Council addresses loose dogs problem

A heated discussion took place concerning loose dogs at the Elmer City council meeting May 10.

After the council was finished with the main agenda, which including disposing of an old trailer, the topic of loose dogs came up in a discussion.

Several members of the council, as well as city employees, noted that dogs running loose, intimidating children, and getting into people’s yards, is an issue in the town.

“I would just shoot them if they came in my yard,” said Councilmember Don Bonertz, “which is too bad; it’s not the dogs’ fault, it’s the people’s fault.”

Solutions brainstormed at the meeting are to post flyers at the post office and wherever else is appropriate, as well as to send out a newsletter detailing contact info for the dog catcher for the Colville Tribal Police, Janessa Morin, who may be reached by contacting the Colville Tribal Police at 509-634-2473.

Since the meeting, flyers have been posted at the Post Office as well as at City Hall. City Clerk Gary Benton noted that the flyer had been torn down at the post office, but he will put up another.

The flyer addresses the issues with dogs roaming in packs, getting into garbage, and attacking dogs and cats.

Jimmer Tillman, the public works director for Elmer City, suggested that the council write a letter to the tribal police department on the issue. Another suggestion was to double check that the tribal police department is aware of Elmer City’s ordinances that limit an owner to two dogs, which must be contained.