Columbus, Georgia

MINUTES OF THE MEETING

OF

THE ANIMAL CONTROL ADVISORY BOARD



The ANIMAL CONTROL ADVISORY BOARD met TUESDAY, June 14, 2005, at 2:00 P.M. in

the Public Services Building.



MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:



Drale Short Dr. Philip Brewer Rufus Riggs

Cynthia Maisano Dr. Nonie Eakle Charles Clark

Kathy MCCarley Penny Leigh Short Dr. John Bloszies

Kimberly Gerlach Tom Bryan



ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS PRESENT



Jeffrey Gibson, Supervisor

Ed Pascucci, Animal Officer







CALL TO ORDER



Drale Short, Acting Chairman, called the meeting to order at 2:00 P.M.



Drale Short stated the board needed to wait until a later date to vote for a

chairman due to absentees; the board agreed.



Drale Short introduced the new members and had the board members to introduce

themselves.



Ms. Short called for the 1st hearing; ? Anthony Foster



Ms. Short informed the board that this was the 3rd bite for this dog.



The board discussed with the Animal Control Supervisor and the Animal Control

Officer the biting incidents.



Officer Pascucci informed the board of the severity of the bite.



Drale Short asked for the victim.



The victim, Brandon Malcolm, and mother, Kelly Malcolm explained the incident

of his bite to the board. He stated that the son of the owner had to throw a

basketball at the dog to get it off of him. He then showed the board where the

dog had bitten him, left thigh.



Ms. Malcolm stated that she didn?t press charges because she felt she was part

to blame since she did not make sure the mother was at home when she let her

son go over to play. She also stated that she didn?t think the Fosters could

afford it.







The board asked if the Fosters had contacted her on the medical bills. Ms.

Malcolm answered that they had not contacted her on the medical bills or shown

any concern on the condition of her son since the bite.



Drale Short excused Ms. Malcolm and her son.



Drale Short called for the Fosters.



Drale Short asked Mr. Foster to explain to the board what he knew about the

biting incident involving his dog.



Mr. Foster stated he arrived after the bite had happened, but was told the

child wanted to pet the dog and that the dog was on a chain when he bit.

He also stated that the victim of the 3rd bite said it was a Dobe that bit her

and that his dog was a Rott.



Officer Gibson informed the board that the 3rd victim, Ms. Gates, identified

the dog at the Animal Control Center.



Ms. Short asked Mr. Foster why he had not responded to the first letter dated

April 11, 2005 classifying his dog ?Potentially Dangerous?. He stated he never

received the letter and that the signature card that was returned by the Post

Office was forged and was not his signature.



Mr. Foster told the board that his dog was aggressively trained to bite on

command.



Drale Short asked Mr. Foster about the other biting incidents with his dog. Mr.

Foster stated there were only two biting incidents. Drale asked him about one

that occurred in November 2004 with another child and at that time Mr. Foster

remembered.



The Board continued to discuss with Mr. Foster the 3 biting incidents.



Drale Short asked the Foster?s to step out for the board to discuss the

incidents and make a decision.



The board discussed the incidents; Tom Bryan moved that the dog be classified

?Dangerous?; the vote was unanimous.



Drale Short informed the Fosters of the board decision and stated that she

would be sending them a letter of instructions.



Drale Short called for the 2nd hearing; ? Ms. Laura Beck



The board discussed the incident with the Animal Control Supervisor.



Officer Gibson informed the board that this is a drug area and that the dog had

been trained to attack.



Drale Short informed the board that this is the 2nd biting incident for this

dog.



Drale Short discussed with the board the report from the Animal Control Center

Supervisor on the behavior of the dog at the Animal Control Center.



Drale Short called for Ms. Beck.



Drale Short asked Ms. Beck to tell the board what she knew about the biting

incidents.



Ms. Beck stated that she had only owned the dog for 1? weeks and the dog never

comes out of the house unless it is on a chain.



Ms. Beck?s son stated the dog had went half way inside the door of a lady?s

trailer and that the victim, Mr. Sweatman, offered to help get him out. The

son also stated that Mr. Sweatmon had a 2X4 board in his hand to hit the dog

with. The dog bit Mr. Sweatman on his upper torso according to this witness,

but the bite report and Ms. Beck stated it was on the leg.



Ms. Beck informed the board that the dog was not trained to bite, she had him

for breeding purposes, but he would bite on command.



Drale Short discussed proper confinement with Ms. Beck. Ms. Beck told her she

could not afford it. She stated that she would keep the dog in the house

because she needed it for protection.



Drale Short asked Ms. Beck to step outside while the board discussed the

incident and make a decision.



The board discussed what could possibly happen since Ms. Beck did not have

proper confinement.



Tom Bryan moved to classify the dog ?Potentially Dangerous?; Kathy McCarley

2nd; the vote was unanimous.



Drale Short informed Ms. Beck of the board?s decision and that she would send

her a letter of instructions.



Drale Short informed the Board that Jimmy Huff had petitioned the board to lift

the classification of ?Potentially Dangerous? on his dog due to age and

declining health.



Drale Short called for Mr. Huff.



Mr. Huff provided a statement from a Vet, Dr. Ben Satterwhite, Weems Road

Animal Hospital, stating that the dog was 12 years old and with arthritic

problems in his hips. He stated his dog always stayed in the house and the

only time he goes out is with him.



A current picture of the dog was provided to the board.



Dr. Nonie Eakle said that the statement from the vet did not provide enough

information on the dog?s health.



Drale Short informed Mr. Huff that the dog was several years behind on his

rabies shots.



Drale Short asked Mr. Huff to step outside while the board discussed it and

make a decision.



The board discussed Mr. Huff?s petition and the liability of lifting the

classification.



Dr. Nonie Eakle stated that Mr. Huff?s needs to get a complete medical analysis

on the dog?s health and abilities and then petition the board to lift the

classification; Dr. Eakle made the motion; the vote was unanimous.



Drale Short informed Mr. Huff of the board?s decision and stated she would send

him a letter of instructions.



Drale Short adjourned the meeting at 4:40 P.M.







June 17, 2005

Drale Short, Acting Chairman

Sylvia Bennett, Recording Secretary

C: Clerk of Council

ACAB Member