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By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune October 03. 2014 3:58PM Central Point to consider nuisance dog ordinance CENTRAL POINT — City Council this week directed police Chief Kris Allison to draft an ordinance to deal with chronic and nuisance dog issues. If approved, the ordinance could levy fines and sanctions and restrict dog ownership for repeat offenders who have dogs that bite, bark or wander at large. Allison said the city has an average of one dog bite involving a person almost once per month and a bite involving another animal every other month. There were 15 dog bites total, involving the biting of people or other animals, from July 2013 to July 2014. In addition, city police received 137 calls involving barking dogs and 111 for dogs wandering loose. Allison said her department's intention in proposing an ordinance was not to be punitive but to encourage responsible pet ownership. "The intention for our city is just to be responsible. We're not trying to be punitive but trying to move toward accountability and to determine what to do with multiple violations and repeat offenders," said Allison. While a draft is weeks away, Allison said, possible sanctions could include fines that increase with repeated infractions, requiring owners of aggressive dogs to install signs and to have pet owners become bonded to cover expenses related to the behavior of their dogs. More serious cases could put sanctions on pet owners, requiring pet owners to attend classes on responsible dog ownership or even limiting or prohibiting owning of dogs inside city limits for chronic offenders. Allison said she had paid close attention to breed-specific legislation considered around the valley and felt that responsible pet ownership should be enforced rather than penalizing specific breeds. Resident Allen Burns, whose dogs were the victims of a brutal dog attack, said he was pleased to learn the city would consider an ordinance that would enforce consequences for pet owners who house aggressive animals. Burns, whose dogs were attacked in 2012 by a large pit bull known for running at large, ended up with some $2,000 in veterinary bills to have his dog's ear reattached and for other injuries. The dog that attacked Burns' dog was never found, nor was the owner, though Burns said he still keeps an eye out for them. Burns said he never wanted to see breed-specific legislation even after his dogs were attacked. "I'd much rather see ordinances where they can cite people rather than ban certain types of dogs," Burns said. "I think it's more an owner problem than it is a dog problem. Even with our dogs getting attacked, yeah, I'm mad at the dog but, no, they weren't born that way and it has more to do with the owner than the breed." Burns applauded Allison's efforts to ensure local officers had adequate tools for dealing with dog issues. "I think anything can only help. The ordinances are fine. ... (County) animal control is so overwhelmed and understaffed, so they can't really respond to a lot of complaints or problems and things like that. It really needs to be handled locally. I guess at least Central Point is doing what they can, on a local level. It's at least a start." Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford. Email her at [email protected]. http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20141003/NEWS/141009863 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->