Citizens push for animal control
, Publisher
07-09-2008
Wild dogs roaming the streets of Union Parish has been a problem for years and a group of concerned citizens has had enough.
Thirty Union Parish residents packed the Union Parish Police Jury meeting room last Tuesday and pressed the Police Jury to do something about the animal control problem in the parish during the Police Jury’s regular meeting.
Several residents spoke before the Police Jury and implored them to come up with a solution. Union Parish does not currently have an animal control ordinance, nor does it have an animal shelter to take stray dogs.
“We’ve got to do something,’’ said Sandy Silmon, who lives in Spearsville. “It can’t go on. Small rural areas are dumping grounds for animals. It’s gotten out of control. I know dogs aren’t at the top of your list and money is tight, but let’s get together and do something.’’
Oda Rockett of Spearsville, one of the parish’s leading proponents of the animal control movement, told of how her eight-year-old pet bichon was attacked in her own yard by a stray dog and nearly killed in May.
Rockett showed pictures of the dog before and after the attack.
“I’m showing you why I’m so extremely interested,’’ Rockett said. “Most parishes have some sort of animal control. We don’t need to be the last one.’’
The only animal control provision within the parish is a state law, Title 14, which allows for a dangerous dog hearing following a petition.
Title 14 hearings are civil proceedings and must be set up within five days and involves the pet owner, witnesses and a district court judge, who rules whether the animal is dangerous or not.
The judge can order the owner to pen the animal. Law enforcement officials can issue a citation if the order isn’t obeyed. However, animal control falls far down on the list of priorities for Union Parish law enforcement officials.
Most animal complaints are handled by the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office.
In May, the mayor’s of Union Parish agreed to write a letter to the Police Jury concerning animal control and the need to come up with a parish-wide policy.
However, Donna Hill, a Farmerville resident and animal control advocate believes the first step to solve the problem should begin at the town and village level.
“The first thing we need to do is get a leash law,’’ Hill said. “The majority of the dogs on the streets belong to somebody. A ferrel dog can live for about two weeks in the wild – and they look wild. The dogs walking around Farmerville are healthy dogs.’’
Ten years ago the Police Jury put a millage before voters that included, among other things, money dedicated to animal control. It failed to pass.
Police Jury president Johnny Buckley said he understands there is a problem, but said the money needed for the parish to come up with a comprehensive animal control plan, that would include a shelter and staff, is too costly.
“We don’t deny it’s a problem,’’ Buckley said. “It’s costlier than people think.’’
Buckley appointed a committee consisting of Police Jurors Jerry Rugg, Alvin Allen and Vergil Ramsey to study the issue and report back to the Police Jury.
“What we need is a leash law,’’ said Farmerville resident James Dispenza. “We need to make it mandatory. People need to take control of their dogs. Without it, the dogs are going to rule Farmerville.’’
Other Top Stories
