Dog Court: All it takes is one complaint

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY)– Dog court was in session today.

It’s a system that allows pet owners to appeal violations from New Hanover County Animal Services. Like many others, dog owner, Lauren Freeman, says her eight-pound Maltese Bo is part of the family.

“He’s absolutely the sweetest dog you’ve ever come into contact with,” Freeman said.

New Hanover County Animal Services says all it takes is one complaint for a pet owner to get a violation letter in the mail. That’s exactly what happened to Bo.

“This one neighbor says that he viciously attacked him on his bicycle, and that is where my nightmare has started,” Freeman said.

First Freeman says the neighbor claimed the dog is dangerous.

“He’s an eight-pound Maltese,” she said.

Then she says he claimed the dog was running loose.

“It’s a false accusation, but I’ve been accused of it, and because I’ve been accused, because he filed the complaint, Animal Control has had to do their job, which is follow through with the complaint.”

The hearing officer for animal services, Martin Michaelson, says that is why they have dog court.

“To give the public an opportunity to appeal their violations much as a traffic violation,” Michaelson said.

Animal services says normally if a dangerous dog runs loose there is a $500 fine. In Freeman’s case they decided to reduce her fine to $100.

“They reduced it, but I would have been much happier if they’d just thrown it out, because there is no proof,” Freeman said.

Animal services says there is a separate appeals court for dangerous dogs. That next hearing is September 18th.