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Resident raises repeated loose-dog complaints; police and assistant chief advise meeting follow-up
Summary
A Westmoreland resident told the council a dog repeatedly enters his yard, has attacked pets and that calls to 911 have not produced a remedy; Assistant Chief Larry Meggers and other officials asked the resident to meet with the police department for case follow-up.
During the public-comment portion of the Sept. 18 Westmoreland City Council meeting, resident Philip Gray described repeated problems with a neighbor’s dog entering his yard, killing a cat and attacking his dog.
Gray said he had photos and an address for the dog but that he had trouble getting help by calling 911 when the animal was present. He said one officer had told him he could not shoot the dog but could "knock him in the head with a stick," and that he wanted to know what legal options were available.
Assistant Chief Larry Meggers and other officials told Gray to come to the police station Monday through Thursday between 6 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to report the problem in person so staff could investigate and determine next steps. Meggers said staff would work on the matter first thing Monday morning and advised the resident that the department would attempt to locate the dog or the owner and pursue remedies under state and local law.
Council members discussed remedies for animals running at large, the availability of citations under state law and the need for the resident to provide information so police could pursue enforcement. Council members emphasized they cannot act on incidents they do not have official notice of and urged Gray to meet with police for follow-up.
