Post by Brooke on Jan 21, 2004 17:41:47 GMT -5
County grants free ride to a dead dog
License fee waived for dog that was shot By BROOK REINHARD Let sleeping dogs lie, the maxim says. Or, in the case considered Tuesday by the Klamath County Commissioners, let dead dogs lie, for free.
The commissioners spent 20 minutes Tuesday morning deciding whether to assess fees and fines against the owners of two dogs - including one that died recently - that harassed a group of turkeys.
Among the issues: whether to impose a fine for failing to license the now-deceased dog.
In early July, Scott Carlson and Shannon Metcalft of Klamath Falls owned two dogs, a weimaraner and a black Labrador retriever.
But then the two animals tangled with some turkeys belonging to neighbor Rob Long, who said he shot and killed the black Lab after he found two dead turkeys and saw the dogs going after a third.
Klamath County Animal Control soon became involved in the case, and after Long refused to negotiate with Carlson and Metcalft, the turkey tiff ended up before the commissioners at their Tuesday meeting.
Because the dogs caused damage to Long's property, the commissioners said they were required to fine the owners at least $500, plus boarding fees of about $300 for the surviving animal and a $100 penalty for not licensing the weimaraner.
But what about the dead dog? The black Lab wasn't licensed either, and Commissioner Steve West said a $100 fee should be assessed for that animal as well, adding there are enough people in Klamath County who don't license their dogs who need to realize there are penalties for their actions.
Chairman Al Switzer and Commissioner John Elliott disagreed.
"I guess I don't mind the $100 on the dog that's still alive," Switzer said. "But the dog that's dead?"
The two dissenting commissioners ended up overriding West's proposal to fine the owners for the dead dog, but Carlson and Metcalft will still have to pay at least $900 in penalties, boarding fees and licensing fees for the living animal. The two are allowed to keep the weimaraner, as long as it's relocated to an area without livestock.
License fee waived for dog that was shot By BROOK REINHARD Let sleeping dogs lie, the maxim says. Or, in the case considered Tuesday by the Klamath County Commissioners, let dead dogs lie, for free.
The commissioners spent 20 minutes Tuesday morning deciding whether to assess fees and fines against the owners of two dogs - including one that died recently - that harassed a group of turkeys.
Among the issues: whether to impose a fine for failing to license the now-deceased dog.
In early July, Scott Carlson and Shannon Metcalft of Klamath Falls owned two dogs, a weimaraner and a black Labrador retriever.
But then the two animals tangled with some turkeys belonging to neighbor Rob Long, who said he shot and killed the black Lab after he found two dead turkeys and saw the dogs going after a third.
Klamath County Animal Control soon became involved in the case, and after Long refused to negotiate with Carlson and Metcalft, the turkey tiff ended up before the commissioners at their Tuesday meeting.
Because the dogs caused damage to Long's property, the commissioners said they were required to fine the owners at least $500, plus boarding fees of about $300 for the surviving animal and a $100 penalty for not licensing the weimaraner.
But what about the dead dog? The black Lab wasn't licensed either, and Commissioner Steve West said a $100 fee should be assessed for that animal as well, adding there are enough people in Klamath County who don't license their dogs who need to realize there are penalties for their actions.
Chairman Al Switzer and Commissioner John Elliott disagreed.
"I guess I don't mind the $100 on the dog that's still alive," Switzer said. "But the dog that's dead?"
The two dissenting commissioners ended up overriding West's proposal to fine the owners for the dead dog, but Carlson and Metcalft will still have to pay at least $900 in penalties, boarding fees and licensing fees for the living animal. The two are allowed to keep the weimaraner, as long as it's relocated to an area without livestock.