After a recent string of dog bites reported in Crystal City, council members have updated the city’s ordinance addressing dangerous and vicious animals.
Robert Sullivan, building and planning director for Crystal City, wrote the proposed changes to the ordinance, which clarify fees to get licenses for animals deemed dangerous and vicious and which standardize the size and location for required signage at homes where dangerous and vicious animals are housed.
The updated annual licensing fee is $50 for each animal deemed dangerous and vicious, and the ordinance now requires signs to be at least 12 inches wide by 18 inches tall and include the phrase, “dangerous and vicious animal on the premises.” The signs must be clearly visible and posted on a minimum of four sides of the premises.
Sullivan said while the number of dog bites in Crystal City have been higher than normal, a majority of the bite cases were from two particular dogs at the same location. Both of those dogs currently are in custody at the city’s Animal Control Department.
According to city ordinances, if the Animal Control officer or a city police officer has probable cause to believe an animal is dangerous and vicious, the city attorney may submit a probable-cause affidavit to the municipal judge, who may then call a hearing to determine whether the animal should be declared dangerous and vicious.
Sullivan said the city had asked the court to declare the two particular dogs currently in Animal Control custody dangerous and vicious when they escaped from their home and were involved in other biting incidents.
Sullivan said the city is moving forward in the legal process related to those two dogs. Due to the number of bites and viciousness involved, the owners may face criminal charges, which can range from misdemeanors up to felonies, which is up to the court to decide, Sullivan said.
Owners of animals deemed dangerous and vicious in the city have several requirements besides paying a licensing fee and obtaining signage if they want to keep their pets. Requirements include rules on leashing and muzzling; microchipping; spaying or neutering; taking obedience training; and obtaining liability insurance covering any damage or injury caused by the animal. If the owner does not comply with the requirements, the animal may be impounded and eventually euthanized or removed from the city.
Sullivan said anyone who is bitten by a dog should inform Animal Control as soon as possible so the dog may be impounded and quarantined for a minimum of 10 days to ensure it doesn’t have rabies. If the bite is not reported promptly, it makes it more difficult for Animal Control to track down the animal.
“If we are called right when it happens, we can get out there hopefully while the animal that made the bite is still around. Sometimes they vacate pretty quickly,” Sullivan said.
He also recommends that people who are bitten seek medical attention and report it to Animal Control, even if they don’t believe it to be a serious injury.
“We need to know about them all, even if it’s your own animal, just so that we can make sure everybody’s safe and make sure that dog has his rabies shot.”
So far this year, Crytal City has received three reports about dogs biting humans, and last year, Crystal City got six reports when dogs bit people and three when dogs bit other dogs.
In 2022, the city got two reports of dogs biting humans, and in 2021, the city received four reports about dogs biting people and one about a cat biting a person, according to Animal Control.
Of the nine reports about dogs biting people since 2023, five of them involved the two dogs who are now in Animal Control custody awaiting court cases. One of those bites reportedly was provoked by one of the people in the home where the two dogs lived, the department reported.
None of those bites required stiches, according to Animal Control.