BRATTLEBORO — Based on some of the recent letters I've read in the local media, the issue of how to deal with animals in Brattleboro seems to have struck a nerve among many people who care about animals and how we treat them.
After numerous instances of witnessing or reading about unleashed dogs on town streets being hit by cars, nearly hit, pooping in my flower beds, causing traffic accidents, nipping at people, or unleashed larger dogs approaching smaller leashed dogs, I suggested changes in our leash ordinances in Brattleboro several years ago.
Currently, Brattleboro addresses the problem of dogs “roaming at large” by allowing dogs to be unleashed if “under restraint” in the “at heel” position beside a competent person and obedient to that person's commands.
Clearly, this has often not been the case in town over the years and, in addition to the unquestioned phenomena of dogs simply “disappearing” or somehow becoming “lost,” killed, or hurt unnecessarily while roaming at large, we also pay police officers to respond to the predicable problems that arise.
If we look to authoritative statements to guide us, we can see the human factor in dog-related problems.
According to an article in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, which examined breed-specific dog bites that resulted in human fatalities, the authors concluded that biology and the breed of the dog alone are too narrow a focus in the search for effective solutions to the particular problem of dog bites.
They recognized the responsibility and role of humans in their observations that “socialization and training” and “quality of ownership and supervision” are relevant human factors to be considered.
They also noted that effective solutions should consider legislation that aims “to regulate individual dogs and owners on the basis of their behavior.”
Additionally, the researchers found that “problem behaviors (of dogs and owners) have preceded attacks in a great many cases and should be sufficient evidence for preemptive action” and “targeting chronically irresponsible dog owners may be effective” (italics added).
If we took a deeper look into the various problems and costs of unleashed dogs in Brattleboro, I do not doubt we would reach similar conclusions.
But do we need to conduct research on what is a rather obvious problem?
We must create meaningful leash laws, as well as enforce existing ones, in Brattleboro.