3/2: Legislation for better dog laws
Moderated by Tom Sabulis
Children in Georgia continue to be mauled by dogs, many times by pets of neighbors who do not properly supervise and leash the animals.
The state’s inadequate dog laws don’t provide much guidance, officials say.
But a new bill being considered in the General Assembly could help fix this situation and even build community awareness about the problem.
Read what attorney who helped draft legislation has to say and then commentary by the president of the Georgia Canine Coalition and tell us your response.
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25 comments Add your comment
Bernie
March 2nd, 2012
12:54 am
As with all Newly legislative laws, they can be most effective when they are applied equally to all of its citizenery. However, as with many laws as it pertains the dogs, enforcement is selective and subjective. For example, many years Fulton County Animal Control was specifically directly not to enforce leash laws inside of Piedmont Park or even to routinely monitor off the leash occurrences. To see
a Fulton County Animal control truck in Piedmont Park is even a rarer occurence.
Today, it is not uncommon to find a jogger running or walking through any Midtown park or in the Midtown area with a dog off the leash and no one says a thing, everything is fine and all is well, even with Atlanta’s finest (APD). It is a common practice in most predominately white community Parks in the City of Atlanta. However, if a minority citizen decides to do the same thing, no matter where, they are often threatened with arrest and or large fines. All one has to do is to go to any of the City of Altanta Parks at any time and you can easily observe and verify this action. My complaint, is if this is the Law, then apply it equally to all its citizens.
The dog owners skin color or economic status should not determine that application.
JV
March 2nd, 2012
8:28 am
Pit Bulls attack people. Golden Retrievers wag their tails.
commoncents
March 2nd, 2012
9:13 am
Really, Bernie? First comment and you play the race card?
Not Blind
March 2nd, 2012
9:23 am
Hey Bernie, maybe the white people do a better job of training their dogs than the “minority citizens” do.
PM
March 2nd, 2012
9:56 am
Well, about the dogs: looking at pit bulls versus, say, chiwauwaus or labs, they hurt people This is because of the innate dna of the breed, or it’s because of the innate dna of the owner; doesn’t matter! Labs generally aren’t aggressive. And yes, there’s a reason to play the race card: the reality of it!
On another topic (there’s no space for comments) why is our legal system so that court is called off on a whim?! Everybody’s up and in, and it’s called off; our paid court people (judge and other personnel) leave at noon most often. Why are we in the red: wonder!!! People need to get busy and do their jobs….
JS
March 2nd, 2012
9:57 am
Sometimes it’s not the dogs fault and there needs to be protection for dog owners also. People need to train their kids how to act around dogs…..not corner the animal when it’s clear it wants nothing to do with the kid, stick fingers in the dogs face. Leave the dog alone when the owner tells you to. My golden “wag tail” mix bit a kid that was torturing him and of course the dog gets trouble. He had to go to dog jail to be “quarantined” and totally did not deserve it. If someone was chasing you around and trapping you and sticking fingers in your face you would bite too. Now if my dog ever bites someone again, he gets killed. That is not acceptable.
audra
March 2nd, 2012
10:00 am
Two years ago my husband was bitten in the face by a seemingly friendly neighborhood dog when we tried to direct him back to his own yard after he escaped. Turns out the idiot who was keeping him had him on a steel chain, confined to a small patio, most of the time. This was a big dog, with nowhere to get exercise and no protection from the elements. My husband was lucky – when we got to the hospital there was great doctor on call, who was able to sew him up so effectively that today there is virtually no evidence of that traumatic day.
My issue with the laws in place are two-fold:
1. We had almost no legal recourse. According to Georgia law, he could not be considered a vicious or dangerous dog, because he had never bitten anyone before. Really?? There’s always a first time, people. There was obviously a reason his owner thought he needed a steel chain, which the owner all but admitted. Lucky for the neighborhood kids, a group of whom were playing two houses down from where my husband was attacked, they did not encounter the dog before my husband did. The owner was charged with some 3 misdemeanors, 2 of which were dropped, and all fines except one were eliminated. In all, he paid $500. Our medical bills were over $4000, $1000 out-of-pocket. Not to mention the pain my husband suffered. The owner got barely a slap on the wrist.
2. What about the poor dog? My husband and I are animal lovers. We understand that the dog was scared and confused. But why? Probably because he was being kept inhumanely, in a tiny area with no outlet for his energy, little interaction or attention, and alone for hours per day. Should this not be addressed as well? If the dog bites someone again, he will be put down (that is in the law). So then the dog pays the ultimate price for his owner’s irresponsibility and ignorance.
No, the dog in this story was not a pit bull or any “scary” breed. Just a mistreated dog owned by an idiot. I hope whatever they do to the law it will address these issues, for the safety of people and for the sake of the animals.
audra
March 2nd, 2012
10:04 am
As and far as the “race card” goes, this was a white guy. But I do see that pit bulls are a status symbol for some in the black community, and again that is not only unsafe, but often inhumane for the dogs involved. I think the laws should apply equally to all…
Chief
March 2nd, 2012
10:07 am
Leash children.
I'm Not Caesar
March 2nd, 2012
10:22 am
there are no bad dogs, only bad owners.
Not Blind
March 2nd, 2012
10:44 am
The ignorant “…no bad dogs…” people are a large part of the problem. There are dogs with behavior problems so severe that the best thing you can do is put them down. I used to take my Scotties over to Pet Smart and occasionally one of the rescue groups would be having an adoption day. Some of the dogs up for adoption were beyond socialization. If one of these dogs was foisted on your typical new dog owner it would be a disaster. Does anyone think a neurotic dog enjoys it’s existence ? Americans need to quit thinking of all dogs as a higher life form with a soul.
Bernie
March 2nd, 2012
11:44 am
commoncents – playing the race card, huh? I challenge you to put my comments to the test for verification. Race considerations is a very integral part of Life in the south, it always has been. But for those who choose to ignore that reality think like you, but for those who experience its negative sides daily cannot afford that luxury you take for granted.
Miss Priss!
March 2nd, 2012
11:49 am
Never liked dogs much anyway. Just me. I understand they can make you feel warm and cozy, but then don’t you have to pick up their warm excrement with your hand … even if it’s covered by a glove. Not sexy. Anyhow, most dog owners are odd, narcissistic, attention-seekers when you get down to it. A woman who owned a Great Dane used to walk around the neighborhood with the beast. It killed her when you didn’t act amazed … or inquire. Can you imagine the size of those leavings! The woman must have … liked it.
Anyway, doesn’t Victor Hill make the oddest facial expressions!
Bernie
March 2nd, 2012
11:56 am
Not Blind – there may be some truth to your statement, but how does that mesh with the application of equal treatment under the law? your statement implies that this proposed law should be for non-white citzens only? surely that is not what you are implying or is it?
SAWB
March 2nd, 2012
12:21 pm
Oh my Lord now even the Dog Catcher is a racist. With attitudes like this I fear all hope is lost for Atlanta…
Bernie
March 2nd, 2012
1:40 pm
SAWB, quite the contrary, if you were to survey those dog catchers (most whom are minorities) they would agree that more enforcement is required and would love nothing more to enforce the laws equally on those unleashed dogs walking around downtown. However, due to the feared fallout from local politicans and reduced fund raising for the aspiring politician and county animal shelters, management has selectively chosen to ignore and overlook this violation.
Not Blind
March 2nd, 2012
1:55 pm
Bernie, my statement doesn’t address equal treatment by law enforcement. It only addresses my experience with dogs at a public park [ or my own community's sidewalks ]. I can’t imagine that the LEO in your example would ignore bothersome dogs owned by whites or minorities. But if the dogs owned by whites in your example are well behaved and under good control even without a leash while the dogs owned by minorities are being disruptive or aggressive then your example scenario is flawed.
Bernie
March 2nd, 2012
2:22 pm
NotBlind: of course you are not addressing the issue of equal treatment under the law, for it is not a concern or issue for you at all, obviously. You are probably of a lighter HUE and that issue is a non factor in your life. However like you, my issue is from well documented personal experience as a minority who is also a responsible dog owner of a well behaved dog who visits on a regular basis numerous City of Atlanta Parks and the enforcement of these laws are selectively based solely on race and not the behavior of any dog good or bad.
For example one incident on Ponce de Leon near the Jimmy Carter Library where there were 10-20 homelss people asleep living and camped out all over the area there is no policing of it despite it being a park violation without any police action. After observing many non-white citizens allowing their dogs off the leash to run and play on numerous visits in that area, I decided to stop and do the same. My action resulted in a citation and then to return daily for the next 2-3 weeks to see the same action of white dog owners unleash their pets with impunity and without fear and no action.
NotBlind : if you will open your eyes you will see.
But whenever I or another non-white dog owner is in that same park doing the same.
One of Atlanta’s finest always shows up and gives a citation to the non-white dog owner for the violation.
Hillbilly D
March 2nd, 2012
3:35 pm
Where I live, we deal with coyotes and bears, dogs are no bother at all.
Not Blind
March 2nd, 2012
4:43 pm
Bernie, about a year ago I was on an errand about a mile from the house when I saw a black kid about 10 or 12 walking down the sidewalk . My instantaneous thought was “that kid is so screwed”. I felt this pity because he is black. He is screwed because his house is in chaos. He’s done nothing to create this situation but he is the one that gets screwed.
You have the same problem at the park with your dog.
A corollary with another minority, the hispanics. The hispanic citizens of this country of complain bitterly about being perceived as illegals because of their skin color. They should have thought of this before becoming advocates for all the illegal aliens burdening every segment of our system.
The undeniable truth is that a person’s race is the first thing a stranger sees and the first impression the stranger forms is based on the person’s race.
Bernie
March 2nd, 2012
5:23 pm
Not Blind, there is something seriously wrong with your thinking. If there’s a mental health organization that raises money for people like you, be sure to let me know. I want to make a donation!
Not Blind
March 2nd, 2012
5:36 pm
I’m not surprised you think that way. It avoids a lot of heavy lifting between the ears.
NONEWCITY
March 3rd, 2012
10:41 pm
Poll @ nonewcity.org
NONEWCITY
March 3rd, 2012
10:41 pm
Poll @ nonewcity.org
NONEWCITY
March 3rd, 2012
10:44 pm
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