Miniature Schnauzer Rescue Of Houston

Letter: Shoot 'em or sue 'em

On Aug. 2, in Greensboro , N.C. , a woman 71 years old was attached by three pitbull types while walking her small dog on a leash outside her home. She and her dog were saved only by the grace of another elderly man who came to her rescue using his cane to beat back the attackers. Attacks like this happen throughout our country. This article concerns only the Houston County area and the lack of regulations or leash laws to contain owners’ dogs from others.

I am not biased against any breed of dog, just their owners when they allow their dogs to endanger others, as well as putting their own dogs at risk.

When a person in the county calls the authorities to report a dog problem, the answers range from, "there is not a leash law in Houston County" to "you can sue them" to "you can shoot them" and "it’s up to you to take care of the problem."

Any one of these avenues usually leads to a confrontational conclusion with authorities called to the scene. There are those who believe if it’s not illegal, then it is ethical and moral. Since we in Houston County do not have a leash law , there are some who believe it is their right to allow their dogs a free reign of the neighborhood with a complete disregard for others.

We have had at least six shooting deaths of nuisance dogs not controlled by their owners in the subdivision where I live. I am a 71-year-old man. I walk my miniature schnauzer LJ -- my friend, my companion, my ex-trucking buddy -- on a leash, twice a day for his health and also for mine. LJ and I have been attacked by uncontrolled dogs during my walks on our common road and even on my own property. I have yet to sue or kill. Just this past week, LJ and I were seriously attacked on our property by a neighbor’s dog for the fifth time. I protected myself with a walking cane during this attack as with the previous ones. Now when I walk with LJ, both on my property and the common road, I am armed.

I have contacted my county commissioner and was informed that the commission is attempting to formulate regulations to correct these uncontrolled dogs and other animals in the county.

I will become an advocate in the hope that this problem will be solved. I know there are more pressing problems throughout out country, but we should be able to concentrate on more than one problem at a time.

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