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Stricter animal control laws needed, board says

by Jason Lamb
Wednesday, January 14, 2009

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Months after a deadly pitbull attack in East Anchorage comes talk of changing Anchorage animal control laws.

It was back in August when a pet pitbull mauled a six-year-old East Anchorage girl to death.

At a Public Safety Committee meeting Wednesday, the Anchorage Animal Control Advisory Board said the municipality's animal control laws need to be changed.

The advisory board said that under current law, an aggressive animal can get away with repeated attacks on humans, as long as they don't cause significant physical injury.

According to Anchorage municipal code, physical injury can mean anything -- scrapes, cuts or other similar injuries.

But a serious physical injury is something that would be life threatening, a serious disfigurement, or something that impairs the victim's health or internal organs.

The board recommended a stricter policy for animals that continually injure people, regardless if the injury is classified as serious or not.

The stricter policy could include euthanasia after repeated offenses.

"I've heard a lot of anecdotal stories of people who were attacked by animals and the scars aren't necessarily physical," Assmeblyman Mike Gutierrez said. "The scars aren't necessarily the ones you can see, but they remain -- some of the psychological scars remain forever."

But the policy wouldn't deter problems with aggressive animals or irresponsible owners, said Neil Koeniger, a member of the animal control advisory board.

"I think the important piece is the public outreach and community education about responsible animal ownership," Koeniger said.

The Anchorage Assembly would have to approve any official changes in animal control law.

Contact Jason Lamb at jlamb@ktuu.com