Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Dogs again running amok in city

Dog control had become a major topic with the city of Gurdon once again.

In recent weeks, dogs have been seen in large packs roaming the streets, many of them without collars or rabies tags.

Kim King addressed the council about her concern about the dog problem. Her toy poodle was killed by loose dogs on March 5.

King said she had let her dog out into the backyard at her parents's house at Martha Court. The yard was fenced in for the dog to use the bathroom.

When they couldn't find him in the backyard they found her dog on the outer side of the fence dead. The dog had apparently been attacked by another dog.

King said, she was upset because she tries to the best of her ability to keep her animal controlled, however, other residents do not.

She said she knew there was a problem with the city disposing of dogs since the incinerator had not yet been set up at the new Gurdon Dog Pound and Arkadelphia will no longer take Gurdon's animals.

Gurdon Mayor Clayton Franklin asked if King had ever reported loose dogs to the Animal Control Officer before. King said, "Yes I have, several times. I understand that all of the dogs cannot be picked up at this time because of the housing circumstances; however I don't understand why tickets have not been being issued."

Council Member Karen Parker asked if Animal Control Officer, Carroll Martin was writing any citations. Martin was not present to answer however; someone said it was believed he had not been writing citations.

King said she has given names of dog owners to Martin in order to talk with people and warn them to pick up their dogs.

Reportedly, though, no one was talked to and no tickets were issued.

Parker said she recalled a situation that occurred a few weeks ago when a pack of 17 dogs were gathered in front of Doug's Grocery and almost caused a head on collision.

Gurdon City Marshall, Don Childers, said there was a pack of 17 stray dogs in the road.

This would mean the dogs would have to be picked up and adopted or euthanized. Because the incinerator isn't in place the dogs cannot be held.

Many suggestions were made as to what should be done to the dogs taken in. However, Sally Tarpley said she believed the matter at hand was being overlooked. The matter being, apparently the Animal Control Officer was going to have to crack down on the dog issue.

Franklin agreed and thanked King for bringing the problem to the council's attention. He apologized for her dog's death and said he felt in some way the city was responsible because the dogs were not being controlled properly and that something would be done about the problem even if it meant finding someone else who was willing to do the job.

Franklin said, "An ordinance has been in affect for the purpose of dog control, if it is not being followed properly then there is a problem that should be handled."

King said she wasn't looking for someone to blame, she did want the other city officials to know there was a problem and maybe something could be done before someone else loses a family pet the way she did.Franklin told King if she did not see a difference in the dog problem to please come back and address the council again.