Township attempts to curb stray dogs, vicious attacks

By Christine Laughren
Sep. 10, 2009    ·    1:39 p.m.

About a month ago, while Ypsilanti Township resident Barbra Hearns walked her 4-year-old poodle it was attacked by another neighbor’s dog.

“It snatched my puppy from me and killed it,” Hearns said tearfully. “The dog punctured his lungs and I had to put him to sleep.”

The dog attack occurred at approximately 9 in the morning in the West Willow Neighborhood in Ypsilanti Township. After a stint in the Huron Valley Humane Society, the offending dog was put down under court order.

According to the Humane Society stories like Hearns’ have become common and the problem is getting worse. Associate Township Attorney Angela King said the HVHS has seen the number of strays in the township increase disproportionately to surrounding areas.

“(The Humane Society’s) concern is, there are a great number of stray dogs picked up by animal control or other people and those numbers are increasing,” King said. “They are also urging the township for stricter controls.”

King said residents are concerned because many of the dogs are believed to be bred and trained to commit violence. Several residents who spoke to the township board at its last regular meeting August 18 said that is exactly what the dogs are doing.

In an effort to curb stray dogs and vicious dog attacks the township is proposing amendments to its “animal” ordinance. The changes call for stricter penalties for violators and encourages proper licensing, vaccination and microchipping.

Township Supervisor Brenda Stumbo said the final straw for her happened when a gentleman in a wheelchair came to the township board to tell it he was afraid to go outside because of vicious, stray dogs in his neighborhood.

“We have to do something to control these dog issues and the quality of life,” Stumbo said. “There has been overwhelming support (for the ordinance changes.)

“It’s another tool in the tool box to help address the problem,” she said.

Under proposed changes to the ordinance the Humane Society can charge fees for boarding dogs found at large. Owners must show proof of a current license, a valid certificate of rabies vaccination and microchip identification.

If a dog owner is unable to prove the dog has a current license, a valid certificate of rabies vaccination and a microchip, the owner must pay fees to cover the cost associated with the above requirements.

Township Trustee Mike Martin said one of his concerns with the ordinance is whether microchips, an electronic device that is injected into an animal by means of a hypodermic syringe for purpose of animal identification and recovery by the animal’s owner, are humane.

Stumbo said other residents have voiced the same concern over microchipping as well, but she assured the board it is a “humane” practice.

According to the proposed language, owner’s of animals running at large, causing physical injury to persons, damage to property and generally creating a nuisance - as outlined in the ordinance - is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by not more than a $500.00 fine and/or imprisonment for not more than 90 days.

The minimum fine to owners with animals not properly licensed is $100.00 on first offence and up to $500.00 for a third offence.

The first reading of the ordinance amendment was passed unanimously at the August 18 meeting. The second reading will be at the board’s September 15 meeting.

Click here to download the township board’s August 18 packet and view the proposed ordinance changes in thier entirety.