Officials propose toughening animal laws (Johnson County, IA)

[Rene Allegrini]

Officials propose toughening animal laws
Sheriff's main goal is to deal with repeat offenders
By Hieu Pham
Iowa City Press-Citizen

Local public safety and animal control officials hope to add more bite to animal regulations in Johnson County.

They are proposing a countywide ordinance that would toughen controls on domestic animals, particularly dogs that are deemed potentially dangerous or vicious. Although Iowa City and Coralville have their own measures to deal with such animals, many of other cities do not.

"My main goal is not necessarily to outlaw any particular breed but to give us the mechanism to deal with animals that may be involved in more than one bite," Johnson County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek said Monday.

Vicious animal provisions handle domestic animals that have attacked, bitten or showed unusually aggressive behavior. In Iowa City, animals can be impounded pending a hearing. The results of a hearing could be a simple warning to the owner or euthanasia for the pet.
But if dogs bite elsewhere, there is little that can be done, officials said.

Having a standard code adopted countywide would help the sheriff's department, which is often the first place people call in an animal attack, Pulkrabek said. It also would protect people from coming up against dangerous pets, said Misha Goodman, director of the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center.

"They need something," she said. "If a dog mauls somebody, there is nothing there that allows them to do anything."

State code applies in municipalities without vicious animal regulations. But the law mainly addresses the owners, Goodman said.

"State code states that the owner is liable of actions that happen with the dog," she said. "Usually liability comes down to money."

As of Aug.17, there were a reported 31 dog bites investigated by the Johnson County
Department of Public Health. Fifty-two were reported in 2006 and 25 the year before.

Last week Pulkrabek presented the idea at a joint meeting with elected area city officials. He said the measure would have to gain countywide support.

If adopted, Goodman said she suggests using a multi-tiered process similar to Washington County. This method would classify animals according to threat level.

http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pb...708280320/1079