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• In your opinions, and in order to rectify the above reference problem, does this ordinance need to be rewritten? Or does it need a different type of enforcement? Whatever the case, I am prepared to present my findings before the fiill Commission in an effort to persuade them to take the necessary action to protect our children. Sincerely yours, Shelly Ferger TO: James Chandler, County Administrator FROM: John King, Director J Department of Emerc• y ervices DATE: February 6, 2002 SL-B.TECT: Letter from Ms. Shelly Ferger The purpose of this memorandum is to provide additional information related to the letter received by the Board of Counry Commissioners from Ms Shelly Ferger dated February 4, 2002. Her transmittal incorporates several issues. The first is the unfortunate dog bite on a minor child, which occurred on January 12, 2002. Ms. Ferger called me on the morning of January 30th and identified herself as a canine trainer and a relative of the child who was bit. Her immediate question related to Animal Control's decision not to euthanize the dog I explained to her that the dog was removed from the owner and was in the mandatory 10 -day quarantine. It was the determination of the Animal Control staff that the dog did not meet the regulatory requisites for declaration as a dangerous/vicious dog. For these reasons, the dog was not immediately destroyed. I explained that the dog owner also has certain rights in this matter, and given certain constraints the owner could pay the fines and get his dog back. However, I further explained that the Animal Control Officers believed that they had an informal agreement with the owner that would provide the same end result as she requested On February 4, 2002, without declaring the dog `dangerous/vicious," the dog was euthanized. Ms. Ferger's second issue suggests that Florida Statute 767 (Damage by Dogs) and County Ordinance 302 (Animal Control and Kennel Regulations) do not go far enough to protect those that are attacked or bitten by a dog The authors of the above regulations recognize the number of canines in their jurisdiction and have found that the Animal Control authority needs some discretion in the enforcement of these regulations. These regulations are not breed -specific. Therefore, they must provide some degree of subjectivity in their enforcement. The Animal Control Director stated to me that approximately 200 dog bites are reported each year in this county. Animal bites, in general, are emotional issues among the affected parties, so the law recognizes the need for a balance between the rights of the victims and the dog owners, without destroying every dog. Dogs without a recorded bite history are treated dtffeiently in many cases as compared to the second reported bite. The last issue to be discussed is the availability of Animal Control Officers after noinial business hours. The Animal Control office is funded to provide for officers on patrol during business hours. After hours and on weekends and holidays, an on-call Animal Control Officer will respond to any reported attack or bite and to all injured animals. February 12, 2002 45 3 1 •