Troy NY-Tough New Dangerous Dog Law

Their message is loud and clear in Troy - control your dangerous dogs or they will be put to death.

The Troy City Council passed a tough new ordinance that cracks down on what lawmakers call "irresponsible" dog owners.

The updated law comes after a series of dog attacks in the city that injured a number of other animals and even one child.

One Troy family almost lost their pet after a routine walk through Knickerbocker Park in Lansingburgh last week. Tammy Gregoire and her 8-year-old daughter Molly say their King Charles Spaniel "Henry" is lucky to be alive after an unleashed dog, similar to a Husky, pounced on Henry.

"I picked him up in my arms and the dog just jumped right up and ripped him out of my arms," Tammy said.

"Right after he jumped up and was shaking my dog with his teeth and I was crying really sad because I thought he was going to kill my dog," said 8-year-old Molly.

Justin Hines, who was walking in the area at the time of the attack, rescued Henry.

"I just ran as fast as I could to see what I could do for a dog and get it off of Henry," Justin said.

It is the latest in a string of attacks on family pets and children - vicious encounters the city is trying to stop. And the council says they are not prepared to watch anyone else get hurt because of a vicious animal.

Under the updated ordinance, the penalty for any person violating the "dangerous dogs" ordinance will be punished by a mandatory fine of no less than five-hundred dollars, and no more than one-thousand dollars, and/or a minimum of 30-days in jail.

It also states that any dog that attacks a human being or another dog "shall" be destroyed. The previous law used the phrase "may be destroyed."

All cases will still go before a judge who will make the final ruling on whether a dog should be euthanized.

"Not every Pit Bull is a bad dog, not every Rottwieler is a bad dog, they can be bred to be friendly or to be fighters," says Troy Mayor Harry Tutunjian. "This law will protect people from dogs who have been classified as dangerous or hurt a child or another pet."

http://www.wten.com/Global/story.asp?S=4867624&nav=6uyN

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