Kudos to Morgan Hill city officials for tightening the city’s vicious dog laws. The new ordinance takes important, reasonable steps to protect public safety and quality of life in our community.
In the past, dogs that were violent – even repeatedly – toward other animals, but did not kill them could not be considered level-three dogs eligible for euthanasia.
Two recent cases illustrate the problems with the previous ordinance. In July 2006, two teenagers were injured while trying to save their cat from an attack by two pit bulls that entered their home. In August 2006, a pit bull nearly killed a Lhasa Apso after it came into the home of the other dog through a pet door and attacked it.
The city has experienced other instances of dogs escaping their yards and attacking neighbors or passers by in the last few years.
Because these dogs did not kill their victims, under the law at the time, they could not be classified as level-three dogs eligible for euthanasia.
With new law that City Council recently adopted, violent dogs – regardless of whether or not their victims survive – can be euthanized. It also adds provisions banning convicted felons from owning violent dogs and allows for dogs deemed “dangerous” to be required to take obedience training.
Appeals procedures are included before any dog is taken from its owner or euthanized.
As Morgan Hill Police Chief Bruce Cumming said, “The changes in the ordinance will go a long way to help to protect people and other animals from the danger of these unsafe animals.”
Dogs that attack without provocation are dangerous and euthanasia ought to be a possibility in those cases. Now it is.
This new law should serve as a heads-up warning to dog owners: If you love your dog, train it, supervise it, and control it.
Morgan Hill is a dog-friendly community, but it does not welcome out-of-control, violent canines. Make sure yours doesn’t qualify.
