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Residents say roaming dogs are killing livestock, ask Covington County Commission for help
Summary
Two neighbors told the Covington County Commission that roaming dogs have killed goats, bitten a neighbor and kept children indoors; the county attorney said the commission currently lacks authority to act absent a citizen‑approved ordinance and urged a ballot process.
Two residents told the Covington County Commission on March 24 that roaming dogs are killing livestock, biting people and keeping children from playing outside.
John Westfall told commissioners that he is asking the county to take steps to get roaming dogs picked up after they have killed goats and other animals and after a neighbor was bitten. Helen Horwath, who identified herself as the neighbor whose goats were killed, said the dogs are getting into her fenced pasture and that she has two police reports about the incidents. “This pattern of repeated incidents shows a serious ongoing danger to the community,” Horwath said, and added that her grandchildren rarely go outside because of the dogs.
County Attorney Morgan Arrington told the commission that its authority to intervene is limited. Arrington said the commission has discussed options for creating local authority over dog control but that any ordinance would have to be presented to citizens; she added that when a similar measure was previously presented to the public it was rejected, leaving the commission without the authority to impose an ordinance now. Arrington described the matter as effectively civil at this time.
Chairman Michael Smith asked Sheriff’s Office Captain Alan Syler whether a dog that bites a person must be quarantined; Syler said the department quarantines dogs in such cases. Commissioners did not take formal action at the meeting.
What happens next: commissioners acknowledged the problem and discussed exploring lawful pathways to address it but did not adopt an ordinance. Arrington indicated a citizen vote or other legal route would be required before the commission could impose countywide dog‑control rules.
