Dog complaints top police caseload
By JENNIFER WILSON
News editor
In the 35 days spanning July and the end of June, the Hillsboro Police Department investigated one subject more than any other.
Police officers investigated this item more than car accidents, more than thefts, more than vandalism — more than any other item listed on the HPD's monthly report to the City Council.
What was this item that seems to be an epidemic in Hillsboro?
Dog complaint.
Between June 27, 2002, and July 31, the police depart investigated 18 dog complaint cases. That's one every other day.
The complaints came from locations all over town, from South Washington to East A to West Grand.
And no wonder — it's one of the most frequent calls made to the police department, according to Police Chief Dan Kinning.
"Dogs are one of our more prevalent calls," Kinning said.
The broad topic of "dog complaints" covers four main areas: dog at large, barking dogs, nuisance dogs, and neglected dogs.
Dogs at large are those dogs running loose in the city. That's the most common dog complaint, Kinning said. According to city code, a dog can't leave its owner's property without being on a leash.
If a loose dog is found with tags, it's usually returned to the owner, along with a warning or citation. If the dog isn't wearing tags, it's held (or "impounded") at the veterinary office of Dr. Norman Galle, on U.S. Highway 56.
In that case, the dog's owner must pay a fee to reclaim the dog. The owner must also pay for a city license, which is $2 per year, and ensure that the dog has its rabies vaccinations.
When the police are called out on a complaint of a barking dog, that situation is a little less clear-cut.
"That's a real hard one to enforce," Kinning said.
A barking dog has to be a routine, continuous problem for the police department to issue a citation to the owner for disturbing the peace. But in that case, the person making the complaint needs to realize that he'll be called on to make a written statement as well as testify in court, Kinning said.
In the case of a nuisance dog, where a dog may be damaging someone's property, that's usually settled in civil court, Kinning said. For example, a person might sue his neighbor for damages after that neighbor's dog destroyed his fence.
Finally, the city also enforces state laws against vicious dogs.
According to city code, a vicious dog is defined as "any dog that has, without provocation bitten any person or which habitually snarls or exhibits a propensity to attack a person."
A dog that meets these requirements must be kept inside a fence or contained area at all times. If it's out in the open, such as tied to a stake or pole, the dog has to wear a muzzle.
The City of Hillsboro also has extensive regulations for pit bulls.
Although being annoyed at a barking dog may not constitute a violation of the law, Hillsboro residents should feel free to call the police department with any questions or concerns, Kinning said.
The city has no regulations on cat ownership.
