Ellicott tightens dog control law
FALCONER — Town of Ellicott lawmakers have approved a new dog control ordinance to hold owners more responsible for chronically loose and nuisance dogs.
The Town Board adopted the measure Monday night after a few months of consideration, and modifications to the original proposal.
Supervisor Cecil Miller said they made a couple of minor revisions after a public hearing in June. Miller said one addresses the controversial matter of dogs barking inside of houses.
“We just describe noise as an annoyance for somebody off the property,” he said. “It doesn’t specify that’s also in the house. We also made a couple of changes on when the dog control officer or police officer can seize the dog.”
Miller said changes to the seizure policy are for the protection of the dog and the public. The dog can also be seized if the owner is brought up on multiple offenses.
Some felt the proposal was too strict on the noise issue, but Miller felt the final version clarifies that.
“Obviously, dogs bark. We all know that,” he said. “It’s certainly not the intent to keep dogs from barking. It’s just those very few cases where dogs are not attended to. There are some owners, quite honestly, shouldn’t have dogs, and really these are the people this ordinance is going to deal with.”
Miller said the board decided to go with a dog control ordinance as opposed to a more controversial leash law. He added that the new ordinance takes effect once it is recorded on file with the state.
