Coffeeville Officials Implement Vicious Dog Ordinance

Staff Report

COFFEEVILLE – Potentially vicious dogs are going to have to smile and say cheese under the provisions of a new dog ordinance that took effect Dec. 3.

According to the ordinance, owners of potentially vicious dogs are required to provide two color photographs of the dog to the Town Clerk within ten days of the effective date (by Dec. 13).

The ordinance defines a potentially vicious dog as a pit bull, pit bull terrier, or a dog with a known propensity to attack without provocation.

Owners are also required to display a “beware of dog” sign on their premises and secure the dog in a pen. Or, the dog must be muzzled on a leash not to exceed four feet in length and controlled by a person 16 years of age or older, the ordinance states.

All dogs within the Town limits must be licensed during January of each year. The cost of a license is $5. Copies of the complete ordinance are available at Town Hall.

The ordinance was passed unanimously at the regular monthly meeting of the Mayor and Board of Alderman on Monday, Nov. 3.

Among other actions at the meeting, the Board of Aldermen:

• Approved travel for Town employees to attend training including: Town Clerk Patricia Moody, clerk training in Oxford Nov. 13 and 14; Police Chief Mark Martin, mandatory training in Olive Branch Dec. 7 through 10; and Officer Steve McLarty, Police Academy in Pearl starting in January, 2010.

• Adopted the annual compliance questionnaire required by the Office of the State Auditor.

• Paid claims.

Attending the meeting were Mayor Mack Burns and Aldermen Michael Ayers, Joe Bourn, George Miller, Bryan McCullough, and Eva Longstreet. Also present were Town Clerk Patricia Moody, Police Chief Mark Martin, and Town Attorney William L. Maxey.