Dogs that cause life-threatening injuries to humans and other
animals should be euthanized
Morgan Hill needs more “teeth” in the city ordinance governing dangerous dogs. We agree with the city’s Public Safety and Community Services Subcommittee which believes that dogs that cause life-threatening injuries to humans and other animals should be euthanized.
The subcommittee has proposed tightening the current Potentially Dangerous Dog Ordinance to allow animal control officers to capture and euthanize these dogs.
The current ordinance allows an animal to be euthanized if it kills another animal or breaks the skin of a human being. Dogs that nearly kill other animals or attack people should be euthanized for their aggressive behavior.
The law should also prevent convicted felons or previous owners of dangerous dogs from owning subsequent dangerous dogs.
In the last few years the city of Morgan Hill has been experiencing more serious incidents of violence involving dogs injuring people and other domestic animals.
In August 2005, Morgan Hill police officer Mike Nelsen was forced to shoot a pit bull that charged him after reportedly escaping from its yard and charging a neighbor. In November 2005, another officer shot a pit bull at a home on E. Main Avenue after it escaped from its backyard enclosure and, with another pit bull from the same home, attacked a dog walked by its owner down the street in front of the residence. The same dogs attacked a woman earlier in the year.
In July 2006, two teenagers were injured trying to rescue the family 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. While most of these dogs have been killed, the weakness of the current law could allow these canines to be spared.
As a result of these attacks several residents spoke at a city council meeting and later came to the city’s Public Safety and Community Services Subcomittee meeting to ask for stricter rules for dangerous dogs. We’re pleased subcommittee members are not following attempts made by other municipalities where dog breeds were restricted or targeted. Those crafting this law have understood that dogs behave the way they’re raised. Violent animals unfortunately are raised that way, no matter their kind.
Morgan Hill Police Chief Bruce Cumming has said that even with a strengthened ordinance, there would be the possibility of appeal by the owner before the dog is euthanized. We think that’s good.
Stop the violence being spread by vicious dogs around our city and send a clear message to owners of these canines that their dangerous animals will be killed by the city to protect humans and other animals alike.
