Boland trying to put some teeth into vicious dog laws

State Rep. Mike Boland, D-East Moline, wants owners whose dogs run uncontrolled and are not neutered to face felony charges if the dogs attack.

Owners convicted under the proposed felony would face up to three years in prison and $25,000 in fines.

"I've introduced legislation, and I'm going to make it one of my top priorities to try to do something about vicious dog attacks that we've had not just locally here in the Quad-Cities, but all around the state," he said.

In November, two children were hospitalized and four adults were injured in McHenry County after being attacked by three pit bulls. In January 2004, 14-year-old Lydia Elaine Chaplin of rural Erie died of hypothermia after being attacked by dogs.

Rep. Boland said Miss Chaplin's father approached him about proposing the legislation during the spring legislative session that begins Jan. 11.

Other attempts to pass legislation aimed at preventing dog attacks have taken different approaches.

Rep. Jerry L. Mitchell, R-Rock Falls, introduced a bill after Miss Chaplin's death that would have allowed local municipalities to choose to ban certain breeds, such as pit bulls and rottweilers. It was not passed by the legislature.

Mitchell notes that Boland's measure only affects a dog's owner. What would happen if someone other than the owner was responsible for letting a dog out? And the fact that Boland's measure only comes into play AFTER an attack has taken place, in effect giving every dog one free attack, which could be fatal.

This whole thing is pretty misguided. Aren't there other matters which are far, far more important? Are legislators really so impotent and desperate for SOME law they can get passed and get their names on that they end up with stuff like this?

And why does every single tragedy seem to result in some legislator proposing a law? It's already to the point where you can't turn around without breaking a law, are these knee-jerk politically motivated bills really a good idea?