Investigators get a lead in the Terrell County sheep killing case, as county commissioners prepare to adopt new rules for potentially dangerous dogs. The Dawson city council recently passed new regulations for pit bull owners.
The Terrell county commission will vote on similar restrictions later this week. A deadly attack on a flock of sheep by two pit bulls last month sparked the debate.
In the last week, Animal Control officers took in nine dogs for altercations, six of them were pit bulls, which animal control says reinforces the need for new regulations for the dogs.
Two weeks ago the city of Dawson's law passed classifying pit bulls as potentially dangerous dogs and requiring owners to build a pen and get dog bite insurance for the dog in the amount of $100,000.
So far, Abundant Insurance seems to be the only one offering the policy.
"There is an underwriters policy that we have found here in the city of Dawson that will write such a policy on these dogs," said Martha Ann Coe, Terrell County Code Enforcement/Animal Control Director.
It will cost homeowners about $600 a year, and that's if the dog's had no prior incidents. The Terrell County Commission will consider a similar measure this week.
Some say, not a moment too soon after animal control picked up six pit bull mixes last week. The county's plan will mirror the city's.
"A dog can no longer be tied or chained he must be in an enclosure, which is one thing the county will also have in its ordinance," said Coe.
A different provision in the county's ordinance could also limit the number of dogs per property. "I would like to see a minimum number of animals allowed per property owner if possible."
An attack on the Friddell family's sheep herd prompted the city and county's response and now investigators may have a tip that could lead them to the dogs' owner.
"The person bragged that it was his dogs that killed the sheep to another individual and of course, that's just hearsay, but we were told during the tip."
They're turned it over to Dawson City Police who tell us they're continuing to investigate the allegation. Animal Control says enforcing these new laws won't be easy, but its in the best interest of the community.
Animal Control officials also plan to ask commissioners for a new 60 dog animal shelter, with concrete block walls separating the dogs. They worry new regulations will result in more dogs taken in. Just today, two dogs fought through fencing. One of those dogs will have to be euthanized.
The county ordinance for potentially dangerous dogs will require each dog be micro-chipped, registered with the county, and muzzled while out of its approved pen.
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