Laws on Dangerous Dogs Strengthened, Clarified

Vicious dogs that nearly kill other animals will be euthanized
in the future after the Morgan Hill City Council unanimously
approved stricter revisions to the law.
Morgan Hill – Vicious dogs that nearly kill other animals will be euthanized in the future after the Morgan Hill City Council unanimously approved stricter revisions to the law.

“I’m pleased that the city council approved it,” said Morgan Hill Police Department Chief Bruce Cumming, referring to revisions to the city’s dangerous dogs ordinance after the Public Safety and Community Services Committee recommended in January stronger provisions that will make it easier for animal control officers to euthanize dangerous dogs.

“The changes in the ordinance will go a long way to help to protect people and other animals from the danger of these unsafe animals.”

Cumming said in his opinion, the most important change in the ordinance is that vicious, violent canines will now be considered dangerous enough to be killed. Before the change, a dog that attacked but did not kill another domestic animal wasn’t classified dangerous enough for euthanasia and only those in the most dangerous classification – meaning dogs that actually killed another domestic animal – could be killed. 

A big addition to the ordinance is the provision that convicted felons cannot own dangerous dogs. However, Cumming said, the felons would have an appeal process, so the ordinance does not completely ban them from owning dogs with certain characteristics.

Another change is that animals deemed “dangerous” can be referred to training other than obedience-type training. 

City Councilman Greg Sellers said the training could address the owners as well as the dogs.

“This gives us the opportunity to recommend doing some training, something to make better dog owners as well as make the dogs better,” he said. 

The changes, he added, represent good work on the part of those involved. 

“This is something we needed; it really clarifies things for everyone,” he said.

Cumming said Morgan Hill animal control officer Daniel Pina, who is on vacation, would appreciate the changes to the ordinance.

“This puts more teeth into it, so to speak,” he said.