Debate continues over proposed dog ordinance

Measure would make it illegal to chain dogs on Arkansas side

Discussion continued about a proposed anti-dog-chaining ordinance at Monday’s meeting of the Texarkana, Ark., Board of Directors.

Ward 2 Director Laney Harris repeated his criticism of the measure for allowing animal control officers to seize animals without a court warrant. Charles Lokey, director of the Texarkana Animal Care and Adoption Center, countered that seizing animals is within officers’ legal authority and doing so is never taken lightly.

The ordinance would make tethering a dog to a stationary object illegal within the city limits. Residents could instead restrain a dog with a “a trolley system or a tether attached to a pulley on a cable run.” Violators would be given a warning, and if they did not correct the situation within 10 days, animal control could seize the dog to protect its welfare.

Mayor Ruth Penney-Bell opened the discussion by trying to reassure the public about the motives behind the

proposal. “This is a humanitarian push. We are not out to get anybody. If you are a good pet owner, we are thrilled. We are not looking for a reason to take anyone’s animal,” she said.

Harris has said he will not vote for the ordinance in its present form.

“I’m still of the mindset that anytime someone comes to someone’s property, that they need a warrant, especially if they’re operating under the umbrella of the police department. … My argument is, the way the ordinance is written … it’s giving city employees a right of entry on somebody’s property,” he said. He also repeated his call for an “education period” before the ordinance would go into effect, to allow the public time to understand it.

Lokey said neither he nor his officers relishes seizing animals and they only do so in the worst of circumstances. In any such case, the owners of seized animals will get their day in court, he said.

“As far as seizing an animal, we don’t take any pleasure in that, because usually when we have to seize that animal, it’s a pretty ugly scene. The animal’s half-dead or it’s been burned, set on fire, any number of things. There’s a lot of stuff that I could put up on a PowerPoint that would curl your toes,” he said.

Often in such cases, law enforcement does obtain a warrant, and Texarkana, Ark., Police Department officers accompany animal control to serve it. But in circumstances where an animal is in immediate danger, he and his officers are required by law to take it for what’s called a “welfare hold,” Lokey said.

“I’m not taking that animal just because I want to, or because I’m trying to show somebody something. I’m not petty like that. What I’m doing is I’m taking that animal because one, it either has to get out of that situation it’s in, or two, I have to take it to a vet because it’s in that bad of shape. Under the law, we are not only allowed, we are obligated under the law to do that,” he said.

The board heard a second reading of the ordinance Monday; a third and final reading is slated for the board’s next meeting on March 20.

The board voted to approve Texas Water Utilities’ purchase of new billing software expected to improve TWU’s internal operations and customer service. Continental Utility Solutions Inc. of Jonesboro, Ark., made the winning proposal to provide the software. It will cost $398,410; the city of Texarkana, Ark.’s portion is $148,885.82.

Directors also voted to name City Clerk Heather Soyars acting city manager. Soyars will perform City Manager Kenny Haskin’s duties when he is absent or otherwise cannot do so himself.

On Twitter: @RealKarlRichter