The August City Council meeting in Greenwood included an update on the dangerous dog provisions of Greenwood’s Animal Control Ordinance. Steve Ratterree who drafted the final version of the ordinance addressed the council about the success and failings of the ordinance as it exists. He was accompanied by Police Chief Keith Jackson and Animal Control Officer Chris Fuller.

The concern is that there have been over a dozen incidents of dangerous/aggressive dogs attacking citizens since the ordinance passed last year. Many dog owners protested the potential banning of certain breeds with the city. That did not happen. “The goal of the ordinance was to make some pet owners more responsible for the behavior and keeping of their otherwise potentially dangerous animals”, said Mayor Kenneth Edwards following the meeting where the Mayor and council were presented with further options. These options include the identifying of dangerous dogs because of their incident history and stiffening penalties for allowing them out. Tougher penalties for violation of leash law provisions have also been suggested. The issue has come to the council’s attention recently due to an attack on July 15 of child in the Creekwood subdivision. Edwards has prepared documents recognizing the youngster who saved the life of this dog attack victim. They were unable to attend the August meeting and will be recognized in September.

Ratterree pointed out to the council that no suggestion is being made that any breed be banned saying, “We don’t have a dog problem in Greenwood. We have a dog owner problem and the Mayor wants this resolved and asked me to research the matter and make a recommendation to council.”

The matter will likely be on the agenda for the September meeting.