Controversy Continues for Evansville's Animal Ordinance
By: Nichole Berlie
Updated: May 22, 2007
Updated shots, micro-chipped, and neutered - an Evansville pet owner says her dog has all of this. However, under the citys new animal control ordinance, she was still fined almost a hundred dollars.
Debby Burkhart says she was fined $80 about a month ago.
She says animal control showed up at her door, with her dog "Copper".
He had gotten loose and animal control officers found him six blocks away.
Burkhart says she agrees a fine is deserved, but thinks its too high since her dog is neutered, has his shots, and is micro-chipped. She says, "I think $80 for everything done that can be done to this dog is way too much."
Fox 7 spoke with animal control superintendent Tom Hayden who says his officers are fair. He claims Burkharts fine actually could have been even higher.
Her dog got loose once before, prior to the new ordinance. Hayden says they could have fined her $150 for a second offense, but they didnt.
