photo by: Douglas County

Lawrence Humane Society staff address members of the Douglas County Commission as part of the the commission's meeting Dec. 1, 2021.

Douglas County leaders have approved changes to the animal control code that aim to improve how the county handles issues such as dogs running loose, displaying threatening behavior or harming people or other animals.

As part of its meeting Wednesday, the Douglas County Commission voted unanimously to approve revisions to the county’s animal control code for unincorporated or rural areas, including provisions related to nuisance animals, vicious animals and reckless pet owners. The code changes come as the county prepares to transition the handling of animal control from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office to the Lawrence Humane Society, and Commission Chair Shannon Portillo said she thought the updates to the code and enforcement method would make the county more responsive to concerns.

“I think it actually does allow for more responsiveness, not having to go through the District Court,” Portillo said. “Ultimately, this is a way that we are reforming the criminal justice system and moving things away from criminal to administrative hearings, where I think (issues) can be addressed more readily.”

Ahead of the vote, the commission heard from three cyclists who described frequent encounters with barking and biting dogs on rural roads in Douglas County, including incidents that have led to cyclists getting severely injured from being bitten or from crashing due to a dog attack. Lawrence resident Shannon O’Conner described being chased by multiple dogs this fall on a paved county road near Clinton Lake, and said such encounters put cyclists in danger from both the dog and oncoming traffic.

“When you’re faced with that situation, it is a heart-stopping experience,” O’Conner said. “It is one that takes all of your attention and focus, and cyclists in particular, those of us on the road, we are truly caught between a rock and a hard place.”

O’Conner added that she and other cyclists with her that day did call the Sheriff’s Office about the dogs and their owner, who she said encouraged the dogs, but that the deputy gave them the impression that not much could be done. O’Conner said changing the policies could help make the county safer. Other cyclists also voiced support for some of the changes — which prohibit dogs from running at large or from displaying threatening behavior toward people on the roadway — and said they hoped the rules would be adequately enforced under the new process for handling complaints.

Under the new enforcement method, the Humane Society will handle all but the most serious complaints through an administrative hearing instead of through the court system. After reviewing the existing code, the Humane Society proposed the changes to provide a clearer, more consistent and more enforceable code, according to a county staff memo to the commission.

Portillo said she thought a more responsive process under the Humane Society would mean better safety long-term for cyclists.

The new code includes specific behaviors that classify a dog or other animal as dangerous or vicious and details a process for how those animals are handled. If the administrative hearing process finds a dog to be dangerous, the owner has to securely confine it following certain standards; carry certain insurance; and complete a training class about managing or correcting the problem behavior, among other requirements. If the hearing process finds a dog or other animal to be vicious — which is defined as an animal that severely injures a person — then the hearing officer can order the animal to be removed from the county or euthanized.

Under the new code, owners also cannot allow a dog to run at large beyond their property or allow animals to “put a person in fear.” Putting someone in fear is defined as letting an animal chase, bite or jump on someone outside of the owner’s property or in the public road along their property. The code lays out specific consequences for repeat violations for both animals and their owners.

Assistant County Administrator Jill Jolicoeur said that an additional $113,559 was approved in the county’s budget for 2022 to support Humane Society staffing and other needs to enforce the new animal control code. The county and the Humane Society are working to finalize a service agreement, and it’s expected the new code will be put in force by the first quarter of next year, according to the memo.