Residents urge enforcement of pit bull ordinance after dog attack on Thistle Lane

During public comment at the July 11 Ben Hill County Commissioners meeting, two residents described an ongoing dangerous-dog situation on Thistle Lane and asked the board to investigate and enforce the county's pit bull ordinance.

Resident Louie Harper said there are two aggressive dogs at 128 Thistle Lane that attacked a neighbor's dog and that the dogs continue to dig out from under their owner’s fence and roam the neighborhood; he urged the commissioners to address the situation with "concern and haste." Later in the public comment period, Wilma Jean Clemons said her dog was attacked by the neighbor's pit bull in "a very aggressive manner," required 13 days of veterinary care and four surgeries, and presented photographs of the injuries. Clemons said the dog has been returned to its owner and told the commission, "I am scared to be in my own yard." Both speakers asked the board to investigate and to enforce the county ordinance because they said the animals remain a threat.

The public minutes do not record any immediate action taken by the commission in response to these comments, nor do they record whether county animal-control staff or law enforcement were present or directed to follow up. The public record lists the commenters' names and addresses: Louie Harper, 315 Bethlehem Church Road, and Wilma Jean Clemons, 136 Thistle Lane.