Town mulls dog control

[news]

Harsh terms in suggested ordinance, say officials

The Township Committee decided Monday not to introduce an ordinance that would allow the township animal control officer to shoot loose dogs.

The Cranbury Board of Health proposed the ordinance because of a series of complaints members received about menacing dogs, Board of Health President Bernice Shapiro said Wednesday. Ms. Shapiro talked about the proposal Monday with residents and Township Committee members.

According to the proposed ordinance, menacing dogs are dogs that pose a threat "of bodily injury or death to a human being."

The proposal said that if a dog is caught walking freely in the township without its owner, it could be "impounded or killed" by an animal control officer or dogcatcher.

Township officials said the wording of the ordinance was subjective and the terms it set were harsh.

"It's so strong on first read that it seems like we have a chronic problem," Committeeman David Stout said. "That's what worries me. Do we have a problem? Or do we have a series of isolated incidents?"

(more)