COUNTY MULLS PROBLEMS CAUSED BY ANIMAL CONTROL

FRUITLAND -- The victim of a dog attack in Fruitland says the incident seemed almost unavoidable at the time but he'd like to see ways found to prevent future attacks.

John Stroup of Birch Drive said he was walking his poodle on Hawthorn when a neighbor's Rottweiler escaped from his owner and attacked Stroup and his dog.

Stroup said in his statement to Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Sgt. David Valentine that he tried to protect his dog by holding it over his head with his right hand. The Rottweiler reportedly jumped on Stroup and bit his arm to get at the poodle.

When Stroup lowered his arm the Rottweiler killed the poodle then simply broke off the attack.

Stroup said the Rottweiler was on a leash but had broken away from his owner. He said the mobile home park he lives in is now writing new rules that would prohibit dogs larger than 25 pounds.

The Rottweiler, which reportedly was up to date on its shots, is being quarantined for 10 days to make sure it is not rabid.

Cape Girardeau County Sheriff John Jordan said dog bite victims in the county have the option of requesting that the animal be killed and a rabies examination performed. Stroup said he wasn't worried about the dog being sick.

Stroup said he is concerned about the lack of options dog bite victims have in the county. "If the dog owner refuses to do anything about it, you can't do anything other than possibly take them to civil court," he said. "The sheriff can't do anything about it."

Jordan said his deputies respond to complaints about threatening animals as part of their duties. He said the county does not have the same facilities for handling dangerous animals as Cape Girardeau does.

When an animal has to be captured, Jordan said, many times the sheriff's department has to ask for help from the Cape Girardeau animal control officers and then reimburse the city for those expenses.

Jordan said the county commission is looking into options for rectifying that problem.

Cape Girardeau County Commissioner Gerald Jones said animal control in the county is a problem. He said an ordinance that would bring in a county animal control officer is being studied.

"We hear complaints about people being attacked by dogs and dogs injuring livestock," Jones said. "A lot of people have not only been attacked but their lives have been threatened by dogs. That's what we're trying to address."

Jones said the ordinance would not require dogs in the county to be on chains or in pens at all times. He said he realizes that there are many farm dogs that are not restrained and stay on their owner's property.

Commissioners are meeting with representatives of the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri, and the cities of Cape Girardeau and Jackson to come up with the best ordinance. Jones said there is a question about how much of a presence the county needs in this matter.

"We're looking into whether we need an animal control officer or whether we need to have a part-time person," Jones said. He said he doesn't know when the research on the issue will be completed and presented to the commission for approval.