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Flower Mound residents describe violent dog attacks; council schedules review of dangerous-dog rules
Summary
Residents detailed repeated attacks by trained dogs and urged stronger enforcement. Town staff agreed to place a review of the town's dangerous-dog ordinances and enforcement practices on the Aug. 18 meeting agenda.
Flower Mound residents told the Town Council on July 7 that repeated attacks by dogs kept at a nearby property have left people and animals injured and that existing enforcement tools have not stopped the pattern.
The complaints came during the public-comment period. Gavin Anderson, a resident of Arabian Circle, told the council his neighborhood “is no longer safe” and said neighbors have seen dogs trained to fight attack people, pets and livestock. “We need to immediately reform Flower Mounds, dangerous dog laws, real penalty for repeat offenders, stricter enforcement, and protection for our families,” Anderson said.
Another neighbor, Carolyn Auburn, described a June 15 attack in which two dogs severely injured a miniature horse at her property and said she had received “nothing but lip service” from animal-control and police. “This wasn’t 2 dogs that just got out and wanted to wander around. They looked like they knew what they were doing as they were trained to fight,” Auburn said, adding that a subsequent court hearing allowed the owners to reclaim the dogs.
Mayor Cheryl Moore and town staff listened as residents asked for a comprehensive review of the town’s dangerous-dog ordinance and follow-up practices by police and animal control. Town staff indicated the review would explain which actions are within the town’s authority and which are governed by state law. A town staff member said the council could be prepared to take the item up at the Aug. 18 meeting and promised to walk through where the town has discretion and where state law applies.
Why it matters: Residents who live next to the property implicated in the complaints described injuries to people and animals, repeated calls to enforcement, and a perception that court results and agency follow-up have not prevented further incidents. A council-directed review could lead to changes in the town’s ordinance language, enforcement protocols, or to clearer guidance about where state law limits local options.
What was directed: Council agreed to place an item on the next feasible meeting schedule to review dangerous-dog procedures and ordinances, with an initial target of the Aug. 18 meeting. The review will compare Flower Mound’s rules to neighboring cities and explain enforcement limits posed by state law.
Context and next steps: Town staff said the town will outline the legal and operational limits — including where state law constrains local authority — and describe how other municipalities handle repeat-offender penalties, proof-of-violation follow-up, and post-hearing monitoring. Residents pressed for answers about follow-up after court-ordered conditions are imposed and whether animal-control officers document compliance.
Speakers quoted in this article spoke during public comment and the agenda discussion; the council did not take additional formal action on the incidents beyond scheduling the ordinance review.
