Steele County is reviewing its dangerous dog and potentially dangerous dog ordinance, eyeing changes that would set clearer penalties for owners of violent animals.
Speaking to the Board of Commissioners at their most recent meeting, Administrator Renae Fry said the current ordinance, ironically enough, lacked “teeth,” and the Sheriff’s Department has requested an amended ordinance that could give its officers better guidance.
The proposed ordinance primarily addresses unincorporated areas of Steele County. Within Owatonna city limits, dangerous animals are handled by the Owatonna Police Departments. According to Fry, the proposed ordinance would apply to Medford, which receives law enforcement services from the county.
The ordinance defines a dangerous dog as one that has inflicted substantial bodily harm on a human being at any location, or killed a domestic animal outside the owner’s property, without provocation. A dog may be designated potentially dangerous if it bites a person or animal, or chases someone anywhere other than the owner’s property. A dog may be upgraded to dangerous after being designated potentially dangerous if it attacks or endangers humans or domestic animals again. Both categories of dogs are subject to the same regulations.
If a dog is designated dangerous or potentially dangerous, owners have 14 days to register it, submit proof of vaccinations and have it microchipped. Owners may also be required to sterilize the animal within 30 days if it’s deemed necessary for public safety.
They must also obtain liability insurance in the minimum amount of $50,000 per person or $300,000 per incident, payable to the party injured by the dog. The dog must be kept inside or in a locked enclosure while on the owner’s property, and restrained by a muzzle and leash or chain elsewhere.
A dog that has killed or seriously injured someone may be euthanized, though the ordinance requires the county to make a reasonable effort to notify the owner beforehand.
Failure to comply with the ordinance would result in the owner receiving a misdemeanor.
Owners whose dogs have been designated dangerous or potentially dangerous would have a 14-day window to request a hearing to appeal the decision. They may also request an officer review the designation after one year, if they report the dog’s behavior has changed due to the its age, sterilization, environment, completion of obedient training or other factors.
“The incidences of injuries are less [in rural areas], but we do want to make sure that in the case that there is either a family member attacked or the unprovoked postal carrier scenario, that we have recourse to make sure that animal is registered or potentially removed from the county,” said Fry.
She noted rewriting the ordinance has been on the county’s agenda for some time, predating her hiring earlier this year. She also stated the county has been coordinating with the city of Owatonna throughout the revision process.
Although the city’s ordinance is not identical in wording, it contains many of the same requirements.
While registration of dangerous and potentially dangerous dogs has previously been the domain of the Property Tax and Elections Office, the proposal would give the Sheriff’s Office jurisdiction over the matter.
Fry stated the current policy is not well-written, and Board Chair Jim Abbe agreed an amended ordinance would better help officers do their jobs.
The board will hold a public hearing on the proposed ordinance during its next meeting at 5:15 p.m. on Oct. 22 to receive testimony from interested parties. Following the hearing, the commissioners will have the opportunity to make revisions, and may choose either to vote on the matter that evening or table it for further discussion.
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