Canine complaints

There have been an unusually high number of cases involving dangerous dogs in Hants County this month. By-law Enforcement Officer Gary Lunn has reported three dog bites and three cases of dogs running at large.

In two of those cases, orders were issued to have the canines put down. But actually having those orders enforced has been problematic says West Hants Coun. Randy Matheson, “We don’t always know if and when the dog has been put down, and that is where our by-law fails.”

Such was the case in Ellershouse, where an order was issued to have two Rotweilers put down after one of the pair bit a police officer earlier this month.

The owner alleged his dogs had been killed as a result of being fed beef patties laced with crushed glass. The owner had already buried the animals when Lunn met with him.

“There should be proof that a dog has been put down, in every case,” Matheson said. “How do we know those dogs are not holed up somewhere else down the road? Public safety needs to be council’s number one concern.”

In Mount Denson, a shepherd was put down after attacking and harming another smaller dog earlier this month.

West Hants Municipal Council had asked for public input on the current dangerous animal by-law and has, as well, consulted with surrounding municipalities concerning the definition of “fierce and dangerous.”

Currently, the West Hants by-law defines the latter as, “a dog which inflicts bites or attacks a person or domestic animal; which in a vicious or terrorizing manner, approaches any person in an apparent attitude of attack.”

That definition does not differ greatly from those of other municipalities said CAO Dwight Bennett, who noted it is a more a matter of enforcement.

Lunn said there is little he can do to better enforce the by-law unless complaints are made. “The hospital is supposed to phone me and report injuries due to dog bites, but they don’t.”

Although he gets numerous messages very few complaints regarding bites are carried though. “People don’t want to rat their neighbors out so they stay quit and the dogs goes on to bite someone else,” he said.

“The by-law can’t get more strict and there is nothing any of use can do unless complaints are made.”

In some cases, he added, there are dog owners who comply with having their animal put down because they are decent neighbours.

Lunn noted that any animal that attacks without provocation could be put down. However, he is not authorized to remove a dog from the owner’s property without a judicial order.

He said that even last week in Bramber another Rotweiler and two pups crossed over to a neighboring property and killed five cats.

“The only law I’m asking for is that owners be accountable for their dogs,” he said. “People need to understand that if their dog bites, even while on their own property, they are still liable.”

Council was scheduled to revisit the issue during a special sitting Nov 8.