Sydney Cromwell
Animal Control Ordinance
HPD Lt. Ross and animal control officer Robbe Bagby present their research and recommendations on aggressive dog ordinances to the public safety committee.
Owners of pit bulls and other aggressive dog breeds could find themselves subject to new restrictions in the future.
At its July 20 meeting, the public safety committee heard from animal control officer Robbie Bagby Hurst and Lt. Ross about the possibility of new ordinances for aggressive dogs. Hurst and Ross brought research about ordinances in other area cities, as well as recent dog attack incidents in Homewood.
While other Over the Mountain communities do not have any ordinances about specific dog breeds, Ross said they are a growing nationwide trend. Some cities ban aggressive breeds outright or require owners to register their dogs with the city. Other municipalities have housing restrictions, such as keeping these breeds indoors or within specific fencing types, carrying extra insurance for their ownership or using a leash or muzzle when walking their dogs.
Currently, Homewood ordinances state that owners of violent animals can be subject to a fine of up to $500 and up to 190 days in jail.
There have been several incidents in the past six months of loose dogs attacking people and pets in the city, Hurst said. Ross noted that police have had to use deadly force on attacking animals at least eight times in the past four years.
One of those occurred July 3 in the Parkside Circle area. A woman was attacked by loose pit bulls and the responding officer shot one of the animals. The second is still in city custody and displaying aggression, Hurst said. The owner was uncooperative and was arrested, awaiting trial July 28.
“I can attest to you that they can lock down on you and they don’t let go because I’ve been a victim of it on the job in the '80s," Hurst said.
She said an attack happened on July 6 and another earlier this week, though deadly force was not required in either instance. Hurst has seen dogs running loose in the evenings and weekends while she is off-duty.
Hurst said she supports an ordinance similar to the city of Gadsden, prohibiting tethering of aggressive breeds and regulating fencing types. She thinks these changes, with the possible addition of permit requirements for owners of these breeds, would reduce the number of calls she gets.
“My concern here is public safety," Hurst said. "There’s a lot of people that get out and walk their pets on a leash and they’re very responsible. And of course safety for myself and other officers.”
Other changes she mentioned included muzzle requirements and fines for violation of the new ordinance. Ward 1 Representative Michael Hallman suggested a limit on the number of aggressive dogs an individual can own.
Ward 3 Representative Patrick McClusky said the committee members will consider and continue to discuss the issue, and there will be opportunities for public input before an ordinance is approved. He also said a decision will not be made at the next council meeting.
Later that evening, the planning and development committee chose to form an ad hoc parking solutions committee. The committee consists of Ward 1 Representative Britt Thames, City chief of staff J.J. Bischoff, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Meredith Drennen, and two business owners who attended the meeting, Kevin McCain and Mark Westfall.
The committee will seek solutions to the lack of downtown parking and will solicit input from other business owners and the department of engineering, planning and zoning. The ad hoc committee will report its recommendations back to the planning and development committee for action.
Comments (83)
Comment FeedThere are two smokey grey Pitts loose in my neighborhood. Yesterday a little girl was seconds from being attacked. My friend and I put the car between the 2 dogs and the little girl to save her. We put the girl in the car with us. Poor girl had 2 dilemmas. Do I get in the car with strangers or get attacked by the dogs. I spent most of yesterday calling animal control. The lady seemed pretty much unconcerned. She lied telling me that 1 of the dogs had been picked up. Well, to my dismay both dogs were asleep on my street Overdale.please place when I came home from work. I called 911 only to be brushed off. I started yelling and the dispatchER put me through to animal control. They were so unconcerned about people's welfare especially little children it made me feel sick. The story ends with the dogs still roaming the streets. Why does everything have to end in a trajedy to get some attention? Those dogs slept a few hours which gave animal control ample time to pick them up. What happens on Monday when the kids walk to the bus stop? By the way I even called several schools to inform them. I have truly list faith in our system. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP! !!
PJ more than 4 years ago
BSL isn't proven to work and "jaw locking" is ridiculous
Kaylynn330@yahoo.com more than 4 years ago
Jaw Lock
rebecca deangelis more than 3 years ago
Myths Get Kids Killed
Elizabeth more than 4 years ago
Nanny Dog is a MYTH!
Liz Again more than 4 years ago
BAN DANGEROUS DOG BREEDS
Liz more than 4 years ago
Do you have enough employees to handle EVERY VICIOUS DOG BREED IN YOUR COUNTY???
Janice Wambold more than 4 years ago
Pit bulls were never nanny dogs:
Julie more than 4 years ago
Pit bulls alter the future
Pam more than 4 years ago
Pit bulls are bred for blood sport.
Julie more than 4 years ago
Pit bulls are bred for blood sport.
Julie more than 4 years ago
CDC on BSL effectiveness
Jennifer more than 4 years ago
The cost of enforcing BSL
Jennifer more than 4 years ago
"Punishing the deed” costs twice as much as banning dogs of fighting breed
Julie more than 4 years ago
More on BSL in Ontario
Jennifer more than 4 years ago
BSL Ontario/Toronto
Jennifer more than 4 years ago
BSL in Little Rock
Jennifer more than 4 years ago
BSL in San Francisco
Jennifer more than 4 years ago
BSL in Iowa
Jennifer more than 4 years ago
more on the efectiveness of BSL
Jennifer more than 4 years ago
Peer Revied Study on "Effectiveness" of BSL
Jennifer more than 4 years ago
BSL
Thomas more than 4 years ago
BSL Works
Thomas more than 4 years ago
Pit Bull Bans work
Thomas more than 4 years ago
Pit Bull Bans Work.!!
Thomas more than 4 years ago
Dangerous Dogs Need Regulations
Liz Marsden more than 4 years ago
Responsible Owners Benefit from BSL
Jo more than 4 years ago
Riddle me this
Jennifer more than 4 years ago
Julie
Julie more than 4 years ago
ANd the reward for not answering the question goes to...
Jennifer more than 4 years ago
It's common place for pit bulls to kill with other breeds it rare
Julie more than 4 years ago
Still not answering the question...
Jennifer more than 4 years ago
Pitbull protectionist STILL purposely confusing bites with DEATHS in order to mislead
Christy more than 4 years ago
What BSL DOES Accomplish
Jennifer more than 4 years ago
BSL FAIL COLORADO
Jennifer more than 4 years ago
Misleading
Julie more than 4 years ago
BSL FAIL MD
Jennifer more than 4 years ago
BSL FAIL UK
Jennifer more than 4 years ago
Status dogs are popular because of Internet exposure, not because of breed bans
Christy more than 4 years ago
Just an example
Jackie more than 4 years ago
CDC on Breed Specific Legislation
Sera more than 4 years ago
AVMA Position on BSL
Sera more than 4 years ago
AVMA Dog Bite prevention Role of Breed
Sera more than 4 years ago
Eaten Alive
Jackie more than 4 years ago
Eaten Alive
Jackie more than 4 years ago
NO such thing as a "vicious breed"
Paige Marie more than 4 years ago
Save a life ban a pitbull
Jackie more than 4 years ago
Banning Pit Bull Type Dogs Saves Lives
Lew Heifner more than 4 years ago
Breed Ban
Reneé more than 4 years ago
Actually Enforce the Current Laws First
Jennifer more than 4 years ago
BSL for pitbulls DOES work to reduce DEATHS
Christy more than 4 years ago
BLS!
Tess more than 4 years ago
There is no scientific evidence that BSL is actually effective
Jennifer more than 4 years ago
NO SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE BSL WORKS
Jennifer more than 4 years ago
Spam Commenters
JuJuManga more than 4 years ago
Pit Bull Ban
Thomas McCartney more than 4 years ago
Pitbulls are dangerous - especially to children
Linda more than 4 years ago
ASPC's view on Pit Bull type dogs.
Thomas McCartney more than 4 years ago
Pit Bull Education: Ever heard of a break-stick??
Julie more than 4 years ago
Julia Wall's break sticks
Jayce more than 4 years ago
Breadsticks are recommended by several well know pitbull organizations.
Christy more than 4 years ago
Julia Wall's break sticks
Jayce more than 4 years ago
Yes, lets all listen to Julie
Cassy Bug more than 4 years ago
pitbulls kill other pets too
Jackie more than 4 years ago
Dont bother asking Jackie to cite her source on her stats
Sera more than 4 years ago
Quit spreading false information. There's NEVER been a death from a Chihuahua.
Christy more than 4 years ago
People who spend time praising dog fighters on facebook are on the wrong side of the issue
Sera more than 4 years ago
BSL is ending
Sandra Chlubna more than 4 years ago
Pit bull
Cindy Williams, DVM more than 4 years ago
DVM
Reneé more than 4 years ago
LOL
Mike I. more than 4 years ago
Bully breeds.
Nan Duarte more than 4 years ago
Bully breeds
Susan Riddle more than 4 years ago
Difference between a bandaid and a body bag
Linda more than 4 years ago
dog ordinance
Teresa more than 4 years ago
Really?
Logan Rollo more than 4 years ago
Locking Jaws?
Mary Nagy more than 4 years ago
"Locking" jaws argument is semantics
Christy more than 4 years ago
Kristy
Jayce more than 4 years ago
Dog restriction article
Sandra Chlubna more than 4 years ago
Myth
Andrea more than 4 years ago
So sad.
E. Silva more than 4 years ago
Locking jaw argument is simply one of semantics
Christy more than 4 years ago