A debate regarding dangerous dogs is scheduled for Monday night in the city of Corsicana, where the town is reviewing its dog ordinance.
With 38 reports of dogs biting humans in Corsicana since Jan. 2013, police say it's a problem.
But there's been criticism as to how the city handles the issue, and community members are calling for change after a 9-pound Chihuahua named Blackie was recently declared a dangerous dog in Corsicana.
Because she bit someone, Blackie has to wear a muzzle and a decal labeling her as dangerous.
Posted signs warn people of 6-year-old Blackie, the only dog in Corsicana deemed dangerous.
"A lady was walking down the street, minding her own business for a walk down the street,†said Police Chief Randy Bratton. “The animal went out into the street and attacked her, unprovoked, and bit her on the ankle.â€
The city says Blackie wasn't licensed and didn't have a rabies vaccine.
Police quarantined Blackie for the required 10 days, then Blackie's owner, Juan Luna, says he went to see an animal control officer.
"I asked her, ‘What do we need to do to save my dog?'†said Luna. “She said, ‘Nothing, because it's the law.'â€
Luna says he was given two options: the muzzle, collar and special tag, or else Blackie would be put down.
"They've harassed, scared, basically bullied people into surrendering their animals and euthanizing them without any due process of law,†said Dr. Bo Ivie, a veterinarian.
Luna went to Dr. Ivie for help after the incident, and while Ivie says the decisions on dangerous dogs should be up to a judge, the city says that its regulations mirror state law, and that once a dog is deemed dangerous, an owner has 15 days to appeal to municipal court. However, Luna didn't.
Even though Blackie is small in size, the city says the law must be applied consistently and fairly.
"If we get into judging the type of dog that bit of person, then we're doing an injustice to the dog, and we open up enforcement to favoritism allegations,†said Bratton.
But Luna says incidents like the one involving Blackie need more clarity.
The Lunas also had to take out liability insurance on Blackie.
Theirs ensures them up to $300,000.
The mayor says that although he thinks the city's dog biting laws are fair and effective, he'll listen to what the packed crowd has to say Monday night.
With 38 reports of dogs biting humans in Corsicana since Jan. 2013, police say it's a problem.
But there's been criticism as to how the city handles the issue, and community members are calling for change after a 9-pound Chihuahua named Blackie was recently declared a dangerous dog in Corsicana.
Because she bit someone, Blackie has to wear a muzzle and a decal labeling her as dangerous.
Posted signs warn people of 6-year-old Blackie, the only dog in Corsicana deemed dangerous.
"A lady was walking down the street, minding her own business for a walk down the street,†said Police Chief Randy Bratton. “The animal went out into the street and attacked her, unprovoked, and bit her on the ankle.â€
The city says Blackie wasn't licensed and didn't have a rabies vaccine.
Police quarantined Blackie for the required 10 days, then Blackie's owner, Juan Luna, says he went to see an animal control officer.
"I asked her, ‘What do we need to do to save my dog?'†said Luna. “She said, ‘Nothing, because it's the law.'â€
Luna says he was given two options: the muzzle, collar and special tag, or else Blackie would be put down.
"They've harassed, scared, basically bullied people into surrendering their animals and euthanizing them without any due process of law,†said Dr. Bo Ivie, a veterinarian.
Luna went to Dr. Ivie for help after the incident, and while Ivie says the decisions on dangerous dogs should be up to a judge, the city says that its regulations mirror state law, and that once a dog is deemed dangerous, an owner has 15 days to appeal to municipal court. However, Luna didn't.
Even though Blackie is small in size, the city says the law must be applied consistently and fairly.
"If we get into judging the type of dog that bit of person, then we're doing an injustice to the dog, and we open up enforcement to favoritism allegations,†said Bratton.
But Luna says incidents like the one involving Blackie need more clarity.
The Lunas also had to take out liability insurance on Blackie.
Theirs ensures them up to $300,000.
The mayor says that although he thinks the city's dog biting laws are fair and effective, he'll listen to what the packed crowd has to say Monday night.
Thoughts?