Brookings residents press council to change animal-control rules after fatal dog attack; police explain legal limits

Several Brookings residents told the City Council on June 24 that existing city animal-control rules left their neighborhood exposed after two American bulldogs fatally attacked a leashed dog on June 2, and asked the council to change the code so the animals could be removed sooner.

"The tenants at 102 Ninth Street have 3 very aggressive, vicious dogs," said Sue Gillespie, a Brookings resident. "On June 2, there was a young lady with a small dog ... the dogs were loose and attacked them. The dog was killed, and the young lady was injured."

Gillespie told the council that the dogs were removed by police and animal-control staff after the attack but were returned to the owners after the legally required holding periods. "I would just really like to see the council give very, very serious and urgent consideration to changing the code and changing the law so that the dogs could legally be removed from the premises and not be allowed," she said.

Brooklyn Tomaszewski, who identified herself as a community member and a friend of the injured woman, urged stronger enforcement and expressed concern about…