Vicious Dog Ordinance Proposed in Hot Spring County

"It's not breed specific it just says dogs, vicious dogs," says Hot Spring County Sheriff Ryan Burris.

Sheriff Burris is looking over a proposed ordinance for the county.

Recent events near the Social Hill neighborhood are just one reason he says they need it .

Neighbors have filed several complaints about a group of dogs.
And two teenagers, a boy and girl reported being bitten.

Sheriff Buris explains, "The boy was riding his motorcycle and the dogs came out from the residence and bit him on the leg. I don't think they broke the skin. On the female it did break the skin."

Without any other recourse, the sheriff issued the owner of the dogs two tickets for third degree battery.

"The battery charge still reflects on me as if, same deal as if I went and hit someone," saysNathan Pilcher, who owns the dogs in question.

There are six mixed-chow and boxers that during the interview for this story seemed quite calm for potentially dangerous animals.

Pilcher says, "The only way I would say my dogs would bite anyone is if you came up and provoked them. As far as them just chasing someone down and biting them, that's kind of absurd in my opinion."

None the less, Pilcher has agreed with the sheriff to secure his animals when he leaves home so his neighbors don't feel threatened.

And though he believes he has a right to protect his property with his dogs, he agrees there may be a need for a vicious dog ordinance in the county

Pilcher explains, "For say, official personnel like police or meter readers or something like that, there needs to be something to protect those people."

Right now, Hot Spring County has no ordinance at all dealing with dangerous or vicious dogs.

The proposed one would penalize the owners if their dogs injure or if they fail to keep them in a safe enclosure.

A recent survey estimates as many as five-million dog bites a year in the country. An average of 30 attacks each year prove to be fatal.