Change Animal Control Laws in North Kingstown, RI
The Issue
My family and I urge the North Kingstown town council to revise current animal control laws in our town as a matter of safety. Currently, laws do not prohibit dog owners from chaining their animals with an extended leash on public property, nor do they require owners to be attending to their animals at all times while on public property. This allows for a concerning lack of safety.
On the afternoon of Friday, June 12th, 2020, my family and I were walking to Bissel Cove, our neighborhood’s private residential beach. I was walking with our dog, April, who was in my control on a six-foot leash. Unbeknownst to us, a woman was parked at the beach with her dog on an extended retractable leash tied to her car, out of her sight and control while she sat in her vehicle. We did not see the dog until it charged at us and attacked April, clamping its jaws on her backside and abdomen, seriously injuring her. We were about 20 feet from where the dog was tied. While April cried in pain, we shouted for the woman to step out of her car and restrain the animal, as it was unattended and out of her control.
She did not take action immediately but finally did call her dog, after which it let go of April. We took down her license plate and phone number and called animal control. April was examined by the vet and will need continued care.The woman has been uncooperative and refused to pay for the medical bills or take responsibility for not controlling her dog and leaving a clearly vicious animal outside with easy access to attack passersby. When we called animal control, they recorded the attack but were not able to do anything further, as current laws did not prohibit the woman’s actions and negligence.
Furthermore, Bissel Cove is private property available for use for residents only. The woman claimed she was a resident at the time of the incident, but we obtained her address through public record and found she is a resident of Narragansett. She had no business being there and was dishonest about her place of residence. Neighbors come to Bissel Cove every day with their pets and family members, especially this time of year. The dog could have attacked anyone passing by. It could have gravely injured a small child or mortally wounded a small dog.
No animal should be left unattended and tied up on public property. All pet owners should be in control of their pets at all times while in public. Animal control laws need to be updated to address these concerns for the safety of all.
The Issue
My family and I urge the North Kingstown town council to revise current animal control laws in our town as a matter of safety. Currently, laws do not prohibit dog owners from chaining their animals with an extended leash on public property, nor do they require owners to be attending to their animals at all times while on public property. This allows for a concerning lack of safety.
On the afternoon of Friday, June 12th, 2020, my family and I were walking to Bissel Cove, our neighborhood’s private residential beach. I was walking with our dog, April, who was in my control on a six-foot leash. Unbeknownst to us, a woman was parked at the beach with her dog on an extended retractable leash tied to her car, out of her sight and control while she sat in her vehicle. We did not see the dog until it charged at us and attacked April, clamping its jaws on her backside and abdomen, seriously injuring her. We were about 20 feet from where the dog was tied. While April cried in pain, we shouted for the woman to step out of her car and restrain the animal, as it was unattended and out of her control.
She did not take action immediately but finally did call her dog, after which it let go of April. We took down her license plate and phone number and called animal control. April was examined by the vet and will need continued care.The woman has been uncooperative and refused to pay for the medical bills or take responsibility for not controlling her dog and leaving a clearly vicious animal outside with easy access to attack passersby. When we called animal control, they recorded the attack but were not able to do anything further, as current laws did not prohibit the woman’s actions and negligence.
Furthermore, Bissel Cove is private property available for use for residents only. The woman claimed she was a resident at the time of the incident, but we obtained her address through public record and found she is a resident of Narragansett. She had no business being there and was dishonest about her place of residence. Neighbors come to Bissel Cove every day with their pets and family members, especially this time of year. The dog could have attacked anyone passing by. It could have gravely injured a small child or mortally wounded a small dog.
No animal should be left unattended and tied up on public property. All pet owners should be in control of their pets at all times while in public. Animal control laws need to be updated to address these concerns for the safety of all.
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on June 15, 2020