For the second time in a few months, the Newton Board of Aldermen heard a dog complaint from a citizen.
Gail Bragg asked the board for relief from a dog, which she believed to be a pitbull that came on her property and acted aggressively. The police were called to the scene along with the city’s animal control officer.
The owner of the dog, which is an American bulldog and not a pit bull, said the situation had been addressed, and that she would keep the dog inside her house to prevent it from escaping again.
This all came as the one-year anniversary nears of when the new city ordinance was enacted.
Passed in June 2017 and taking effect in August 2017, the ordinance addressed vicious dogs, which was defined as dogs showing a tendency or disposition to attack unprovoked or to cause injury or to otherwise endanger the safety of human beings or domestic animals. This includes all dogs that had “unprovoked bites, inflicts injury, assaults or otherwise attacks a person upon the streets, sidewalks or on any public grounds in a menacing or terrorizing manner or apparent attitude of attack.”
It also includes any dog which is owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting or any dog trained for dog fighting. By definition in the ordinance, a pit bull is a vicious animal.
Any police officer or animal control officer may issue to the person a written citation requiring the person to appear at a date and time in the municipal court to answer the charge or charges specified in the citation.
According to the ordinance, a vicious animal or dog shall be securely confined indoors or confined in a securely enclosed and childproof locked pen or structure upon the premises of the person owning or harboring the same. Such pen or structure must have secure sides and a secure top and must provide protection for the dog from the elements.
No vicious dog may be kept on a porch or patio or any part of the house or structure that would allow the dog to exit such building on its own volition. In addition, no such animal may be kept in a house or structure when the windows are open or house or structure when the windows are open or when screen windows or door are the only obstacle preventing the dog from exiting the structure.
To keep the animals, all owners, keepers or harborers of vicious dogs within the city must place a “Beware of Dog” sign. Every vicious animal shall be confined by the owner within a building or secure enclosure and shall be securely muzzled or caged whenever off the premises of its owner.
Any vicious dog shall be immediately seized by the division of animal control if the owner does not secure the liability insurance coverage, does not maintain the dog in a proper enclosure; or permits the dog outside the dwelling of the owner or outside the proper enclosure and does not have the dog muzzled and under personal restraint of the owner.
The city clerk shall issue a certificate of registration to the owner, keeper or harborer of such animal for one year upon such person paying a fee to the city after the animal is secured in a proper enclosure to confine the dog, warning signs are posted on the property, the dog has been vaccinated and provide proof of a surety bond issued by a surety of at least $100,000 and liability insurance of at least $100,000, which may not be cancelled until 15 days’ notice of cancellation has been given to the animal control division.
Any person who violates this ordinance can face a fine up to $500 or to serve not more than 10 days in jail, or both. If the dog is a vicious dog, the court may order the dog impounded until such time as the violator complies with this ordinance for vicious dogs.
The full ordinance is available at City Hall.
In other business, the board
• Approved Alderman McCalphia registration to attend the Mississippi Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials June 24-25.
• Approved payment to Foster, Jones, and Associates of $ 1,417.01 for Engineering Services,
payment to Cornerstone Civil Contractors of $ 212,049.31 when funds become available for the rail spur project.
• Approved the July 4 holiday as state holidays in observance of Independence Day.
• Held further discussion on getting body cameras for the police department. Chief Harvey Curry has been asked to bring back information on quotes at the next meeting.
• Discussed options to purchase air packs, turnout gear and other necessary equipment for the fire department.
