Protect Our Companion Animals!

On November 23rd, while I was on vacation, my two Papillons, Topher and L.B., were being walked on leashes by two young girls in our neighborhood. A Siberian Husky and an English Bulldog got loose from their home and attacked both my dogs.  Topher was killed instantly. L.B. suffered severe internal injuries and was euthanized to minimize his suffering. 

The owners of the dogs pled guilty to violating Coweta Code 10.63 (Animal Confinement) and received a 1st offense fine and are on unsupervised probation for 180 days. The owners do not believe there is a problem with their dogs. They intend to keep them fenced in their backyard and no longer allow their children to walk them.  Coweta Animal Control will not declare them "Dangerous Dogs" because they did not attack/bite a human.

Common sense would beg that there is an issue with the dogs beyond simply being contained.  However, because our current law leaves out protection for domestic animals, Topher and L.B. have died and the owners of the other dogs have suffered little to no consequence.

I am writing to you because I would like to see the laws changed so as to protect our domestic animals.  I am providing definitions from the current law so that you may compare it to other statutes that recognize the need to protect our companion animals from irresponsible animal owners.  Depending on how a law/code defines viscious dog or dangerous dog determines the action an animal control officer can take to ensure safety of the neighborhoods they oversee.

Current GA State Law: 
(6) "Vicious dog" means any dog that:
      (A) Inflicts a severe injury on a human being without provocation after the owner has notice that the dog has previously bitten or attacked or endangered the safety of a human being; or
      (B) Is owned, possessed, kept, harbored, trained, or maintained for the purpose of fighting.

(1) "Dangerous dog" means any dog that, according to the records of an appropriate authority:
      (A) Inflicts a severe injury on a human being without provocation on public or private property at any time after March 31, 1989; or
      (B) Aggressively bites, attacks, or endangers the safety of humans without provocation after the dog has been classified as a potentially dangerous dog and after the owner has been notified of such classification.

Current Coweta County Code:
Vicious animal:  Any animal that: 
(1)  Bites or attempts to bite indiscriminately;
(2)  Has been involved in more than one biting incident; or
(3)  Is, in the opinion of an agent of the animal control authority, a potential danger to persons or property.

Dangerous dog  means any dog that, according to the records of an appropriate authority: 
(1)   Inflicts a severe injury on a human being without provocation on public or private property at any time after March 31, 1989; or(2)   Aggressively bites, attacks, or endangers the safety of humans without provocation after the dog has been classified as a potentially dangerous dog and after the owner has been notified of such classification.

COMPARE TO...

Current Fayette County Code:
Vicious animal  means any animal which constitutes a physical threat to human beings or other domesticated animals by virtue of one (1) or more attacks of such severity as to cause property damage or physical injury. An animal shall also be considered vicious and not under restraint if it makes an unprovoked attack on other domesticated animals that are under restraint or on human beings or on physical property of another.

Montgomery, AL, County Code:
Sec. 4-121. Defined. The term "vicious animal" is defined as an animal that attacks, bites or inflicts severe injury to human beings, pets, companion animals, or livestock. The owner of any animal accused of being vicious is entitled to introduce evidence that the animal was provoked or that the animal's actions at the time of the alleged attack, bite or injury were justified. In regards to dogs specifically, no dog may be declared vicious based solely on the breed of such animal.(Ord. No. 29-2001, � II(5-16), 6-21-2001)

South Carolina Code of Laws:
(7) "Vicious dog" means any dog evidencing an abnormal inclination to attack persons or animals without provocation.


We live in a culture that highly values our four-legged friends. They are no longer mere pets, but more than often considered family.  Don't they deserve better protection?