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Resident tells council loose dogs are attacking show lambs; council urges enforcement
Summary
A Ballard resident reported repeated incidents of loose dogs attacking her show lambs, prompting council discussion about enforcement of a Uintah County leash law and noting limited county animal-control staffing; the council asked an animal board member to raise enforcement at the next meeting.
Alexis Mieure told the council that she has experienced "ongoing problems with stray or loose dogs attacking their sheep," saying the lambs are show animals and the losses have been both financial and emotional for her family. Council members discussed the limits of enforcement: Council Member Ben Allred said Uintah County animal control is contracted to handle such issues but "with only two or three officers for the whole County, they can’t be on-site regularly." Mayor Nile Mathisen noted that Uintah County has a leash law and that violations can carry a $500 fine.
Council members agreed that county fines should be enforced within Ballard, and asked Brent Bastian, who serves on the animal board, to bring the issue to the animal board's next meeting so enforcement and response can be discussed further. The council did not take formal action at the meeting beyond referring the issue to the animal board for follow-up.
The report was recorded during the public comment/agenda item on dog concerns; the council emphasized enforcement as the next step rather than local policy changes.
