Dog incidents get attention of council

Aggressive dogs running loose - and a discussion of the severe injuries from at least one incident - took up the better part of Monday night's Columbia Falls City Council meeting.

The issue brought to light an apparently lapsed dog-licensing ordinance that used to have some teeth in it.

Cathy Grise urged council members to take action that may lessen the chance of her experience being repeated by somebody else in the city.

Grise said she and a friend have been in the habit of taking walks together in the area near her northeast Columbia Falls home. One evening she walked alone and was knocked down by three dogs near Fifth Avenue and First Street or Second Street.

She received not only serious injuries from a dog bite, but also incurred a sizable medical bill.

Three other people echoed their support for her campaign and related their own experiences with dogs running loose in the city.

Grise asked the council to review city laws and enforcement procedures.

City Manager Bill Shaw said a city law provides for a fine when dog owners allow their pets to run loose. And the city used to have a dog-licensing ordinance that helped police keep tags on canines.

Options, Shaw said, could be to increase fines, provide more enforcement or draft an ordinance that makes a dog owner liable for medical bills if a loose dog injures anyone.

The council agreed to send the matter to its Safety Committee for discussion and a recommendation.

Reporter Nancy Kimball can be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at nkimball@dailyinterlake.com