Ontario law nips at mean dogs
By Andy Gates - Argus Observer
Thursday, March 22, 2007 1:03 PM PDT
ONTARIO - A vicious dog mandate clinched its teeth Monday night into the ordinance repository at Ontario City Hall, and the new law could carry a strong bite in 27 days when it takes hold of the town.
The city’s latest law to regulate dangerous dogs through owners follows a month-long ride of contentious debate, revisions that incorporated community input and decisive unanimous approval from Ontario’s elected leaders.
The Ontario City Council passed the statute Monday night during its regular meeting, and the mandate should be effective in mid-April, Ontario City Recorder Tori Barnett said.
The new vicious dog ordinance supplants a previous version that was quickly rejected after it was proposed Feb. 5. The initial vicious dog ordinance was reworked with input incorporated from community members who met with Ontario Police Chief Mike Kee.
The previously proposed dog law was revamped so that canines were not deemed vicious solely because of their breed — which proved to be the hottest point in Kee’s first version of the canine mandate.
Under the new ordinance, vicious dogs can be reported by citizens or police, even before a dog attack, and then Kee or his designee will determine if the dog deserves a “vicious” designation.
Vicious dogs are defined in the new ordinance as animals that have bitten or attacked people or have attempted to do so; hounds owned to fight; or aggressive canines kept on property known for drug trafficking or gang activity.
The definition also stipulates that dogs can be deemed vicious if they display a propensity to attack through threatening mannerisms, even if they are confined by a leash or fence.
For dogs deemed dangerous or vicious, owners face penalties including license fees and surcharges. Dogs deemed harmful will be required to undergo spaying or neutering, obedience training and have a microchip implanted, according to the ordinance.
Owners of vicious dogs can be ticketed for a Class A Violation, if their “vicious” dog runs at large or bites a person or animal.
Homes harboring “vicious” dogs will be required to post warning signs, leash and muzzle the pet in public and confine the canine to secure, locked pens while in yards, according to the ordinance.
There are exceptions to the proposed ordinance such as: tormented dogs, dogs that attack trespassing animals and people, dogs working for law enforcement or the military or dogs protecting their owners from attack on their own property.
The canine ordinance defines a vicious dog by its behavior and gives owners the ability to appeal designations.
That allows for an element of due process, where owners can potentially go before a hearings officer and appeal allegations issued against their pets.
This aspect of the ordinance, though, means a possible expenditure to the city’s budget — a hearings officer appointed by the city, could cost around $1,500 annually, Kee said.
In other city council news:
— A public hearing scheduled Monday in Ontario City Hall to establish fees and charges for the city’s parks system development was tabled and should resume May 21 at 7:30 pm, Ontario City Recorder Tori Barnett said.
The city is currently being sued by two area developers concerning a recently passed ordinance and resolution for System Development Charges, or SDCs.
— A 24-month loan for $1,136,000 was awarded from the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department to the city of Ontario to complete improvements to the Murakami sewage lift station, according to the March 19 City Council Agenda Report.
There are no anticipated rate increases from the project, according to the agenda report.
— The Ontario City Council voted to use $84,075 of general fund money to purchase a used ladder truck for Ontario Fire & Rescue.
The city received a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to purchase self-contained breathing apparatuses, so money for the truck came from previously budgeted funds for equipment, according to the March 19 agenda report.
