GENEVA, Ala. (WTVY) – Geneva has rules about dangerous dogs. But when dogs attacked Sheila Pate last month, the laws in place did not protect her.
April Swinton Benford said there needs to be more than laws now on the books.
“It’s not enough. It’s not enough. Something more severe needs to be done. Because currently what they have in place is not working,” Benford said.
For 16 years, Benford has owned T&S Mobile Home Park, just steps from where dogs attacked Pate.
“We have a dog problem. We have a dog issue. We had somebody die, a classmate’s brother, which his name was Daniel Kaye. He died in Geneva. Nothing ever happened,” Benford said. “My father was bitten a few years ago in Geneva, cutting grass. All the medical bills, everything associated with that, that was on him.”
Benford said part of the answer is staffing. According to her, the city has just one animal patrol officer handling dangerous dog complaints.
“I have sat here some nights and called and waited on patrol to get here. And by the time the patrol gets here sometimes, it’s too late. The stray dog has run away,” Benford said.
The mobile home park sits near two schools where students walk every day.
The city heard those frustrations at a council meeting on Monday night. Mayor David Hayes agrees the city wants to pass tougher laws, but for now, he urges residents to be proactive and call the non-emergency number if they spot a dangerous dog.
“We find more times than not, no one is called until it’s too late or almost too late. We’re very proactive on dogs. If you’ll call that non-emergency number, it gives us a record of how many times somebody’s called. So it helps us track when we don’t do our job right, too,” Hayes said.
Hayes also said stiffer laws and fines are on the table, calling them a key piece to a real solution.
“I believe if we impose a stiff enough fine, we can stop some of it. But we’re going to take it as far as we can go with it and push it,” Hayes said.
“If your pets kill somebody, you’re responsible. We don’t have any ordinance in place for that. And I’m just praying, and I’m just hoping that nobody else has to get hurt or die before something is done,” Benford said.
The city council is expected to revisit the dog matter soon.
News4’s efforts to reach Police Chief Pepper Mock about how to enforce dog laws were unsuccessful.
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