After two dogs were killed by other dogs in Kyle last year, the city council passed an updated version of its dangerous animal ordinance during Tuesday’s regular meeting.
An animal is defined as dangerous if it’s bitten a human without provocations on public or private property; if it’s killed or severely injured a domestic animal without provocation while off the owner’s property; it it’s trained or harbored for fighting; if it is a warm-blooded mammal, which is known to carry or be susceptible to the rabies virus and which cannot be effectively vaccinated against that virus with any vaccine; if it’s a hybrid animal or any pet wildlife which has attack a human or is apprehended or observed unrestrained; or if it’s a venomous or carnivorous fish or reptile.
“We saw this as an opportunity that we needed to make some improvements in our dangerous animal ordinance,” city councilmember Dex Ellison said. “All too often we see at every level of our government where things happen and then it’s talked about a law should be changed or things should be changed and then nothing happens. So this, I’m proud to be apart of this along with all the others that were involved that something did happen and we’re trying to change the law to make it better.”
If an animal is deemed dangerous following a municipal court hearing, the court will order that the owner either removes the animal from the city limits, proceeds with humane euthanasia or the owner will be required to register the animal and comply with all requirements for keeping the animal.
Owners of a dangerous animal will have to provide proof of liability insurance or financial responsibility in the amount of at least $250,000. The owner will need to provide a proper enclosure, which will be inspected by an animal control officer. Owners must all place three signs notifying that a dangerous animal is present. Dangerous animals must also be muzzled when taken outside its approved enclosure.
“The major portion of this (ordinance) was completely reworded,” Animal Control Officer Briana Brecher said. “The entire ordinance, we reordered it, made it make more sense, made the dangerous dog portion way stronger. We have more follow-up abilities. Every case is going to court unless the animal is surrendered to the (animal) shelter.”
Shonte Gordon, whose dog was killed during one of the dog attacks in 2019, thanked the council for updating the ordinance to help prevent other incidents from occurring.
“I feel that our concerns and issues were heard,” Gordon said. “To the city council, thank you for voting to approve these changes. It’s been a long road to where we are now but I’m glad we are moving toward a change and the behaviors of our community in regards to the ordinance.”
