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Officers welcome new laws for dog owners

by andrea hahn, the southern

Monday, June 5, 2006 6:47 AM CDT

A new set of laws designed to get at the root cause of dangerous and vicious dogs - dangerous or irresponsible owners - is being welcomed by some Southern Illinois law enforcement agencies despite uncertainties about enforcement.

As of Jan. 1, 2007, Illinois will be the first state in the Union to restrict dog ownership of convicted felons.

Those who have been convicted of certain felonies - mostly those dealing with violence, weapons or drugs - are banned from owning dogs that have not been spayed or neutered. They are also prohibited from owning dogs that have been declared vicious or dangerous.

The banning period is 10 years beginning with the felon's release from custody. In some cases, that period may be covered by parole. In many cases, it will not.

"It sounds like a good law," Union County Sheriff Jim Nash said.

In particular, he hopes it will keep down the number of vicious dogs at residences where drugs are being used or manufactured.

"These meth manufacturers have dogs guarding them - police can't get to the house," he said.

Hamilton County Sheriff Greg Brenner said his deputies run into the same problem even just delivering court subpoenas or search warrants.

"Basically we have to say 'You have to get these dogs out or we'll have to destroy them,'" he said.

Brenner said he anticipates communicating with parole officers to find out if former felons on release are conforming with the new law.

Nash said he anticipates the new law will become an issue as it relates to other illegal or suspicious behavior.

"It will be hard to keep track of (former“felon dog ownership), but if someone messes up, that's where they'll get caught (in violation of the dog law, too)," he said. "As far as tracking them down, it would be hard."

Jackson Count Animal Control Officer Lloyd Nelson refrained from commenting on enforcement of the new laws, other than to say he was pleased that the laws were not breed-specific.

"Any one in this business can tell you that breed-specific legislation doesn't work," he said, noting further that such legislation is prohibited in Illinois.

Nelson said he will attend an animal control conference in Kankakee beginning next week. He expects the new laws - and how to interpret and enforce them - will be a hot topic.

 

andrea.hahn@thesouthern.com

(618) 529-5454 ext. 5076