*ALERT** Salem, Arkansas

**There are four cities in Arkansas named Salem. This alert is for Salem, Arkansas in Fulton County.**

Please send your polite and respectful opposition to breed specific legislation to the Salem city officials. The city is reviewing breed specific ordinances in other Arkansas towns. Please also send viable alternatives to breed bans, as well as educational materials for their review.

SALEM, ARKANSAS

Address:
P.O. Box 619
SALEM, AR 72576
Phone: (870) 895-3478
Fax: (870) 895-4540

Meetings:
Fourth Thursday

Email: cityofsalem@centuryinter.net

Dog ordinance discussed

11/01/07
Brooke Ninemire Staff Writer
An old issue was brought to the forefront of discussion at the regular meeting of the Salem City Council Oct. 25 – dogs.

The council decided to review other communities’ dog ordinances to see what revisions could be made to improve Salem’s own law.

They discussed the possibility of outlawing certain breeds of dogs such as pit bulls to be kept within city limits.

Sheila Auten, who lives along Byron Road in Salem, spoke to the council regarding the lax attitude of some of her neighbors who own large, seemingly vicious dogs.

After listening to Auten’s concerns, many of the council members voiced similar worries saying that despite the city’s dog ordinance, wandering dogs were still a problem within Salem’s city limits.

Auten said there are pit bulls and rottweilers which belong to individuals who live near her home that are allowed to roam free and often end up on her own property.

Salem first addressed the issue when an animal ordinance was passed in July 2006.

The original ordinance did not specify one type of pet; it was established to encompass all animals such as cats and dogs that might be found roaming as strays.

Salem’s ordinance states it will allow city authorities to fine pet owners if their pet makes excessive noise, causes damage to personal property, scatters refuge, harasses passersby, attacks people or other animals, obstructs traffic or causes any person to reasonably fear bodily injury by attacking or threatening to attack people other than trespassers.

The ordinance also states that a person may kill a domestic pet to end an attack upon a person or another domestic pet or animal.

There are a number of varying dog ordinances throughout the state. Several Arkansas towns including Mammoth Spring, Manila and Van Buren ban breeds of vicious dogs within city limits.

Earlier this year Calico Rock in Izard County revised their city’s dog ordinance after an 82-year-old woman was attacked and hospitalized due to an incident that involved multiple dog attacks.

Salem City Council members said proactive action needed to be taken. They agreed something should be done before an actual attack on a Salem resident occurs.

At the time of the current law’s approval, Salem Mayor Gary Clayton said the ordinance was a starting point for dealing with the problem of stray animals and that it could be changed in the future.

Now it appears the council might make that change. Members decided to resume the discussion during the November meeting.

Because of the upcoming holidays, the council voted to change the regular meeting dates of the November and December city council meetings.

In November the Salem City Council will meet one week earlier on Nov. 15, and in December the council will gather on Dec. 13.