Oldham dog law gets teeth

[bigdoglover]

The Courier-Journal

Oldham County, with relative speed, toughened its dog ordinance while Louisville's Metro Council has for months been chasing its tail trying to do the same.

Louisville Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton, D-5th, proposed a stricter ordinance in November after two people were killed by pit bulls, and ever since, a vocal coalition of dog breeders and owners has fought tooth and nail against a strong law.



As a result, the proposed ordinance is now in its seventh draft, and the city's animal control director, Dr. Gilles Meloche, says, "We're getting there. Probably in two months, we should be there."

The Metro Council ought to get on with it. As Oldham County's animal control director explained, "Protecting the rights of citizens to be safe in their community" is her top priority. "I had over 100 complaints this year from people frightened of owned dogs -- from people saying, 'I'm scared of my neighbor's dog. I can't go in my backyard,' " she said.

Oldham's new law could net violators up to $500 fines and 90 days in jail, and their animals could be detained until a judge decides whether it's vicious and should be put down.

People who own or supply "aggressive dogs that are terrifyng neighbors and killing people don't belong in Oldham County," Ms. Rosenman said.

Or in Louisville, either. Dr. Meloche said Louisville's eventual ordinance will be more comprehensive and has more people involved in fashioning it.

But the process wouldn't be taking nearly so long if Metro Council members early on had made clear that public safety comes first.