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Millions of
Americans share their homes with pets. The vast majority of interactions
between people and pets are happy and benign. But for millions of
Americans, the interactions are less positive; every year, an estimated
4.7 million people are bitten by dogs, ranging from minor nips to
major attacks. Regardless of size or breed, all pets can bite.
The good news
is that most bites are preventable when people behave safely around
pets and pet owners act responsibly. Responsible pet ownership is
key to reducing the likelihood of a bite and can enhance the owner/pet
relationship.
The Hillsborough County Board of County
Commissioners at a Public Hearing on June 4th 2003, voted to
enact revisions to the county's
Animal Ordinance that would provide increased protection to
citizens from dangerous and aggressive animals and help prevent
animal bites and attacks on humans and other animals.
The bite prevention
recommendations fall into three categories:
Public
Bite Prevention Education
The key to reducing dog and cat bites within our community is education. The topics related to reducing dog and cat bites fall into a category of public education meant for all family members on proper and responsible pet care. Educational speakers from Animal Services are available upon request to speak on this and many other animal related issues.
Animal Services has teamed up with SERVE of Hillsborough County
to provide speakers on Dog Bite Prevention for Elementary students.
Teachers if you would like to schedule a Dog Bite Prevention speaker
for your classroom download a Request Form Here
Companion
Animals That Have Bitten Once (Effective Jan. 1, 2004)
These requirements apply only to animals that have bitten, chased or threatened people, companion animals, or livestock without provocation. An unprovoked incident shall be one where the victim, who has been conducting himself or herself peacefully and lawfully, has been bitten, chased in a menacing fashion, or attacked by a companion animal. Not every animal that has bitten, chased or threatened once would be placed here - if an attack is of sufficient magnitude some will be placed under investigation as a 'Dangerous Dog'.
Fines for an initial unprovoked vicious incident will increase to $450. The fine will be reduced to $25 if the owner provides proof of each of the following prior to the citation's hearing date:
- Obedience training, with a graduation certificate
- Current health examination from a veterinarian
- Proof of spay/neuter, either prior to or after the incident
- Microchip registered to the owner at their current address
- Receive responsible ownership training at Animal Services
A misdemeanor
criminal complaint can be filed if the owner of the dog had prior
knowledge of the dog's dangerous propensities, yet demonstrated
a reckless disregard for such propensities under the circumstances.
New
Restrictions Upon Owners of Dangerous Dogs (Effective Jan. 1, 2004)
Mandatory
Educational Issues
- Obedience
training by approved instructors
- Receive
responsible ownership training at Animal Services.
Mandatory
Health Issues
- Annual
health examination
- Mandatory
microchipping, with chip registered to current owner and address.
Mandatory
Housing And Control Issues
- A minimum
of two inspections of the animal and its living area by Animal
Services' investigators each year are to be made to ensure continuing
compliance.
- Standardized
warning signs to be posted at specified intervals along the
fencing in addition to all entrances to the property. Signs
will include pictures to deter children and will be obtained
from the department.
- When outside
its proper enclosure, in addition to being muzzled, restrained
by a substantial chain or leash, and under control of a competent
person, the use of a physical control device such as a passive
head restraint collar or harness is required.
Additional
Public Information
- The department
may provide notification to appropriate neighbors and the public
advising them of the presence of a declared dangerous dog in
their neighborhood.
- A website
similar to and eventually linked to the State's sexual predator
database is to be developed, enabling people to look up local
Dangerous Dogs online, complete with a 'mug shot' of the dog.
Additional
Fees And Penalties
- Dangerous
dog registration fees are being increased to $500.
- Non-compliant,
declared dangerous dogs may be confiscated for euthanasia for
the failure of the owner to comply or any major violations of
the regulatory mandates such as improper enclosure, etc.
- Second
incidents of unprovoked attacking, threatening, or biting shall
be considered a criminally punishable offense.
Additional
Measures (Effective October 1, 2003)
Several changes
to the Board of County Commissioner's Policy regarding Animal
Services fees became effective on October 1, 2003. In particular,
due to the more aggressive nature of intact (unsterilized) pets
and their contribution to the overpopulation problem, the intact
dog and cat registration tag fee was increased by $10. This fee
increase is intended to promote the sterilization of pets, and
consequently helping to reduce pet overpopulation, to decrease
the number of aggressive pets, and the tendency of intact pets
to stray.
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