Leash law discussion quiet at Cassville Council meeting
May 11, 2016
Charlea Estes
The Cassville City Council readdressed the possibility of a leash law ordinance in the city at Monday’s city council meeting on May 9. The subject, which received a resurgence of interest following a dog attack last month, was up for open discussion.
Attention to the dog attack escalated when the story was picked up by area television stations when Cindy Carr’s son Aaron’s pit bull broke through their electric fence and attacked a chihuahua being walked by its owner in Carr’s neighborhood. The Carrs paid for the dog’s vet bills, but the chihuahua had to be euthanized due to injuries sustained from the attack.
Since, there has been a lot of conversation in the community regarding the number of stray and roaming dogs in the city. Leash laws have been brought up multiple times in past years, but no changes were made to the existing law on the books regarding aggressive dogs in the city with funding issues being the primary concern.
At Monday’s meeting, the open discussion did not bring any outside input from the community, but aldermen Jon Horner and Jerry Marple both offered insight into the issue.
In a statement by Horner, he said that he could not support a leash law that the city did not have a funding mechanism in place to pay for an animal control facility, full-time animal control officer, vehicle and maintenance for the facility and staff to run it.
Horner said, “Until such an issue law can be properly funded, I cannot in good conscience vote for a law that cannot be supported financially at this time by the city of Cassville.
While no formal estimates regarding the cost of what would be needed to enforce a leash law has been calculated, Horner said that the initial facility, vehicle and equipment would cost around $250,000, and the annual cost for staff, benefits and operations would be around $65,000. Horner said, “Within 10 years, the city could spend nearly $1,000,000 to properly enforce a leash law. Additionally, citizens would face costs: annual registration fee for dogs, fencing materials and installation or repair of fences to keep dogs from roaming.”
Alderman Marple said, “We have laws in place. People can call the police, and I know they chase dogs from time to time when there are problems. I don’t see the need for a full-time animal control officer in the city.”
Horner added that he had been on the opposite side of the issue, receiving a summons regarding one of his dogs in the past. He said, “I’ve had summons issued to me years ago because my dog Sally made some neighbors mad. I’ve been on the opposite side, and I know the laws in place are enforced.”
While the city council does not plan to work on a leash law at this time, Horner is open to the idea in the future if funding mechanisms were established. But as of right now, Horner said a law change wouldn’t be enforceable.
After the discussion was brought up at April’s council meeting, Horner looked into the areas of concern with dogs in the city, including the number of occurrences of dog attacks, enforcement, and the cost.
He added, “Making a knee jerk reaction based upon one occurrence or emotion is typically bad public policy. Fixing a problem that truly doesn’t really exist is also a costly way of doing business. Are we experiencing a rash of dog bites or attacks in Cassville? Based upon the facts, the answer is no.”
A leash law ordinance would likely require a sales tax put in place by voters to make the facility and animal control officer funding possible, which does not seem feasible currently, according to the council.
Horner said, “I ask our citizens to look at our challenges and decide which problem is most important to the future of Cassville.”
Charlea Estes
The Cassville City Council readdressed the possibility of a leash law ordinance in the city at Monday’s city council meeting on May 9. The subject, which received a resurgence of interest following a dog attack last month, was up for open discussion.
Attention to the dog attack escalated when the story was picked up by area television stations when Cindy Carr’s son Aaron’s pit bull broke through their electric fence and attacked a chihuahua being walked by its owner in Carr’s neighborhood. The Carrs paid for the dog’s vet bills, but the chihuahua had to be euthanized due to injuries sustained from the attack.
Since, there has been a lot of conversation in the community regarding the number of stray and roaming dogs in the city. Leash laws have been brought up multiple times in past years, but no changes were made to the existing law on the books regarding aggressive dogs in the city with funding issues being the primary concern.
At Monday’s meeting, the open discussion did not bring any outside input from the community, but aldermen Jon Horner and Jerry Marple both offered insight into the issue.
In a statement by Horner, he said that he could not support a leash law that the city did not have a funding mechanism in place to pay for an animal control facility, full-time animal control officer, vehicle and maintenance for the facility and staff to run it.
Horner said, “Until such an issue law can be properly funded, I cannot in good conscience vote for a law that cannot be supported financially at this time by the city of Cassville.
While no formal estimates regarding the cost of what would be needed to enforce a leash law has been calculated, Horner said that the initial facility, vehicle and equipment would cost around $250,000, and the annual cost for staff, benefits and operations would be around $65,000. Horner said, “Within 10 years, the city could spend nearly $1,000,000 to properly enforce a leash law. Additionally, citizens would face costs: annual registration fee for dogs, fencing materials and installation or repair of fences to keep dogs from roaming.”
Alderman Marple said, “We have laws in place. People can call the police, and I know they chase dogs from time to time when there are problems. I don’t see the need for a full-time animal control officer in the city.”
Horner added that he had been on the opposite side of the issue, receiving a summons regarding one of his dogs in the past. He said, “I’ve had summons issued to me years ago because my dog Sally made some neighbors mad. I’ve been on the opposite side, and I know the laws in place are enforced.”
While the city council does not plan to work on a leash law at this time, Horner is open to the idea in the future if funding mechanisms were established. But as of right now, Horner said a law change wouldn’t be enforceable.
After the discussion was brought up at April’s council meeting, Horner looked into the areas of concern with dogs in the city, including the number of occurrences of dog attacks, enforcement, and the cost.
He added, “Making a knee jerk reaction based upon one occurrence or emotion is typically bad public policy. Fixing a problem that truly doesn’t really exist is also a costly way of doing business. Are we experiencing a rash of dog bites or attacks in Cassville? Based upon the facts, the answer is no.”
A leash law ordinance would likely require a sales tax put in place by voters to make the facility and animal control officer funding possible, which does not seem feasible currently, according to the council.
Horner said, “I ask our citizens to look at our challenges and decide which problem is most important to the future of Cassville.”
