Two Clinton citizens, in addition to a City Council member, pressed the city council Monday night to “do something” to prevent future, horrific dog-biting incidents in Clinton.
They referred specifically to 11-year-old A’Rhyan Anderson, who was mauled by four dogs on North Livington Street on Valentine’s Day. The dogs’ owner has never been identified; police have said they killed two of the animals.
Concerned citizens have met with city officials about the matter but one, Tracy Fant, said they came away “unsatisfied.”
“I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy,” the boy’s mother, Amy Lowe, said of the 12 surgeries that her son has endured and the continuing therapy he must receive.
Council Member Anita Williams said the city should enact, and publicize, an ordinance that says all dog owners must buy a City of Clinton tag for their animals, and have the tag in place at all times.
Clinton contracts with the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office for animal control services.
“I don’t feel safe,” she said.
“I still would like it if we put an ordinance in place - pet owners have to have a tag, we can put a notice (about it) in the light bills. We need to put something in place to assure the citizens we are doing something.”
City officials have said the next budget will include money for a City of Clinton animal control officer, equipment and kennels, and will keep the $35,000 expense to the county in place, as well.
Williams said that hiring could take months to happen.
“Put it in the new business packet, if you own a dog, you have to come to the city to get a tag,” Williams said.
“Put something in place so we are enforcing something.”
Williams said, in her view, many times insurance will not provide coverage to owners of pit bulls and Rottweilers, because the animals are dangerous.
The City has posted a CrimeStoppers notice on its Facebook page seeking the owner(s), but Williams said even that was done “too late” - “I’m not saying we take responsibility for what happened, but we need to do something.”
Since this was a citizens speaking to council matter, and not an agenda matter, there was no response to Lowe and Fant, and council has no additional discussion and took no additional action.
The council provides citizens the opportunity at the beginning of the regular monthly meeting to address the members on issues that are on the agenda.
However, it rarely keeps citizens from straying from that, and speaking on any issue that on their mind. Usually each presentation gets 2 minutes.
Williams said for its $35,000 annual payment, the City of Clinton has a right to expect from the Sheriff an accounting of when and where stray dogs have been captured by county officers within the City of Clinton. The County operates a dogs-only shelter near the Laurens County Airport.
Lowe said in addition to her son’s 12 surgeries, he is receiving ongoing physical therapy and psychological counseling.
He has been traumatized, she said.
“I want to thank the community for all the love and support,” she said, speaking softly into a podium microphone, “but we need to do something so we don’t have to worry about this.”
Fant said there must be stiffer penalties for owners who do not confine, or “leash,” their dogs.
“A lot of people in city don’t know of the ordinance. We’re not here to point blame,” she said. “(But) summer is coming and people will be out, dogs will be running loose. We don’t want another family to go through what this family is going through.”
