Montgomery Grapples with Rise in Dog Attacks

Montgomery is already facing challenges with rising violence, and now the City Council is tackling another pressing issue: aggressive dog attacks. Locals are reporting more and more incidents in their neighborhoods, often with little to no consequences for irresponsible pet owners. What's a city to do?

Beefing Up the Dog Ordinance

City officials are on it! They're working hard to strengthen the existing dangerous dog ordinance, aiming to protect residents from these scary situations.

Councilor Johnson Takes the Lead

District 3 Councilor Marche Johnson is collaborating with Steven Tears, Director of the Montgomery County Humane Society, to revamp the city's animal laws. Johnson noted that local enforcement is somewhat restricted by Emily’s Law, Alabama’s statewide process for declaring a dog dangerous.

Finding a Solution That Works

"We’re working on the ordinance... about vicious dogs," Johnson said. She and Tears are digging deep into "Emily’s Law" to find ways to create stronger local provisions. The goal? "To come up with something that we can all agree on" and protect residents from dogs that are currently "frightening our residents."

Understanding Emily's Law

Emily’s Law, passed in 2018, sets strict rules for dogs that cause serious injury or death. It involves a judge deciding if a dog is dangerous and whether it needs to be euthanized or returned to the owner with significant restrictions like microchipping, sterilization, secure enclosures, and a hefty surety bond.

The Limits of Current Enforcement

However, Johnson and Tears point out that these rules can slow down the city’s ability to intervene quickly when a dog poses a threat. Tears explained that animal control agencies can't legally declare a dog vicious, even with documented attacks. "According to our ordinance and laws, [viciousness] can only be determined by a judge," he stated, meaning animal control needs a court order to take action.

Residents Need to Take Action

Enforcement often gets stuck because residents don't follow the required legal steps. Even with photos or videos, animal control can't file a complaint for them. "The complainant has to show up in court to swear to the validity," Tears emphasized. To get things moving, residents must file a sworn statement, provide evidence, and be ready to testify in court.

A Personal Account

Johnson shared a concerning story from a recent meeting: a resident reported that her mother was knocked down and injured by a dog. "The dog attacked her mom and knocked her mom down," Johnson said, adding that "by the time everybody got there, they had already moved the dog."

Moving Forward

Residents are understandably frustrated that these attacks keep happening despite calling animal control. Johnson has promised to meet with the victim's family and to provide clearer public guidance on how residents can properly report attacks so the city can take action.