Public concern about dog attacks has reached the Kalamazoo City Commission, following a serious incident in the Edison neighborhood last week where a loose dog bit a man repeatedly until it was shot dead by police.
Kathi Valeii lives a few blocks from where the attack occurred. On Monday she told commissioners she’s been threatened by loose dogs more than once. Valeii called on the city to treat unleashed dogs as a threat to public safety.
“The people I’ve seen jump into my neighbor’s fenced yard to avoid a loose dog deserve better. My kid who’s scared to walk four houses down because he’s afraid he’s going to get mauled by a dog deserves better,” she said.
Commissioners said the city can look for ways to make its leash laws more effective. Board member Matt Milcarek says he’s had his share of run-ins with less-than-friendly off-leash dogs.
“I’d certainly like us to include looking at dog-related ordinances and what can we do in regards to handing out civil versus criminal infractions that might make what our officers need to do a little bit easier,” he said on Monday.
Several commissioners said county government also has a role to play in the safety issue. It’s Kalamazoo County Animal Services and Enforcement’s job to catch loose dogs.