Travis County Commssioners Court
December 28, 2004
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Citizens Communication
Citizens communication.
>> if you could just have a seat there, sir. And give us your full name, we will be happy to get your comments. And you will have up to three minutes.
>> my name is jim van walske, 2107 lake shore drive which is not in the city of Austin, but it's over on the west side of the river. There are no leash laws where we are and there is no problem. We have no crime, no burglary, no trespass. And the dogs act as a deterrent. I think what the problem with this dog attack was, it's a vicious dog problem, it's not dogs walking loose problem. And a friend of microchip, my fishing buddy had an older gentleman was almost 70 years old accused of convicted of killing a dog and the law had changed in Williamson county fortunately he was not convicted on a felony, but it is a felony now. It's extremely strong consequences, long ago you could kill dogs that were nuisances. In fact I was listening to the radio this morning and a lady commentator said why didn't you just shoot the dog. You know what happens when you shoot a dog, that's a hanging offense now, at least to some people. I think what we really need to do is look at vicious dog control and not put all dogs on the end of a leash. And um -- I know my dog was very gentle and everybody said, geez, your dog, you know, just comes out and greets everybody, just sits and watches people. So I think 99.999% are good dogs, but pit bulls, rottweilers and the dumped dogs who are left out in the county, which is a big problem, people get tired of their dog, just dump them and they get feral is what happens, there should be a process for eliminating them. Maybe take those dogs down, maybe get the dog out of the dog pound, $200 fine, next time a needle, collar, something like that. Can't just keep stock piling them, you can't punish all of the dogs nor the dog owners, thank you.
>> thank you, sir.
>> we have been told by our legal counsel if we adopt a leash law we must apply it county-wide. I -- 10 or 12 years ago we looked at looking at a specific precinct where that seemed to be a problem. I guess there was some -- maybe uncertainty then. Now it's clear whatever action we take, we have to take county-wide, which would be in all of the unincorporated parts of Travis County.
>> there's no easy solution. What other suggestions did legal say other than can't, shoonlts, don't -- shouldn't, don't, wouldn't, new law. That's the perspective of everybody, don't, want, can't, shouldn't law leash, tie them down.
>> I’m hoping we will have a full discussion of the options next week.
>> thank you.
>> by the way I doubt that there will be 500 people here, but I know that there will be more than one.
>> thank you.
>> thank you. Appreciate you coming down.
>> have a happy new year.
Last Modified:
Tuesday, December 28, 2004 3:19 PM