The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Dogs are loving companions, watchdogs, hunting buddies and important members of our families. They are also part of the community and can have a significant impact on the relationships between neighbors, city employees and government representatives.

The responsibility we have as dog owners extends not just to our dogs’ welfare but to our community as well. No one loves the sound of barking dogs, no one feels safe walking their street if an unleashed dog shows aggressive, potentially dangerous behavior and no one likes to step in anything a dog leaves on a sidewalk.

The most common complaints about dogs in the community can be avoided with a few rules of etiquette such as using poop bags on walks, keeping dogs in a well-fenced enclosure, leashing dogs in public spaces, preventing excessive barking and being aware of other people’s feelings.

Several years ago, I learned the hard way about how important my responsibility as a dog owner is. My Australian Shepherd, Wrecks, was designated a potentially dangerous dog after a frightening encounter with a toddler.

I had just arrived home when he jumped from my car before I could attach his leash. Instead of running to the front door as he usually would, he spotted a man with a toddler on a bike. He started barking and circling before nipping the boy as his father picked him up. I felt terrible and was relieved that the boy had not been seriously injured though he certainly was scared.

The family filed a sheriff’s report and that required the City of Waitsburg to license Wrecks as a potentially dangerous dog. My immediate reaction was to fight the designation, convinced that my dog is not aggressive by nature and that, somehow, it was not his fault. I was scared that he might be taken away or destroyed. I was upset that the family filed a report and that the city was making me designate my dog as potentially dangerous.

It took a week for me to calm down and realize that I was wrong. It is sometimes hard for us to look at our pets as anything other than family members. Wrecks did fit the description of a potentially dangerous dog. This incident demonstrated that he is not predictable around small children. I was lucky I was able to get him under control before he seriously injured the young boy or his father. The family and the city took the appropriate steps in handling this situation.

The steps after a police report is filed are designed to protect everyone involved. The city uses state law as the guideline and requires the dog owner to pay a higher licensing fee, post a bond or provide proof of $250,000 liability insurance.

Owners must also post ‘Beware of Dog” warnings at their property and make sure the dog is always be leashed in public. An appeal to the city’s planning committee must be requested within five days of receiving the letter from the city.

There is no malice in these requirements; they are there to address a public safety issue. They also protect dogs and their owners by making sure the dogs are handled with extra care to prevent any further incidents. Potentially dangerous or dangerous dog designations are permanent and further incidents can result in serious consequences for the dog and owner.

Dogs are capable of bad behavior due to a variety of reasons including fear, pain, boredom or lack of training. When a neighbor or city official brings a problem concerning our dogs to our attention it is important to listen objectively and work together to find a solution where it is possible. All dogs should have the opportunity to be a healthy and happy part of the community. Some of my best friends are dogs!