Arcata council considers adopting dog ordinance (Cal.)

[Rene Allegrini]

Arcata council considers adopting dog ordinance
8/9/2007

The Arcata City Council will consider adopting an ordinance Wednesday, aimed at changing the process of how the city addresses handling “vicious, potentially dangerous and public nuisance dogs.”

The ordinance was introduced to the council at its Aug. 1 meeting.

Arcata Police Chief Randy Mendosa said complaints of dangerous dogs, dogs attacking other dogs and dogs biting people are increasingly common, citing several cases in the past few years in which people were “bitten severely.”

“We need to be able to respond to these complaints,” Mendosa said, adding that dog attacks occur throughout the state, sometimes resulting in death.

The ordinance states that existing city ordinances are inadequate for dealing with the threat posed by such dogs.

Arcata’s ordinance will be modeled after the county’s and Eureka’s programs.

Mendosa said the ordinance basically enables a “due process” in which volunteers hold a hearing, beginning at the city level. If a disagreement arises with the hearing officers, due process appeal is available.

Mendosa said the alternative is to go through Superior Court, which poses additional delays and expenses in dealing with dogs that create a potential safety problem.

If approved, the ordinance will be effective 30 days from adoption.

http://www.eurekareporter.com/Articl...rticleID=27091