Florence County Council hears arguments on pit bull ban
FLORENCE — Florence County Council has heard from a Scranton resident calling for a ban of pit bull-type dogs and a group of Florence students opposing breed-specific legislation.
Ernestine Haselden spoke Thursday on behalf of a group of Scranton residents who have said they worry a group of dogs in the neighborhood will get loose and hurt someone.
Haselden pointed to recent dog attacks during her presentation to council, which hasn’t considered any breed-specific ordinances.
“I don’t know what we’re going to need to do to make it apparent that something needs to be done … ” she said. “Are we waiting for someone to be killed? Because we’ve already had the maimings.”
Two dog attacks have been reported in Florence County this year; the most recent, on Monday, involved two bulldogs on National Cemetery Road in Florence.
A group of Southside Middle School students made a rebuttal to Haselden’s presentation. Teacher Brian Harvey, who owns two pit bulls as pets, said the request for a ban on the dogs is the result of a “severe generalization” and that pit bulls are used for search-and-rescue operations and as therapy dogs at hospitals.
The students proposed implementing canine safety education programs in schools, offering responsible canine ownership classes to pet owners, and adopting stronger laws on the city and county levels.
“Pit bulls are no more inherently dangerous to people than any other breed of dog,” student Emily Nance told council.
Linda D. Witouski, an American Kennel Club judge and delegate, said dog owners should be educated about the law and be held responsible for their pets’ behavior only on an individual basis.
Gordon Williams, Haselden’s neighbor who owns the dogs in question, said he was pleased with the “good outcome” following all the presentations.
“(The dogs are) like my children,” he said.
Haselden also presented a model of an animal control law that would also cover incessant barking, waste and odor, licensing, and a requirement for owners of dangerous animals to hold a $100,000 insurance policy.
Dillon City Council in May enacted an ordinance defining a pit bull as a dangerous animal and requiring stricter guidelines for pit bull owners.
In other business Thursday, council deferred a resolution to fund two new sheriff’s deputies to serve as library resource officers but approved the submission of an application for a grant to fund five additional patrol deputies.
The Drs. Bruce & Lee Foundation Library has a $63,000-a-year security contract with the city of Florence through which off-duty city police officers are paid as independent contractors, according to county documents.
The Internal Revenue Service, however, requires for the officers to be treated as county employees, but the county can’t hire the city officers because such an action would violate the “dual commission prohibition” in state law, county documents state.
The annual cost of the two new deputies would be $90,000, according to the county.
Council members voted to approve the submission of an application for nearly $200,000 in U.S. Justice Department grant funds for the hiring of five new patrol deputies. The county would be required after three years to maintain and fully fund the five positions, at an annual cost of $225,125.
They also approved a grant application for a Justice Department grant worth $272,523 in start-up capital for two library deputies and the additional five patrol deputies.
In other business, council voted unanimously to approve:
- A one-year moratorium on the enforcement of the county’s portable sign rules so that the county planning commission can consider revisions.
- A resolution to amend grant amounts for the H.J. Heinz project near Florence from $1.5 million from the S.C. Department of Commerce Coordinating Council for Economic Development Set Aside Funds and $2 million from the department’s Closing Funds to $1.75 million apiece from the Set Aside and Closing funds.
- The $139,500 purchase of more than 38 acres where the county has a radio tower on Cash Road in Johnsonville.
- The $24,700 bid by General Cage LLC of Elwood, Ind., for cat cages at the new county animal control facility.
- Third and final reading of a new Community Facilities element, part of the county’s updated comprehensive plan, which state law requires for a local government to have zoning.
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Reader Reactions
This is comment is for (doglover1).
We love our dogs and hate that they are in pens and on chains but, every morning for the last (6) months we have had several visitors. Starting with enviro services, DHEC, building inspectors and the chief of police. They (neighbors) call constantly about the dogs. We do keep them inside. But, when it is time for them to use the restroom we can’t just let them in the yard. Even though its fenced the neighbors seem to find reasons to say the dogs got out the yard. That is why I say the chains and fence in pens. Cause, we are constantly having people complain about the dogs. The dogs only bark at the neighbors that have sprayed them with water and thrown fireworks at them. No one else!! These are well kept dogs. You can come by anytime and see for yourself. They are lovable and kind. NOT MISTREATED AS YOU SAY!!!!!
Thanks, Becky. My dogs are also true “family dogs” who live in our home with us and are very well-behaved and gentle.
tinajohnson34, the more you and your family and friends post on this board, the more obvious it becomes that you are EXACTLY the sorts of ignorant and irresponsible owners the rest of us feel should be regulated or banned.
NO, it is NOT your neighbor’s fault that you keep your dogs cruelly chained and in housing that doesn’t allow them room to exercise or give them adequate protection from the elements.
NO, your dogs do NOT bark excessively and disturb the neighbors because “that’s what dogs do”—it’s because your dogs have not been properly trained and lack human companionship. Allowing your dogs to continue disturbing and scaring the neighbors is not only irresponsible, it’s just plain RUDE, and it’s a shame when people have to look to laws and regulations just to enforce common manners.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, educate yourself and your family so that you can treat your dogs humanely - and if that’s too much, please give the dogs to someone who will love them, train them, and let them be good neighbors and loving companions.
The real focus here should be that there will be NO Breed Specific Legislation in Florence County. I heard a great analogy recently…“Why do kids act disrespectful and inappropriately?” “They act this way because of bad parents or parenting.” There is no difference between the actions of children and these animals. If animals are mistreated and not correctly taught, they will do wrong. Irresponsible ownership and mistreatment of these animals are to blame for the actions of these animals. I am disturbed that anyone would want to take the rights away from respectable law abiding dog owners because of a select few that are ignorant and irresponsible. The students from Southside Middle School should be proud of themselves for standing up for our Constitutional rights of the citizens of this great nation. If we can allow simple rights such as what breed of dog we may own be taken away, what will be taken away from us next? Thumbs up to the group from Southside, and thumbs up to the support of the American Kennel Club!
I am in total agreement with doglover1. Sometimes I think that the animals have more sense than alot of humans do. If some of these people could meet my 90 lb. pit bull who has grown up in a loving invironment they would understand why I feel the way I do. Why people who call animals that are chained up their pets is beyond me. My pet has free roam of the house, she eats when I eat, she goes to her bed when I go to bed. She is just a loving animal and very obedient. All animals cannot be judged by a few, just like people should not be judged.
I can’t decide whether to be amused or disgusted at dog owner Gordon Williams’ claim that the dogs he keeps confined on chains or in small smelly pens without proper protection from the elements are “like his children”.
One only hopes that he has no human children, and one only wishes that he and his family would choose to educate themselves on responsible dog ownership—and then implement what they learn.
If you keep any animal contained to a chain or a small pen it makes them crazy,and when they finally get off that chain or out that pen you can’t control what their going to do.People that have numerous ammounts of dogs contained like that are doing it for one or two reasons,either to breed them over and over again or raising them to fight.If you come across something like this report it as animal abuse first,that way it can be investigated.It is not the animals fault it is totally the owners fault for neglecting them and making them mean.Maybe they don’t know any better,or their just being bred to fight.All K-9 are gentle giants,it’s the way their raised or neglected that makes a bad name for the whole breed.(PUNISH THE DEED,NOT THE BREED)-NATHAN-
joseph-you have obviously made a decision based on fear. fear of an animal when you should be more afraid of the owners of such dogs. my question to you is this-where does it stop? yes i own two of these blood thirsty killing machines, or thats what people think of them as, but really? what breed is next? the owner is responsible for the dog. dont you think that stronger penalties for irresponsible owners and not taking away family pets would be a better solution?
The Scranton residents and the students (and maybe even the AKC representative; it’s not clear) agree that Florence County should adopt stronger regulations for pet owners.
What was the reaction of the County Council? Would it have been too difficult to include that in the article?
I have a neighbor with 13 pit bull type dogs. They are chained to trees and in small chain link kennels
Those dogs are not family dogs Joseph.
Families don`t keep pets in that manner.
There`s a difference between family dogs and resident dogs.
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/resident-dog-vs-family-dog/
Perhaps you should ask for legislation to prevent dogs of any type/breed being kept in that manner.
These are Pit Bulls kept as pets.
http://server.inalbum.com/show/jodipreis/Message_to_the_Media2.html?296033009
http://www.maxtheshelterdog.com/kidsforpits.html
These dogs have a history. I have a neighbor with 13 pit bull type dogs. They are chained to trees and in small chain link kennels. They bark incessantly when somone walks by. You just do not feel safe. Unfortunately, there are no ordinances to protect the dogs or people in the neighborhood. I fully support Ms Haselden and would like to be at the next meeting to give my families backing.
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