Following a recent incident in which a dog attacked a family in Lumberton – killing a resident’s pet dog and biting the woman’s daughter – officials from the Lumberton Board of Aldermen have drafted an ordinance designed for the regulation of what is termed “vicious dogs.”
Mayor Quincy Rogers said the ordinance – which has not yet been officially passed – was necessary to more appropriately address animal control issues and to aid in protecting the public health, safety and welfare of the city’s citizens.
“There is (currently) no ordinance for vicious dogs in the city,” Rogers said. “So what we did was, we got together and created this.”
The ordinance begins by defining “vicious dog” as follows:
- A dog that without provocation has inflicted injury on a human being; killed or inflicted severe injury upon a domestic animal or livestock when not on the offending dog owner’s real property; or approached a human being when not on the offending dog owner’s real property in a menacing and/or terrorizing manner and/or an apparent attitude of attack.
- A dog owned or harbored, primarily or in part, for the purpose of dog fighting, or other fighting, or any dog trained for fighting.
- A dog which has shown a propensity, tendency or disposition to attack, unprovoked, a human being.
When and if a dog is determined to be vicious by an animal control or other law enforcement officer, that dog may be destroyed if the animal is at large, attempts to peacefully capture and impound the animal have been made and proved unsuccessful, and the animal poses a serious and immediate threat of serious harm or injury to human life.
On the other hand, no dog may be considered a vicious dog if:
- An injury or severe injury is sustained by a human being, and at the time of such injury the dog was being provoked; or
- An injury or severe injury is sustained by a human being who at the time of such injury was committing a willful trespass, or other tort, upon the premises owned or leased by the owner of the dog; or
- The dog was protecting a human being within the immediate vicinity of the dog from an unjustified attack; or
- The dog is a police dog which was engaged in the performance of its duties at the time of the act complained of.
In addition, if a dog has rabies or is suspected of having rabies and is allowed to run at large, that animal may be killed by any law enforcement officer without the need for catching or impounding the dog.
In order to educate residents on the matter, a public hearing will be held at 6 p.m. July 2 at Lumberton City Hall, 102 East Main Avenue in Lumberton. After that point, aldermen will determine whether to officially pass the ordinance.
“I like (the ordinance), and I would like for the (board) to approve it,” Rogers said. “They did have a chance to look at it, and they were the ones who worked on it.
“It’s a real good ordinance, and I’m hoping we can get it passed. I’m pretty certain we will.”
