Quote from hookemhorns on 10/29/07 at 12:46pm:

 
At this point, I find it very difficult to feel sorry for the owner of these two Huskies.  Responsible, loving pet owners adhere to the laws and protect not only their own pets but also the pets of others.  If these two dogs had gotten out once or twice I could see it maybe being isolated incidents.  However, from what we can tell about the killings of all these cats, these two dogs have been roaming and killing for some weeks now.  
 
My son said they were aggressive to him (snarling, baring of teeth, and growling) but only when he got within 10 feet of them.  He stated that they "cowered" as he approached them until he got too close.  An animal that "cowers" before a human and then gets aggressive is usually a mis-treated animal.

Well, it's a letdown, to say the least!  Officer Davis said he went to the home and the dogs were inside their fence.  He talked with the owner and explained what has been happening and told him the number of cats that have been killed.  He said the owner was "SOMEWHAT CONTRITE"!  Can you believe that??  "Somewhat contrite"!  Ten of our pets have been killed by this man's dogs and he is "somewhat contrite"!!  The owner said he is "trying to keep the dogs fenced in but they keep getting out".  Officer Davis told him that he was probably going to be hearing from a lot of his very angry neighbors!  However, he wasn't allowed to give me the owner's name!  But, my guess is that he lives at 527 or 531 Park Terrace or thereabouts based on my son and his neighbor tracking the dogs to that address.
 
Officer Davis couldn't take the dogs because they were inside the fence at that time.  He can only take them when they are out roaming the streets IF he can catch them.  I asked what recourse we have and here it is:
 
We (as many as will) have to go the the Police Department and file a "Viscious Dog Complaint".  The police department will issue a complaint number.  The complaint then has to be taken to the Magistrate where you have to file a deposition.  Only THEN, they can go take the dogs!
 

Y'all may be getting tired of so many posts from me in a row, but I'm doing my best to get this issue under control.  Here is the City of Hoover Ordinance regarding Viscious Dogs:
 
Sec. 4-19. Vicious animals.
It shall be unlawful for the owner or other person in charge thereof to harbor or keep in the city or the police jurisdiction thereof a vicious animal, unless the same is confined, muzzled and bound in such a manner as to prevent such animal from biting or attacking a person or other animal. It shall be prima facie evidence that an animal is a vicious animal if it shall bite or fiercely attack any person or any other animal, such person or other animal at the time of said biting or attack not being on the owner's premises.
(Ord. No. 82-343, § 4, 5-14-82; Ord. No. 88-695, 2-15-88)
State law references:  Personal injury caused by vicious animal, Code of Ala. 1975, § 3-1-3; liability of owners of animals biting or injuring persons, Code of Ala. 1975, § 3-6-1 et seq.  
 
 
Sec. 4-21. Running at large.
(a)   It shall be unlawful for the owner or person in charge of an animal except cats and fowl to cause or permit such animal to run at large or be upon a street, sidewalk, thoroughfare, property other than that of the owner of the animal, or public place within the city or its police jurisdiction, unless such animal is attached to a leash in the hands of said owner or person in charge of said animal.  
(b)   The owner of a dog, and any other person or persons in custody or control thereof, shall cause to be removed any solid body excretions deposited by said dog on any property not owned by or in possession of the dog owner or the person or persons in custody and control of said dog at the time of said deposit.
(Ord. No. 82-343, § 6, 5-14-82; Ord. No. 88-695, 2-15-88; Ord. No. 89-844, 11-20-89; Ord. No. 90-904, 6-18-90; Ord. No. 91-983, 1-7-91; Ord. No. 00-1748, 3-20-00)
 
Run at large  shall include all times and places when the animal is not confined, restrained or enclosed within a wall, fence which may include an electrified invisible fence or barrier or other enclosure on the premises of the owner or person in charge in such manner as to prevent effectively its escape, or is not attached to a leash in the hands of said owner or person in charge.  
(Ord. No. 82-343, § 1, 5-14-82; Ord. No. 88-695, 2-15-88; Ord. No. 90-977, 1-7-91; Ord. No. 00-1748, 3-20-00)
 
Sec. 4-24. Same--Release of animals generally.
(a)   The owner shall be entitled to resume possession of any impounded animal, except as provided in this section in the cases of fierce, dangerous or vicious animals
 
 

Thanks for all the good information on this issue.
 
So right, if they are getting out now they are STILL going to get out.  
I have a dog and I keep it in my backyard.... we had to do some work on our fence and plug some holes.... if we can do it so can this owner!
 
I am so sorry to all that have lost a pet in this issue. I was wondering, and it a bit off topic, if anyone would like to put together a Bluff Park Pets pic page for the community website. ITs a Heather's Corner idea. IF so send me your pics  and name and name of pet to heather@bluffparkal.org

I was going to ask about who could file a complaint.  It sounds like I can't, since I have not witnessed an attack.  If the dogs live on Bedford, I understand the sighting on Brookline.  They are just backyards away.  But haven't the attacks been on or near Park?  Please continue to post any information.  
Addendum, I love the idea of pictures of Bluff Park pets.

PharmD's very on target reply to my comment - 'People are talking about pumpkins while this is happening?'.  I was upset and said something I even knew in the back of my mind was stupid when I said it.  Unfortunately, the back of my mind doesn't always catch up in time...

Quote from straycatmom on 10/29/07 at 8:45pm:

 
 
if you were referring to my story on pumpkin carving, I did not catch it reading through the first time. Dont worry about it, it happens.. that is what "modify" is for  
 
Just so you dont think I am insensitive to the issue I had been working and finding a pumpkin carver for about 2 weeks... before this thread started. Just happened to go live on the website at the same time as this issue was being talked about.
 
It is a little difficult for me right now about pets, over the last 6 months I have lost both my dogs and my rabbit to illness. My dogs were 16 and 17 years old one had kidney disease and one was deaf and blind, we had to have both of the put to sleep.. it was just horrible. Then a month or so ago my rabbit was diagnosed with a carcoma type cancer, it was out of the blue one day the tumor (and it was big) was just there. She died with us at about 2am. We called every emergency vet and ended up talking to a lady at the Auburn vet hospital after hours line, she was so nice and told us how to make my rabbit comfortable. She did not make it throughout the night but she died in peace and in no trauma and with her family. So as you can see I am very much a pet lover and really feel your fear and pain in this issue.. just difficult to talk about.  On a happy note, we adopted a puppy from the Shelby Humane Society Friday, she had been there for 5 months from newborn. I was not sure I was really emotionally ready for the adoption but she just kind of said "your taking me home" and so we did

Quote from PharmD on 10/30/07 at 5:19pm:

 
FYI - The Bluff Park Information page on this site has had a section for Lost/Found Pets (or anything else for that matter) since our inception last year.  If you lose or find something, send an e-mail to info@bluffparkal.org and we'll post it on that page:  http://www.bluffparkal.org/information.htm .  There's no charge for this, just make sure you let us know when you don't need the announcement anymore.  
 
The fastest that a dog has been returned to an owner using the web site has been 1 Hour 45 minutes.