back to the vehicle and got the dog and that it did not advance until he sicced it on the guy.I am checking into it and I will let ya'll know the specifics.

 

Sorry to hear this hitting so close to the home of one of our members,
hope everything come's out in your favor, if we can be of any help "Please"let us know!

 

It seems to just get worse and worse everyday, they need to find another way to solve these "problems".

 

Thanks Marty for the support.I am pretty good friends with our animal control officer here in the county,known him most of my life.I haven't been able to get his temp standin on his cell yet.I am going to try later.So far it looks like they are targeting dogs that have bitten already or the ones that we know will bite without any reason.Luckily I dont have any of those.A couple are dog aggresive but not people.Of course you know I will be acting against this.We have way too many pitbull owners around here that aren't going to take it sitting down if they say it goes for just anyone.

 

Good luck with that wiskey...

 

Thanx Sandecki.

 

I picked up a copy of the ordinance from the courthouse a lil while ago.I am not yet finished reading it as it has about 20 pages and I've been looking at it in between doing stuff.Once I read it through I'll let you know what it states.

 

UPDATE! So far it seems that this ordinance will only affect owners of potentially dangerous or dangerous dogs. So basically I am exempt unless one of my dogs get loose and attacks someone or terrorizes the neighborhood.Which so far in all my years with the animals I have never had even a single complaint,and none of my dogs have ever been loose or even approached a person in a threatening manner.I make sure all of my dogs are socialized well with people.Now with some of the dogs other animals may be a different story.

 

I hope it stays that way, I would hate for you to lose your dogs

 

Hello, i checked out your kennels web site, its pretty awsome i love your complete setup just thiought id let you guys know...

 

Everything is going fine down here.All of my dogs have always been kept properly contained,and I have never had any problems with the neighbors.Everyone is doing good.
TJ who's sight did you check out?