Columbus, Georgia

MINUTES OF THE MEETING

OF

THE ANIMAL CONTROL ADVISORY BOARD



The ANIMAL CONTROL ADVISORY BOARD met TUESDAY, AUGUST 31,2004, at 2:00 P.M. in

the Public Services Building.



MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:



Charles Clark Drale Short Jimmi Graham

Dr. Nonie Eakle Dr. John Bloszies

Kathy McCarley Maxine Lee

Kimberly Grot Tom Bryan

Rufus Riggs









CALL TO ORDER



Charles Clark, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 2:00 P.M.



Charles Clark called for the first Classified Dog Hearing - Kim Fuller, owner.



Ms. Morrison, Mother of the victim, informed the board that her son was in Ms.

Fuller's yard sitting on his bicycle by a trampoline when the dog came off the

porch and bit him on the arm and leg. She also stated that the dog is out

sometimes without a leash.



The board asked if Brandon Morrison, (10 yr. old victim), received medical

treatment.



Ms. Morrison stated that her son received medical treatment at the St. Francis

Emergency.



Rufus Riggs asked Brandon Morrison, how he felt at the time of the incident and

is he afraid of the dog.



Brandon Morrison, stated that he was scared.



Mr. Clark dismissed Ms. Morrison and Brandon.



Mr. Clark called for Ms. Fuller, owner of the dog.



Mr. Clark asked Ms. Fuller to tell the board about the incident.



Ms. Fuller stated that the front door was open and the dog was lying inside the

door.



Ms. Fuller informed the board that the victim was kicking at a puppy when her

dog left the house and came out and bit him.



The board asked Ms. Fuller about another biting incident to a child from the

same dog.



Ms. Fuller stated that a female dog down the street was in season and that is

why her dog got out and the bite occurred.



Mr. Fuller told the board that she didn't want any harm to come to anyone, but

she feels that her dog is not dangerous. She stated that he is very gentle.



Officer Lane stated that the dog was not violent when he picked him up and how

he jumped into the animal control truck when he told him to.



Officer Lane also informed the board that Ms. Fuller's house is a gathering

place for the children of the neighborhood and the dog would bite.



Mr. Clark asked Ms. Fuller to step outside while the board discussed the

incident and make a decision.



The board discussed if possibly neutering the animal would stop him from being

aggressive.



Dr. Bloszies stated that neutering the animal would calm it down but would not

stop him from being aggressive.



Rufus Riggs moved that the dog be classified as ?Potentially Dangerous? and

also recommend neutering the dog; Dr. Bloszies 2nd the motion. The vote was

six (6) to classify and two (2) opposed (Eakle & Lee).



Mr. Clark informed Ms. Fuller that the board uphelded the classification as

?Potentially Dangerous? and recommend the dog be neutered.



Mr. Clark called for the second Classified Dog Hearing - Anita Foster, owner.



Officer Lane informed the board that the dog was very territorial and

dominating.



Mr. Clark asked Ms. Foster to tell the board about the incident.



Ms. Foster stated that they heard a child hollering and saw another child come

inside the fence. When they checked on what was going on they opened the door

and the dog went out.



Mr. & Ms. Foster both stated they didn't think the dog bit the child but

scratched him with his claw.



The Fosters informed the board that the dog stays inside the fence and will not

leave the yard. The dog has never made an attempt to get out of the yard.



Dr. Bloszie asked Mr. Foster what would he do to be sure that the dog will

never bite again.



Mr. Foster stated that he has put a lock on the gate and put up warning signs.



Ms. Foster also stated that everyone talks to the dog and he never tries to

bite anyone. They feel that the dog did not bite this time but just scratched

the child.



Mr. Clark asked the Fosters to step outside while the board discussed the

incident and make a decision.



The board discussed the incident and Rufus Riggs moved that the board not

classify the dog as ?Potentially Dangerous?; Nonie Eakle seconded; the vote was

seven (7) not to classify and one (1) opposed (McCarley).



Mr. Clark informed the Fosters of the board's decision.



Mr. Clark called for the third Classified Dog Hearing - Michelle Morrison,

owner.



Mr. Clark asked Ms. Morrison to tell the board about the incident.



Ms. Morrison informed the board that her dog ran off when firecrackers went off

on the 4th of July. Her and Her husband chased it but could not catch it. She

told the board that a family found her dog and was going to try and find the

owner. She was going to all of the neighbors asking if they had seen her dog.

One neighbor told her about the family that had her dog and she went over to

their house. The family told her that the dog had bitten them and they had

turned it over to Animal Control. Ms. Morrison went to the Animal Control

Center and picked up her dog.



Ms. Morrison stated that her dog had never bitten before and that it was scared

by the firecrackers and was scared in a house of strangers.



Mr. Clark asked Ms. Morrison to step outside while the board discussed the

incident and make a decision.



The board discussed the incident and voted unanimous not to classify the dog.



Mr. Clark informed Ms. Morrison of the board's decision.



Mr. Clark adjourned the meeting at 4:40 p.m.





September 2, 2004

Charles Clark, Chairman

Sylvia Bennett, Recording Secretary

17 - Copies - Clerk of Council

C: ACAB Member