Gaston ‘dangerous dog’ rules could get more teeth

Feb. 24-- Feb. 24--Owners of animals that attack people or pets could soon face stiffer penalties in Gaston County, including a requirement to have liability insurance.

County commissioners are set to vote Tuesday on strengthening Gaston's dangerous dog ordinance.

Gastonia Township Commissioner Tom Keigher is sponsoring the resolution and said he thinks a stronger ordinance makes sense as the county becomes more populated.

"We're becoming more and more a residential community," Keigher said. "There are more and more homes, and so many people want a dog today. It's basically all about safety."

County staff is recommending that owners of animals determined to be dangerous will have to buy and maintain liability insurance of at least $100,000. The insurance would be "for the benefit of any person who suffers damages, injury or death caused by the animal," according to a draft of the proposed ordinance changes.

Currently, owners of dogs deemed dangerous have to comply with a few restrictions, including making sure the animal stays securely fenced, microchipping the dog, posting a "beware of dog" sign, spaying and/or neutering the animal, and muzzling the dog when it's off the property.

If Animal Care and Enforcement feels it's necessary for public safety, the dog can be impounded until the owner meets all requirements.

A proposed change to the ordinance will require the owner to comply within 30 days or face repercussions, including the dog being impounded -- at the owner's' expense.

"If the owner fails to pay for the impoundment fees or complete the ordered preventative measures within the allotted time, the animal may be impounded and disposed of by Gaston County to include options of adoption, rescue, euthanasia, or any other measure deemed appropriate by the county," reads a recommended change to the ordinance.

Animal Care and Enforcement deems dogs dangerous, and owners can appeal those designations to an advisory board made up of county residents. Police can impound a dangerous dog and get a court order for euthanization as "a last resort."

Several residents of Gastonia's Gardner Park neighborhood appealed to commissioners in October to bolster the ordinance after a small dog named Buster was killed by two larger dogs that had previously been reported to Animal Care and Enforcement. One of the dogs had also been blamed for an attack in July that left another dog and a person wounded.

"We're a really friendly neighborhood," resident Lisa Craig told commissioners in October. "We all know each others' dogs. We all know each other. This is horrifying. Everyone is scared to go out. They're buying bear spray, dog spray, carrying guns, baseball bats. No one wants to go out and enjoy the neighborhood."

Buster's owner, George Stauch, described the 13-pound terrier mix as a "love bug" who was ripped from his arms by the larger dogs while Stauch was out on his morning walk. Animal Care and Enforcement had been called on the large dogs' owner at least 10 times last year and fined him nearly $2,000, according to Capt. Reid Rollins.

Keigher said Stauch's story "brought it to the county's attention for sure."

"It very well could have been toddlers -- little kids -- out there in the street that couldn't fend for themselves," Keigher said. "... There are so many people that probably shouldn't have animals. They are irresponsible, and these new actions are aimed at basically making owners more responsible for their animals."

You can reach Dashiell Coleman at 704-869-1819 or on Twitter @DashiellColeman

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