Two Montgomery County residents voiced their concerns during a Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday about aggressive dogs roaming free near their homes and the need for enforcing the county’s dog ordinance.
Curt Witt told board members about his concern for the safety of his family and his pet due to aggressive pitbulls roaming the area.
“The pitbulls across the street had become increasingly aggressive. They backed me up my driveway one night when I was trying to roll my garbage can down. I was worried about one of them getting a hold of one of my dogs,” said Witt. “So, I had a baseball bat in the car, just for that reason. I’ve never carried anything like that around.”
He said, while he was working on his car about a month ago, the pitbulls attacked his 14-year-old dog that was lying under his home of about 12 years.
“All of a sudden, I hear those pits. They were obviously attacking something. I figured it was one of my dogs,” said Witt. “In less than 30 seconds, they had torn up my 14-year-old Schnauzer. They had gone under the trailer and gotten him.”
He showed each board member, who was present, Sheriff Jeff Tompkins and Attorney Ryan Taylor a photo of what was left of his dog after the pitbull attack.
Witt said now he’s not only afraid for the safety of his dogs but the safety of his family.
“My grandson stays with me a good bit. It just really frightens me to think about them attacking one of the dogs, and him grabbing the baseball bat,” said Witt.
He admitted having grabbed the bat when the dogs were aggressive with him might have encouraged his grandson to do the same when faced with the aggressive animals – an act that would prove more problematic for the child.
Witt said he and his family have moved from the residence since the attack because he no longer felt safe.
Robert Nicholas told board members about his neighbor’s dogs attacking his dog and threatening the safety of his family. Robert Nicholas told board members about his neighbor’s dogs attacking his dog and threatening the safety of his family.
“In my circumstance, we’ve got a dog that’s been attacked twice. The first time was on Nov. 15 and then again on Dec. 30. I mean they tore him up. I’ve already spent $1,500 at the vet trying to keep him alive,” said Nicholas.
He added the dogs have traveled across the road from their home to the deck on his home and growled at his wife.
“They’re not afraid. They’re not afraid,” said Nicholas. “I know we have the right to protect our property, but when you talk about a pack of dogs, you’ve got to be there when they come on your property.”
Nicholas admitted he wanted the dogs to be removed from the area so his grandchildren will be able to safely play in his yard.
He asked board members to enforce the county’s dog ordinance and detain the dogs.
Taylor told the men of the county’s dog ordinance, which had been approved in 2019 but never enforced.
“Initially, a resident of Montgomery County or the Sheriff’s Department can make a complaint to the judge, and then the judge finds that there is probable cause that the dog or dogs are seized. Then you have to have a hearing within five days,” said Taylor.
He said he had been working on an order to seize the dogs that had been threatening Nicholas’ family and pet.
“I’ve got the order that we need to go forward. For that initial seizure of the dogs,” said Taylor.
A judge will have to sign the order that will be served on the dog owners to have county deputies pick up the dogs, Taylor said.
Justice Court judges will have the final decision on what happens to the dogs, he said.
Supervisors agreed the ordinance should be enforced and their situation should be immediately addressed.
