Can we talk about Animal Control?

First, I'm a dog person -- Second, I'm not anti-pit bulls --- my own dog is 60lbs pit mix and he's the 5th member of my family - love him dearly and love all dogs as long as they're under control.

We live on a tiny block and we've had a few 'incidents' with our neighbor's pit bull. The owners let her out in their front yard off-leash and she'll bolt down the street towards our house and our other neighbors' house (of course, both of these houses are the ones with the small children).

Earlier this week she charged me while I was with my kids and then she charged DH, teeth showing and growling. I called 911 because her owner couldn't control her and she wouldn't come off DH. SCPD actually heard her growling on the 911 call so they came right away.

We filed a complaint, and SCPD directed us to follow up with animal control to get the dog's owner to keep her on a leash. Today animal control came by and said WE need to take the dog owners to court in order to get them to keep the dog on leash? Hello? Leash laws? Public safety? what am I missing here?

Re: Can we talk about Animal Control?

I am not sure exactly how it works when you call the PD first. I know that if you call animal control directly, you make a complaint and they file it.

I would call back animal control and speak with a supervisor (if you have not already) and ask step by step what you should do.

Re: Can we talk about Animal Control?

We called Animal Control, spoke with the supervisor and he gave us a handout that outlines the steps we need to take:
1. Find out as much as possible about the dog.
2. Have Animal Control complete a dog bite/attack report.
3. Call the SC Dept of Health (re: health of the animal).
4. Get medical attention if needed.
#5 is the kicker: If you feel the animal is a danger to you or your community and the dog owner is refusing to confine it to its property, you can requests an appointment after the report has been filed to file a Confinement Order, which is a legal proceeding instituted by the TOB returnable to 6th District Court, wherein a judge will order the dog confined or possibly destroyed.

???

Re: Can we talk about Animal Control?

while you are taking the time to complete all 5 steps while no one does anything to help i really hope that dog does not hurt someone I feel so bad for you you should not have to be afraid to be with you and your kids on your own property wondering if that dog is going to attack I would call the cops and animal control everytime you see the dog running around the neighborhood maybe they will get tired of it and actually do something about it.

Re: Can we talk about Animal Control?

Holy cow. like the PP said, while all that paper is getting pushed around, let's hope the dog does not hurt anyone.

Re: Can we talk about Animal Control?

I dont think #5 really means court in the typical sense. It sounds more like an administrative hearing. So basically you file the report with animal control and if it is still going on you request the hearing and they get called in and then may have to keep the dog onthe leash by court order and if they violate it the police can enforce it.

It doesn't really seam like a big deal its not like you have to get an atty and sue them.....you arent really involved too much.

Re: Can we talk about Animal Control?

was your DH bitten by the dog? If he was your should contact the health department about the dog.

I dont think that Long Island uses 311 but here is some information http://home2.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/vet/vet4.shtml

Re: Can we talk about Animal Control?

That's really ridiculous that YOU should have to do this. Animal control should be handling all of this.

Message edited 6/29/2011 11:02:15 AM.