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Lake City council declares dog dangerous after two biting incidents
Summary
After hearing from the police chief and multiple residents about two biting incidents — one that required stitches — the Lake City Council unanimously declared a neighborhood dog dangerous under Municipal Code 4-1-24(B) and authorized its euthanization and rabies testing.
The Lake City Council voted unanimously Aug. 15 to declare a neighborhood dog dangerous after the city’s police chief and several residents described two biting incidents, including one that left a woman with stitches in both ankles.
Chief of Police Schaffer told the council the dog, owned by Lakiesha Williams, bit Jim Streufert on June 8 while Streufert was on Williams’ property. Schaffer said the department warned Williams that dogs could not be at large. He said a second attack occurred Aug. 13, when Kendra Macke was walking with her newborn near the Williams property and the dog ‘‘came out to the public property and bit [her] in both ankles,’’ resulting in stitches in both ankles. Schaffer showed council members photographs of the injury and referred to Municipal Code 4-1-24(B), which defines dangerous animals and grants authority to the city to take custody of such animals.
‘‘This is the second dog bite incident with this specific dog,’’ Schaffer said, urging the council to declare the animal dangerous so police would have the legal authority to secure it. He told the council that nearby shelters had declined to take the dog and that, under the code, a dangerous animal may be euthanized if no facility can house it. Schaffer said the department intended, if the council declared the dog dangerous, to seek custody that night and to send the animal for rabies testing, with testing costs to be the owner’s responsibility.
During public comment, Macke described the Aug. 13 attack: ‘‘I was walking on the opposite side of the street. The dog ran across the street and was aggressive. It bit me on both ankles.’’ Mayor Mike Schleisman offered his condolences for her injuries.
Other residents told the council they had repeatedly encountered loose dogs at the Williams property. Jim Streufert said Williams’ dogs had been loose on more than one occasion and that Williams often waited hours before rounding them up. Tiffany Green said Williams told her ‘‘nobody would stop her dogs from roaming the streets.’’ Chris Green said the dogs regularly had to be chased away from neighbors’ property. Councilmember Daniel also reported personal encounters with the dogs.
After the public comment period, Councilmember Daniel moved to declare the dog a dangerous animal under Municipal Code 4-1-24(B); Councilmember Bruns seconded. The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote (All Ayes; Nays None). Mayor Schleisman and members of the council then signed an Authorization Form allowing the police department to proceed with euthanization and rabies testing if the department could not secure shelter for the animal.
City Administrator/Clerk Jacob Matthews told the council staff had attempted twice on Aug. 14 to contact Williams at her home to notify her of the special meeting; when Williams did not answer the door a copy of the meeting agenda was taped to her front door. The mayor also scheduled a meeting for 10 a.m. Aug. 16 to review a potential ordinance change aimed at improving the city’s ability to handle similar animal-control cases.
The council adjourned at 6:23 p.m.; its next regular meeting is Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, at 6 p.m.
