Mt. P. dog ordinance might get more bite

MOUNT PLEASANT — A more than seven-fold increase in the maximum fine for the owner of a dangerous dog will put more teeth in the town's vicious animal ordinance, officials said.

The current top penalty for having a vicious dog is $147 per violation. The fine would increase to a maximum $1,087 per incident if approved by Town Council on May 13. Council's Police, Legal and Judicial Committee voted Monday in favor of the increased fine.

The committee, chaired by Mayor Harry Hallman, also voted to more than double the maximum fine for residents charged with being two-time violators of the town nuisance animals law that prohibits letting dogs run loose. Currently, the most an owner of a nuisance animal can be fined is $163 per incident. Under the amendment, a dog owner who violates the ordinance a second time can be fined up to $361.

"A lot of dogs are running loose. I think people will keep their dogs under control more," said Clerk of Court Sally Phipps.

Councilwoman Thomasena Stokes-Marshall said she still bore emotional scars from when she was a child and a dog mauled her. "I was attacked by a vicious dog when I was 3 years old," she said.

According to the town code, a vicious animal is one that habitually or repeatedly chases, snaps at, bites or attacks pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers or other animals, or an animal whose behavior constitutes a reasonable risk of injuring a human or other animal. Town animal control officers determine if a dog is dangerous. Their decision can be appealed to the town administrator.

The committee rejected a maximum fine of $1,000 for a third-time violator of the leash law. "I don't think we ought to have a thousand dollar fine," Hallman said.

In December of 2004, a rottweiler mauled a resident while he jogged less than a mile from his home. A neighbor scared the dog away and drove the victim, Lennie Moore, to East Cooper Regional Medical Center for treatment of severe injuries. Moore survived, and the dog was destroyed.

Reach Prentiss Findlay at 937-5711 or pfindlay@postandcourier.com.