Jasper County to propose ordinance with more penalties for dog-on-dog attacks

Jasper County may be changing its animal control ordinance to impose stricter penalties against rural residents whose dogs seriously injure or kill other dogs.

Kevin Luetters, director of community development, explained at a Tuesday work session that under the new ordinance a resident could be liable for two violations if a dog attacks another resident’s dog. In addition to the dog at-large fine, the county would also issue a fine for serious injuries or deaths to other dogs.

However, county officials made it clear they will not euthanize a dog for attacking another dog. The only instance the county will intervene and order a dog be put down is if it is declared vicious after seriously harming a person. County ordinances prohibit people from owning or harboring vicious/dangerous animals.

Supervisor Brandon Talsma told Newton News the ordinance changes were a response to a citizen’s personal experience after a neighbor’s loose dog entered their property and killed their small dog. Feedback from the citizen suggested the county’s current ordinance was lacking any repercussions for serious attacks.

“Under state code, counties are limited to what we can impose for an ordinance penalty,” he said. “We can’t say, ‘Oh it’s going to be a $2,000 penalty.’ We’re statutorily obligated to not go over a certain threshold, and it’s pretty low for a first offense … $750 would be the max. And a judge determines what it’s going to be.”

According to the county’s animal control ordinance, if a county official reasonably suspects a dog of being vicious, then the county can conduct an investigation and then convene a hearing. The hearings are overseen by an employee from the sheriff’s office, a licensed veterinarian and a county resident.

Supervisors had discussed changes to the animal control ordinance at past work sessions. While developing the proposed amendment to the animal control ordinance, supervisors agonized over maintaining an ordinance that separated itself from city codes that have more restrictive animal control.

Talsma said different rules apply to county residents than city residents.

For example, noise nuisances have a more detrimental effect on densely populated areas as opposed to the more rural areas of the county. Still, the county has its fair share of housing subdivisions which can blur the lines. Talsma said the county cannot impose different rules for different areas.

“We as a county enforcing ordinances on the unincorporated territory cannot always adopt and mirror what city ordinances are,” Talsma said. “The city obviously doesn’t have livestock. The city doesn’t have people with 10- to 20-acre yards. The city doesn’t have hunting in areas where dogs may interact.”