Dog laws strengthened in Virginia county
{{date|May 12, 2005}}

Amid publicity that arose from deaths and injuries due to dog attacks in the region, the [[w:Spotsylvania County|Spotsylvania County]] Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to impose tougher penalties on dog owners who let their dogs run free.  After a public hearing Tuesday evening, the board voted for a new animal control ordinance.  Now dog owners who are repeat offenders face a misdemeanor crime of $2,500 or up to a year in jail.

Dogs that repeatedly chase cars and run free, or otherwise trespass on property, could be euthanized if so ordered by a judge. A dog that is "roaming, running or self-hunting off the property or premises of its owner or custodian and not under the immediate control of the owner or custodian or his agent," meets the county's legal definition of a dog running at large. 

The mauling death of an elderly woman by 3 [[w:Pit Bulls|Pit Bulls]] in her front yard sparked a public debate on animal control.  At the hearing, State Senator Edward Houke said he would raise dog law issues in the January meeting of the [[w:Virginia|Virginia]] General Assembly.  According to ''The Free Lance Star'', Houke said, "It's pretty obvious to me that the state law needs to be changed, but saying that and it happening, is two completely different phenomena.  If there's one thing you learn quickly it's that you don't bring dog bills to the Virginia General Assembly."

The Sullivan daughters, who lost their mother in the mauling attack, circulated petitions in the county and also attended the hearing. Board chairman Robert Hagan noted the Sullivan family presence and thanked them for their efforts to prevent more tragedies.

{{Haveyoursay}}
==Related news==
*{{Wikinews|title=Fatal dog mauling owner pleads “Not Guilty”
|date=April 21, 2005}}
*{{Wikinews|title= Child killed by family dog
|date=April 12, 2005}}
 
==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2005/052005/05112005/1762520
|title=Spotsylvania tightens dog law
|author=George Whitehurst
|pub=The Free Lance Star
|date=May  11, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.nbc12.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WWBT%2FMGArticle%2FWBT_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031782649165 
|title=Spotsylvania toughens dog laws
|author=
|pub=NBC12 Online
|date=May 11, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=748623 
|title=Va. County Responds to Pit-Bull Death
|author=[[Associated Press|AP]]
|pub=ABC News (US)
|date=May  11, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp?S=3328597 
|title=Spotsylvania County puts teeth in dog laws
|author=Greg Neft
|pub=Wavy.Com
|date=May 11, 2005}}

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[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Virginia]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Dogs]]
Amid publicity that arose from deaths and injuries due to dog attacks in the region, the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to impose tougher penalties on dog owners who let their dogs run free.  After a public hearing Tuesday evening, the board voted for a new animal control ordinance.  Now dog owners who are repeat offenders face a misdemeanor crime of $2,500 or up to a year in jail.

Dogs that repeatedly chase cars and run free, or otherwise trespass on property, could be euthanized if so ordered by a judge. A dog that is "roaming, running or self-hunting off the property or premises of its owner or custodian and not under the immediate control of the owner or custodian or his agent," meets the county's legal definition of a dog running at large. 

The mauling death of an elderly woman by 3 Pit Bulls in her front yard sparked a public debate on animal control.  At the hearing, State Senator Edward Houke said he would raise dog law issues in the January meeting of the Virginia General Assembly.  According to The Free Lance Star, Houke said, "It's pretty obvious to me that the state law needs to be changed, but saying that and it happening, is two completely different phenomena.  If there's one thing you learn quickly it's that you don't bring dog bills to the Virginia General Assembly."

The Sullivan daughters, who lost their mother in the mauling attack, circulated petitions in the county and also attended the hearing. Board chairman Robert Hagan noted the Sullivan family presence and thanked them for their efforts to prevent more tragedies.
North America United States Virginia Crime and law Dogs