OF LOOSE DOGS AND RESTAURANTS GOING SMOKE-FREE: WITHOUT RECOURSE, CITIZENS WILL SOON TURN TO VIGILANTISM

Cape Girardeau County has a problem with dogs running loose. Most times, the problem is a matter of inconvenience.

But on March 4, an eight-year-old girl was attacked by an unrestrained Rottweiler in Cape Rock Village. Her wounds required 38 stitches. The attack was unprovoked. And it's not the first time a county resident has been frightened or threatened by an unchained dog.

In the county, letting your dog run loose is no crime. The state law mandates that an owner must have his animal "under control." In practice, it means people must wait until they're attacked or property is damaged before law enforcement can step in.

That's ludicrous.

We believe this incident should prompt county officials into considering an animal control department. The idea is not to penalize dog owners -- it's to protect people from vicious animals that are running wild.

The sheriff's department has received a number of complaints about dogs on the loose. But authorities have said there is little they can do since there is no county leash law. This has left several residents of Cape Rock Village frustrated and angry over what they view as an insufficient effort by the county to deal with dogs running at large.

We agree.

Our citizens deserve protection from danger -- whether they live in a city or an unincorporated area. Without some avenue of recourse, citizens may become vigilantes -- taking the law into their own hands. A dead dog isn't the answer either.

We hope this attack triggers a spirited discussion of the problem and practical solutions. It's time for county leaders to act.