Council chomps down on vicious dogs

The City Council passed a new ordinance prohibiting the possession of dangerous dogs within the city limits during its regular meeting Monday night.

Dangerous dogs or breeds considered dangerous include pit bulls, bull terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, American pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, chows, Dobermans, Rottweilers, wolves or wolf hybrids, and any dogs of mixed breeds which breed or mixed breed is known as pit bulls and pit bull terriers. Also, any dog which has the appearance and characteristics of being predominantly of the breed of bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, or any other breed commonly known as pit bulls, pit bull terriers or a combination of any of these breeds. In addition, the ordinance includes trained attack dogs.

The council has been looking at ways to control dog complaints over the past few months and Monday night passed the dangerous dog ordinance. They also hired a dog catcher. Mayor Shane Day said last week a pit bull escaped its yard and was roaming around town, and although it did not harm or act threateningly to humans, it did kill a cat. Mayor Day said he informed the owners they needed to remove the animal from the city limits or euthanize it based on the fact that it killed another animal.

Stephanie Willhite, who has been the “go-to” person for loose or roaming dogs for the last five years, was hired Monday night to patrol the city 15 days a month. Willhite previously worked using a call-only system – she would pick up dogs only after receiving a complaint. Now she will make morning and evening patrols and will pick up any roaming or loose dogs and impound them. Owners have five days to retrieve their pet, otherwise, Willhite said, she adopts them out or has them euthanized.

She added that she will also check with the sheriff’s office for problem areas each day that she patrols. The City will pay her $375 to patrol Hebron 15 days a month.