Thursday, January 28, 2010
Officials Implementing Safety Measures For Animal Control
As City of Lawrenceburg Animal Control Officer Steve Henson continues to recover from the October dog attack that left him seriously injured, officials are working to implement improved conditions and safety measures in an effort to prevent any similar instances.
Henson, age 44, sustained serious injuries on Monday, October 19 when he was attacked by a dog confined at the city’s dog pound. The Pit Bull had reportedly been brought to the facility the week prior after it attacked the couple who had adopted it.
While working at the dog pound, the Pit Bull reportedly escaped his cage and attacked Henson. Henson lost a portion of one thumb due to the attack and sustained other serious injuries.
He was eventually able to throw some gasoline on the dog’s face and escape. Henson then drove himself to Crockett Hospital. He was then airlifted to Vanderbilt where he underwent surgeries to repair damages. The dog was euthanized following the attack.
Lawrenceburg Human Resources Director and Safety Officer Ken Hinson and Lawrenceburg Police Chief Judy Moore addressed the Lawrenceburg Board of Mayor and Council Thursday morning regarding changes enacted since the dog attack.
Hinson told council members that one change involved placing Animal Control Officers on the same radio frequency as police officers. He indicated that animal control is now required to use police codes on the radio, checking in with Lawrence Central Dispatch periodically.
This, Hinson said, will allow police officers to respond to an animal control officer’s position when assistance is needed. It will also allow dispatchers to monitor the animal control officers’ activity. Dispatchers would be able to contact the officers to check their status, as well.
Moore pointed out that, in the future, any time there is a report of a vicious dog, a police officer will be dispatched to assist animal control. “This incident brought a lot of issues to our attention,” Moore told the council, “Things that we had never had to address before.”
Moore said that although the use of tranquilizer guns was eliminated in the past, she is looking into the possibility of future use under extreme conditions.
Both Moore and Hinson recommended that the council research the city’s ordinance concerning the handling of dogs, to see whether it may need to be updated.
According to Hinson, “We are looking at what to do to improve conditions at the dog pound itself, as well as to improve safety there.”
In addition to these considerations, Hinson indicated that the department is working more closely with local animal rights groups to offer additional services in that area. “They are placing photos in the newspaper to offer animals for adoption,”
Hinson pointed out. In addition, he explained that Assistant Police Chief Darrin Goolsby is putting together Public Service Announcements to explain to residents that they should check with animal control when they have a missing pet, as well when they are looking to adopt one.
At this point, Moore said, Henson is recovering well. He has six weeks of physical therapy remaining and is currently back on the job, with somewhat limited job responsibilities.
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