Registry helps take the bite out of dangerous dogs
Katherine Peters CONTRIBUTING WRITER

One year after Virginia's new dangerous dog statute took effect, Chesterfield residents can now check online for dangerous dogs in their neighborhoods.

In accordance with a July 1 deadline, the Virginia Department of Agriculture recently began posting its Dangerous Dog Registry online, which includes the name and address of the dog's owner and the name, breed and photograph of the dangerous dog.

Eleven dogs were listed under Chesterfield County as of Aug. 1, all of which were deemed to be "dangerous" by General District Court judges after the new law took effect last year. Dogs deemed dangerous prior to that date will be added by October, the deadline set by the state law.

"I suspect we'll have a big leap in October," wrote Elaine Lidholm, spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, in an e-mail. "Our state veterinarian estimated that there may be 75 to 100 of those dogs still alive [statewide] that will need to be registered, but…his estimate may be low."

The Web site represents the last phase of the dangerous dog legislation to go into effect.

Before the legislation, owners whose dogs were suspected to be dangerous were ordered to appear before an animal control committee, which then determined whether or not the dog was indeed a danger to society. Owners could appeal the committee's decision in General District Court.

Now, owners of suspected dangerous dogs may be summoned directly before a General District Court magistrate, bypassing the committee process.

"All told, we probably have the same number of cases [as before the legislation], but we have a few more in court because we no longer have that administrative issue," said Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Robert Fierro.

The legislation's real bite, however, comes in its penalties for owners who have not restrained their dangerous dogs.

"As far as Chesterfield County goes, the previous local ordinance is quite similar to what the state law [now] requires," Fierro said. "[But] the consequences for individual [dog owners] changed significantly."

Under the state law, owners whose dangerous dogs get loose and maul someone now face felony charges. Even if the victim is a pet instead of a human, the owner is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor, which could mean jail time in addition to a fine.

Thankfully, the new penalties appear to be keeping dangerous dogs on a shorter leash. "We haven't had any of those incidents yet," Fierro said.

Under the statute, a "dangerous dog" is defined as a canine that has "bitten, attacked or inflicted injury on a person or companion animal that is a dog or cat, or killed a companion animal that is a dog or cat."

Such dogs must be muzzled and leashed in public, or safely contained inside the owner's home or in a secure outside enclosure at all times. Owners must obtain an insurance policy valued at no less than $100,000 that covers animal bites, in addition to posting signs that warn visitors of potential harm.

In more serious cases, a dog may be deemed "vicious" if they've "killed a person" or "inflicted serious injury to a person, including multiple bites" or "serious disfigurement." These dogs are euthanized.

Although the Clerk's Office could not determine the exact number of pending dangerous dog cases, Fierro said he deals with "just a handful" on a regular basis.

The most recent case in Chesterfield was determined on July 18 when the court convicted Tracy Hunt Marshall of Cole Hollow Drive of two offenses of dogs running at large and imposed fines. Her dogs, two pit bull mixed breeds, were declared dangerous and are currently with animal control. The statute requires her to register the dogs with the Dangerous Dog Registry within 45 days of the court determination.

To access the registry, visit www.vdacs. virginia.gov/animals/dogs.shtml.