By Betsy Finklea
An 83-year-old woman was bitten on her right ankle by a dog while she was sweeping a parking lot in Dillon on Tuesday, according to a report by the Dillon City Police Department.
The woman was approached by four dogs when one bit her. The dogs are usually in a pen in a lot beside the business. The business is located in the city, but the lot is located in the county. The woman received medical treatment and was released. DHEC was notified.
The dog bite came one day after the Dillon City Council discussed animal control at their meeting on Monday.
In the mayor’s report, Mayor Todd Davis said the council has talked about the leash law, and he commends the people who abide by it. Davis said his own father had been recently bitten by a dog and went further to tell of his own recent experience with a dog.
Davis said they have got to use common sense, but they have been “lax” in enforcing the ordinance and had been “trying to give the owners some leeway.”
Davis said he felt that the dog situation had “gotten better” with the pit bulls, etc. He said to protect the city he felt they should look at the animal control officer giving a warning if a complaint is made on a dog. He said the new dog pound is now open.
In the city manager’s report, City Manager Glen Wagner said the city had been “lackidaisical” in the enforcement of animals. He said if they are not sure who the owners are they have been trying to catch the dogs, and if they know who the owner is, they have been calling the owners and bringing the dog back.
Wagner said he has been told that it is the same dogs that they are having to do this with.
Wagner said they are now going to pick up the dogs, take them to the animal shelter, contact the owner if they know who the owner is, and tell the owner that the dog is at the animal shelter.
If a dog is impounded, a fee structure will be in place to get the dog back. The county at this time has no fee structure established, but the city does. He said he has been talking to the county about adopting an identical fee structure.
Wagner said he would recommend that the county keep the fee to be used to run the shelter, but he feels the fee needs to be identical. Fees could then be paid at the animal shelter to make it as convenient as possible.
Wagner said the way they have it set up now to contact the animal control officer a citizen has to call 9-1-1. he said they were looking at another way for the public to contact the animal control officer.
Councilman John Braddy said he feels they are moving in the right direction. He said he thought they needed something concrete in place to determine how long a dog will be maintained to give the owner an opportunity to pick it up. Braddy said they need to enforce the laws on the books. He said he had been contacted by people who didn’t know who to contact and had made multiple efforts to get something done.
Wagner noted that they are now implementing the tranquilizer gun on dogs that they can’t catch or dangerous dogs.