A Painful Lesson in Animal Control
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DAVE’S WORLD
By David Howell
For nearly two years, a pack of aggressive dogs has roamed portions of Water Valley, killing pets, threatening residents and creating a dangerous situation that should concern every one of us.
Last Thursday morning, our newly hired animal control officer, Justin Smith, came face to face with that danger.
He was attacked by two dogs while attempting to capture animals believed to be part of the pack.
Justin had noticed a dog entering a long-abandoned structure on South Main Street and, after obtaining permission from the property owner, began blocking openings that would allow the animal to escape.
Inside, he found one dog in such poor condition that he described it as nearly dead.
As he attempted to locate the dog he had seen enter the building, an older female dog suddenly emerged from a pile of cardboard boxes and attacked him. The dog lunged at him and bit deeply into his arm. Another dog joined the attack, turning an already dangerous situation into one that could have ended much worse.
Justin managed to get a catch pole around the female, but lethal force became necessary to stop the attack.
Water Valley police officers responded and assisted with another dog.
Justin later sought medical treatment, including a tetanus shot. The head of the dog that bit him was sent to Jackson for rabies testing, which came back negative.
His injuries are healing, and he remains optimistic about his new duties.
After the attack, Justin discovered that the female dog had been protecting a litter of eight puppies hidden among the cardboard boxes. The puppies were rescued and placed in the care of Second Chance Animal Alliance.
Justin described these particular dogs as far more aggressive than the typical domesticated animals he encounters.
Two dogs believed to be members of the same pack had previously been killed near the ballpark.
The problem did not develop overnight.
For over a year, Water Valley operated without a dedicated animal control officer, leaving enforcement of its dog ordinance limited.
Now that Justin is on the job, we are getting a clearer picture of just how serious some of these problems have become. And the responsibility cannot rest entirely on his shoulders.
In April 2021, the Water Valley Board of Aldermen updated the city’s ordinance governing the ownership and control of dogs.
The ordinance clearly prohibits allowing dogs to run at large.
It also addresses dangerous and vicious animals, establishes requirements for restraining dogs and provides penalties for violations.
Those penalties begin at $100 to $500 for a first offense and increase for repeated violations.
The ordinance even provides for possible jail time for third and subsequent offenses.
In other words, Water Valley already has laws intended to prevent the very problems we are witnessing.
The question is whether we are prepared to enforce them consistently.
Justin told me he has encountered situations where owners allowed dogs to run loose, resulting in complaints that required him to return and address the same problem again.
That cannot be allowed to become routine.
Responsible pet ownership is not optional, and a dog owner’s freedom to allow an animal to roam ends where the safety of neighbors begins.
We are fortunate to have someone willing to take on this responsibility, but Justin Smith should not have to put himself in harm’s way dealing with dangerous animals, nor should residents have to contend with repeated problems caused by owners who fail to properly care for and control their dogs.
