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9.B.1. PUBLIC DISCUSSION ITEM - REQUEST FROM SHELLY <br />FERGER TO DISCUSS ANIMAL CONTROL SITUATION <br />The Board reviewed a letter of February 4, 2002 and a memorandum of February 6, <br />2002: <br />Shelly Ferger <br />P.O. Box 650023 <br />Vero Beach, FL 32965 <br />(561) 567-8969 <br />February 4, 2002 <br />Fran Adams <br />Caroline Ginn <br />Kenneth Macht <br />,/Ruth Stanbridge <br />John Tippin <br />Indian River County Commissioners <br />1840 25th Street <br />Vero Beach, FL 32960 <br />• <br />Dear Commissioners, <br />RECEIVED <br />FEB - <( 200% <br />BOARD OF COUNTY <br />COMMISSION DISTRIBUTION LII T <br />Commiss oners a eJl AJ c <br />Administratdr'%u `ia_z / <br />Attorney / <br />Personnel <br />Public Works <br />Community Dev <br />lllilities <br />Finance <br />OMB '/ <br />Emerg. Sery i 4r_ kt;1 <br />Risk Mgt. <br />Other a2-2 -1 <br />y2eiluitcyi (CA frO <br />This letter is to apprise each of you of a recent situation, within Indian River County, that I believe has placed our children <br />at considerable risk. <br />A Pitt Bull Dog mauled the face of a 6 -year-old child; forty stitches were required to close the wound <br />It is my understanding is that after a 10 day quarantine period, and upon payment of fees, the dog could be returned to its <br />owner without restriction. Animal Control Authority advised this action because there is not a recorded history of <br />previous bites by this dog. <br />When this determination was made, the victim's Father requested that the Indian River County Attorney review the case. <br />On January 30, 2002, I spoke with John King of Emergency Management and he informed me that the County Attorney <br />had made the decision to retum the dog to its owner without restriction because the child was trespassing. <br />For the past twenty years, I have counseled families with biting dogs. As heart wrenching as it can be, sometimes the <br />family is weeping because of love for their pet. I feel it is my responsibility when dealing with a dog with damaging <br />potential and has bitten at this degree of severity, to recommend euthanasia. You know that I love animals especially <br />dogs. But, statistics prove that when a dog bites with this severity, it will bite again and the attack most likely escalates. <br />Either our ordinance or its interpretation does not protect a 6 -year-old first grader because he does not understand the laws <br />of trespassing or an unsuspecting citizen when a dog with a documented attack of this severity is allowed to return to our <br />neighborhoods, without restrictions. <br />What I consider to be another dangerous policy of the Animal Control Authority involves their officers not responding to <br />calls concerning dogs at large past 5:00 p.m Although they are on-call during this time, they do not respond unless the <br />dog has bitten someone. This policy also has the potential for far-reaching consequences. <br />February 12, 2002 <br />44 <br />B1/ <br />U 90 <br />