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http://www.cameronherald.com/articles/2006/01/16/news/news03.txt
City vows to get serious about strays
by TIA RAE STONE
Managing Editor
It's not uncommon to see dogs roaming the streets of Cameron. Roselee Mondrik told her fellow city councilmembers that it's particularly bad outside the old Minimax building on FM 1600.
She addressed the council as a private citizen during the public comments portion of Tuesday night's meeting. "We have a dog problem," she said. "How do we get more serious about it?"
City Manger Fred Stephens told her the City does have laws on the books relating to vaccinations and containment that it can enforce.
"Last week, I was in municipal court when a woman was fined because her dog was roaming Main Street and a citizen called in and complained," he said. He added that the woman paid $209 in fines and court costs, "and I drove by her house and she now has a fence."
But the process is sometimes difficult for citizens to grasp and the laws are hard to enforce. Currently, citizens must complain to the police or City Hall about loose dogs. If the dogcatcher, who works contract with the City to pick them up, can stop what he's doing and go find the animal, the City will pick them up. The only other avenue is through the police.
"I hate to make our police into dog catchers," Mayor Bill Meacham said. "It seems like if we're going to get serious about it, we have to employ somebody to do that. The police have more important things to do."
"After what happened in Thorndale, I don't know that it's less important for the police to do than anything else," Councilman Dave Barkemeyer countered.
"I'd like to see a dog catcher who rides the streets to take care of problems," Mondrik added.
Stephens said the City could look into that but that it's not a "cheap, minimum-wage type job. They're almost peace officers. They can issue citations and require special training."
"I think if we get serious about it, it will go a long way toward fixing it," Meacham said. "But we have to get serious."
Barkemeyer added, "We need to do something because somebody is going to get hurt."
They discussed looking into the prospect of fixing up the old locker plant where the Chamberlain Meat once was as a pound and mentioned designating "ferocious breeds" for which owners might be required to have liability insurance.
Since the item wasn't on the agenda, no work could actually be done towards the issue but it's likely to begin.
"I think now would be a good time," Barkemeyer said, summing up the feelings expressed.
The City of Cameron has had laws to control dogs and protect the public on the books since 1963. They were last updated in 1991 and are still in effect.
Under those ordinances, all dogs must be licensed, vaccinated and registered. Proof of vaccination is required for a City tag that is supposed to be worn by the animal.
Dogs are required to be kept on the owner's property and individuals are limited to no more than three dogs at one time. The exceptions to that rule are for up to eight weeks after a dog has puppies and registered kennels. Kennel owners may be exempt by paying a one-time $10 fee to the City for a certificate.
Dogs found running outside the owner's property can be impounded. If they are not claimed by their owners within four days, "The dog shall be destroyed or otherwise disposed of." If an owner does claim a dog, the law requires they pay the City $5 per day or part of a day that they have been in the City's custody, prove the dog has been vaccinated within the last 12 months and get a City license for the animal.
The law also says, "No dog of fierce, dangerous or vicious propensities, and no female dog in heat, whether licensed or not, shall be allowed upon any street, avenue, highway, alley, sidewalk, parkway, park or other public place in the City" even if the dog is on a leash. It further states if police are not able to safely capture a "dangerous, fierce or vicious dog" it may be slain by a police officer.
If a dog has bitten a person, its owner is required to notify the police and the City within 24 hours. The law says that the dog will be confined at a City pound or veterinary hospital for two weeks for observation.
Some of the animal control laws date back to 1963 with the last amendment made in 1991. They also include provisions for loose livestock, disposal of dead animals, animal cruelty and penalties for unauthorized release of animals from the City pound.
Violations of the law are misdemeanors that can carry fines of up to $200 per offense.
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