Reports of aggressive stray dogs reignites call for spay-neuter laws in Raleigh County

BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — Raleigh County Commissioner Daniel Hall and Commission President Greg Duckworth reported on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, that residents from the Midway area reported that people were bitten by stray dogs which run in their neighborhood.

They asked commissioners for help.

“I’ve dealt with similar issues, down where I live,” said Commissioner Hall. “We’ve had to call Animal Control, and it’s a challenge. I mean, those guys, they don’t have many places to take these animals.”

Strays pose an ongoing issue throughout southern West Virginia.

The non-profit Humane Society of Raleigh County operates the only shelter in Raleigh County.

The number of abandoned animals has risen, sometimes forcing shelter officials to turn away animals.

Local rescue and foster organizations have stepped up but often feel overwhelmed.

The stray problem became so pronounced that, a few years ago, commissioners had considered building a shelter that would put down animals that weren’t adopted.

Ultimately, the plan was abandoned, and comments by Hall on Tuesday suggested commissioners had no immediate plans to revive the effort.

“We don’t want to kill these animals,” said Commissioner Hall, who started his term on Tuesday. “Nobody wants to do that, and so we need to get creative and find solutions, too, and hopefully people can adopt these dogs, but we can’t just allow them to run free in the county and harass the citizens.”

HSRC Executive Director Brett Kees said on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, that stray animals continue to reproduce, creating a cycle of an ever-growing number of strays.

He said the only solution is for Raleigh County Commission and other local governing bodies to pass laws which require owners to sterilize their dogs.

“The fact of the matter is, fosters aren’t solving the problem. Spay and neuter’s going to solve the problem,” said Kees. “So, you actually want to fix the problem? Pass a spay and neuter ordinance.”

Kees, who has called publicly for the law for the past several years, said a spay-and-neuter ordinance would immediately begin to cut down on the number of unwanted dogs.

“We wouldn’t constantly have 70 dogs and our heads underwater,” said Kees. “I’m not going to euthanize their problem away for them. They need to pass a law or it’s never going to change.”

He pointed out that animal control officers must currently seek permission from Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office in order to rescue animals.

He suggested commissioners give limited police powers to Animal Control officers in order to enforce spay-and-neuter laws.

“You pass a spay-neuter ordinance, you give them the right to enforce it and write actual tickets and summon people into court,” advised Kees.

Kees said all animal bites should be reported immediately to a local health department.

Animals may carry rabies, and an aggressive dog could pose a risk to children and others.

He offered advice to pet owners who want to help resolve the stray problem, suggesting they adopt dogs from local shelters instead of purchasing dogs and that they are sure to spay and neuter their own pets.

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