Two hearings set today in Spotsylvania on proposals to strengthen rules on vicious, nuisance dogs

Date published: 8/9/2005

By RUTH FINCH

Spotsylvania County residents will have two opportunities today to weigh in on measures to combat vicious dogs and limit the number of dogs in residential areas.

First, state Sen. Edd Houck, D-Spotsylvania, has invited county leaders and others to a panel discussion on potential changes in state law in reaction to the mauling death of Dorothy Sullivan earlier this year. Invitees include Sheriff Howard Smith, Commonwealth's Attorney William Neely and animal welfare experts from organizations such as the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies and the Virginia Federation of Dog Clubs and Breeders.

Three roving pit bulls killed 82-year-old Sullivan outside her Partlow home March 8. The dogs' owner, Deanna Hilda Large, is awaiting trail on an involuntary manslaughter charge.

"It is my sincere hope that a consensus on the issues can begin to develop and that grievances can be settled," Houck said in a statement. "It is important that we reach that goal now so the 'Dorothy Sullivan Memorial Bill' will have the best chance of passage."

Houck's roundtable discussion will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. in Room 134 of the Fredericksburg campus of Germanna Community College.

Later this evening, the Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on an ordinance that would limit the number of dogs people living in the county's primary settlement district could own based on the size of the owner's lot.

Those living on half an acre to 1 acre would be limited to four dogs; those who have three or more acres could have up to 20 and those living outside the primary settlement area could have up to 50 animals.

The public hearing follows a request for a 250 Rottweiler kennel on five acres on Astarita Avenue. Supervisors unanimously rejected the request by Curtis and Racine Moore earlier this summer.

Police raided the Moore home last year and found 90 dogs and 26 weapons, including an AK-47 rifle and a fully automatic M-203 military rifle with an attached grenade launcher.

Board Chairman Bob Hagan said he expects some opposition to the proposed changes. The hearing begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Holbert building at Spotsylvania Courthouse.

Kim Kincheloe, who keeps nine dogs on five acres outside the primary settlement zone, plans to speak against it.

"It doesn't solve the problem they were hoping to solve," she said. "One animal can be as much of a nuisance as four or five."

Supervisors will also consider another ordinance change that would expand the definition of a dog constituting a public nuisance.

"At the end of the day, any dog that is running loose is an annoyance and potential threat," Hagan said.

Spotsylvania supervisors also passed a revised animal-control ordinance in May. That ordinance imposes a $2,500 fine and a year in jail on dog owners who allow vicious dogs to run at large.

If the animal-control, kennel and public-nuisance ordinances are enacted, the county will have exhausted its authority to control dangerous dogs, Hagan said. Further relief must come from the General Assembly.

"That's one of the reasons Edd Houck is holding the work session," he said.

To reach RUTH FINCH: 540/735-1971 rfinch@freelancestar.com

Date published: 8/9/2005