Humane Society to hand out tickets
5-22-03
By Stacey Creasy
Pilot News
PLYMOUTH � A few months from now, the Marshall County Humane Society�s bite will be worse than its bark.
Humane Society Director Nancy Cox and animal control officer Cindy Barenie will be allowed to issue fines for animal-related violations that are currently on the county books.
�We have some great ordinances,� Cox said. �We�ve just never been allowed to enforce them before now.�
Cox approached the Marshall County Commissioners Monday with an example of the problems she and Barenie face.
She told the commissioners of a case where a stray dog bit a little girl. The stray was at the girl�s house, attracted to their female dog. When the girls walked up to the strange dog, he bit her.
The girl�s father reportedly shot the dog.
�This is why we need to be able to enforce the ordinances and give people who let their dogs run loose in the county, a ticket,� Cox said.
The commissioners gave Cox the go-ahead to issue citations to people who violate the existing ordinances.
Cox said she does not want to see people or pets in trouble, but the decision is long overdue.
�We are so excited,� she said. � We will be able to enforce the ordinances. The tickets will bring in some revenue. We�ll be able to earn our keep around here.�
The ordinances apply to dogs in the county. Plymouth, however, has its own set of animal codes. Cox said tickets will be issued for pets running loose, dogs or cats without a collar and tags, and excessive barking.
�We have to hear the dog bark for 15 minutes. That�s what the ordinance says,� Cox said. �We will give them a warning for the first offense and a ticket for the second offense.�
The decision is an important one to the humane society. Cox said over the years she and Barenie have become frustrated with going out on calls.
�We would tell them they were violating the county ordinance,�she said. �But they knew there wasn�t anything we could do about it. Now we can.�
Cox and Barenie are working on fines with Marshall County Attorney Jim Clevenger. Cox estimates the ticket policy will be implemented �in a few months.�
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