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County gets tougher on dogs that bite Works on law making it easier to euthanize By Dani Dodge Jackson County officials are putting the bite on bad dogs. At a study session Tuesday, county commissioners discussed and fine-tuned a dangerous-dog ordinance that gives the county the power to put a baby-biting dog to death. "What we had to do was put meat into things so it made very clear the responsibilities of the (dog) owner," said Commissioner Jack Walker. Commissioners hope the new rules will stem violent attacks by dogs in the county and prevent deaths like the recent one in San Francisco, where a woman was attacked by dogs bred to protect illegal drug operations. Last year in Jackson County, five people were viciously attacked by dogs, and another 242 reported getting bitten. County Administrator Sue Slack said she expects it will be about a month before the ordinance is formally heard and voted on by the county commissioners. At that time there will be a public hearing. The proposed ordinance incorporates a number of new rules, including a countywide pooper-scooper law and regulations on wolf hybrids. The new dangerous dog ordinance is a "total rewrite" of the county�s animal control ordinance, said Health and Human Services Director Hank Collins. "The most significant thing it does is it gives us more options for dealing with dogs that bite people," Collins said. He said the county became aware of the limitations of its animal control ordinance after dealing with an intense controversy five years ago over a dog that chased animals. Nadas was sentenced to death in 1996 for chasing horses in east Medford. The issue created a huge brouhaha that included Nadas� owner dressing up as a clown and trying to break Nadas out of the county�s animal shelter. In the end, public pressure forced county commissioners to transfer Nadas out of state instead of putting him to death. "As a result of the Nadas fiasco, we�ve been aware for quite some time that the penalty that dogs face when they chase or kill livestock are greater than when they bite people," Collins said. "This really strengthens those provisions so we have more control over dogs and have stronger penalties if dogs bite people." The only proposed rule that commissioners rejected Tuesday was a requirement that dogs in pickup-truck beds be tethered. Changes in the county�s proposed animal control ordinance include: Creating a countywide dog control district. The county currently is a patchwork of areas where dogs can roam freely and areas where the dogs must be controlled. Passage would mean Jackson County dogs must be leashed or confined to a person�s property. Upping the penalties for dogs that bite people. Previously, there was little animal control officers could do except confine the aggressive dog for a period of time after it bit a person. Under the new ordinance the county have the power to confine the dog, spay or neuter the animal, or euthanize it. Regulating wolf hybrids. Wolf hybrids are not considered dogs and previously had no regulations. This ordinance would require that they be securely confined and get humane treatment. Instituting a new system of progressively higher fines for dogs that bite or chase livestock. Making it an infraction for someone to leave their dog�s droppings in a public place or on someone else�s property. Reach reporter Dani Dodge at 776-4471, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.