New Market council upholds 'vicious dog' finding; owner ordered to remove animal within three days

At a July 10, 2024 special meeting, the New Market City Council voted 3-0 to uphold a "vicious dog" determination and ordered the dog’s owner, identified in the meeting record as C. Nook, to remove the animal from city limits within three days of written notice.

Councilmembers Mattea Fritz and Larry McAlpin moved and seconded approval of the meeting agenda at 5:00 p.m. before the council took testimony on the animal. The council heard from the owner and from residents who reported encounters with the dog; the record states that residents described encounters but provides no transcript of direct quotes.

After hearing testimony the council held a roll-call vote to decide whether to uphold the prior vicious‑dog determination. The roll call recorded Mattea Fritz — Aye; Larry McAlpin — Aye; Mike DeVoe — Aye. The council determined the dog to be vicious and ordered that, upon written notice, the owner has three days to remove the dog from city limits.

Following the vote, Mike DeVoe moved to close the meeting; Mattea Fritz seconded and the council voted unanimously to adjourn.

The meeting record lists Mayor Frank Sefrit and City Clerk Megan Wright as present; two councilmembers, Gene Chapman and Justin Savage, were recorded as absent. The record does not specify enforcement steps beyond the three‑day removal requirement or whether any additional penalties or follow-up inspections will occur.