By Mike LaBella
Staff Writer
May 05, 2008 12:22 am HAVERHILL — The city's animal control officer, police and health inspectors are stepping up enforcement of city dog laws in the wake of four attacks on people in the last month. Animal Control Officer Michelle Hamel said that in the last two weeks she has issued 30 fines to dog owners whose pets were not on a leash, as city law requires. The fine is $50. She is also warning residents not to leave their dog droppings behind. Doing so can result in a $100 fine. "We will be in parks and neighborhoods enforcing city laws," Hamel said. Mayor James Fiorentini said he issued an order this week requiring increased enforcement of dog laws following the four attacks, which included a particularly vicious one that sent 11-year-old Robert Stickney Jr. of Haverhill to a Boston hospital, where he remains. Robert, a fifth-grader at Silver Hill Elementary School, needed 200 stitches in his left arm and is still being treated for a serious wound to his left leg. His injuries were the result of an attack April 24 by a 100-pound mixed breed mastiff/pit bull. Dog officers and health inspectors are patrolling parks and playgrounds to strictly enforce the city's leash laws, the mayor said. They will be issuing fines and warnings to people who do not leash their dogs. Health Inspector Francisco Declet said he will periodically accompany Hamel on her rounds. "We'll be visiting parks and neighborhoods to enforce city laws," Declet said. Fiorentini said enforcement was most visible over the weekend and will be followed by sporadic enforcement. "We have also instructed all police in the city to look out for unleashed dogs and to begin strict enforcement of our leash laws," he said. "I also instructed our city solicitor to begin a review of our laws concerning vicious animals." Fiorentini said he has the support of the police chief and the Health and Inspectional Department and that he has given them permission to use overtime money to enforce the laws. The mayor said he is also recommending changes in the city's dog ordinances that would better regulate all breeds of dangerous dogs, and not just pit bulls as current laws dictate. City Councilor William Macek said changes in the city's dog laws must be made. "We need to broaden the city ordinances to be non-breed-specific," Macek said. "I'm happy that the mayor has finally responded to this situation. It should have happened after the first dog attack." The city's Public Safety Committee meets tonight at 7 in the City Council office of City Hall to discuss the dog attacks and what changes can be made to city ordinances. City Councilor David Hall, chairman of the committee, said he expects a large turnout, including dog-attack victims, animal advocates and a member of the MSPCA. Haverhill's pit bull law requires this breed of dog be muzzled and leashed if it's off the owner's property. If in its owner's yard, it must be kept in a penned-in area a minimum of 20 feet from the front boundary line. There is a $100 fine for an owner who violates the law the first time and a $300 fine for each subsequent offense. Fiorentini said he also ordered Health Department representatives to be present at parks around Haverhill Stadium and other parks and playgrounds to enforce laws requiring people to clean up after their dogs. "We're examining all other ways to make certain our citizens are safe," Fiorentini said. Hamel said the public can help the city enforce its dog laws by reporting to police any incidents of dogs being walked in public or at sporting events without being leashed. "Don't take dogs to ball games where they can run free," Hamel said. ><p>
><p>
Haverhill's leash law, $50 fine: Dogs not on their owner's property must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet, except when the dog is being used for hunting or training purposes by the owner or keeper, or farm dogs herding livestock. Pet waste cleanup law, $100 fine: Dog owners are responsible for the prompt removal and disposal of any feces left by their pets on public or private property.
—
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.