Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Council considers law about hogs and to eliminate pit bulls from town

Outlawing hogs and a ban on pit bull dogs were among the top items for discussion at the April Gurdon City Council meeting held April 17.

An ordinance regarding hogs and pit bulls, which may include stipulations about other animals within the city limits of Gurdon, will be drawn up for first reading at the May 15 council meeting.

Gurdon Mayor Clayton Franklin said, "I will accept input from anyone concerning our proposed new animal ordinance. I had thought more would be here to voice their opinions tonight."

About 12 people attended the April meeting. A discussion was heard about loud dogs and loud crowing roosters, along with other animals. The consensus among council members seemed to indicate that neither barking dogs nor roosters will be banned from the city, but that owners will be required to take action if the animals become obnoxiously noisy.

The ordinance is likely to ban some animals, including hogs and pit bulls.

"We do want to restrict Gurdon citizens from owning dogs that are considered dangerous  that is a dog who attacks or bites someone unprovoked," Franklin said.

"We also want to take legal action against those owners who neglect a dog or starve it out. That is considered unusual cruelty."

Franklin said the council may also ban wild or exotic animals such as racoons, squirrels or cougars, from inside city limits.

"Hogs will simply not be allowed in Gurdon," Franklin said. "We also want to protect the public against diseased or injured animals."

Franklin said a provision may be made in the upcoming ordinance to allow police to warn owners of dogs that are frequent howlers, or chicken owners who have loud crowing roosters.

They will also address vaccination, in that every animal in Gurdon, who is more than six months old, must be vaccinated.

"In other nearby towns, livestock can not be kept closer than 100 feet from someone elses residence. We may do that," Mayor Franklin said.

"In other words, a chicken house next to your backdoor is okay but it can not be within 100 feet of your neighbors door."

Franklin said most of the ordinance, other than the part outlawing hogs and banning pit-bulls, will "make provisions to warn not stop people from having things."

Odor may also be addressed in the ordinance. In that case, officers will have the right to hand out warning where animal waste creates offensive odors. The warnings could result in fines.

In other business, council members voted to buy a new animal control vehicle for $19,000, which will double as a truck for the water department.

In old business, the Arkansas Highway Department responded to Jon Capps and his request to change Main Street lanes. The state said it would be possible to make the street a three-lane affair, replacing the now four-lane arrangement.

Franklin said, "This would give us a turn lane and about six feet on each of the outsides for safer parking and pulling out."

No action was taken by the council on this issue.

It was mentioned that citywide clean-up is in progress. All needing a pick up were instructed to call city hall, as it is not automatic.