Pender to unleash dangerous dog laws?

Other counties may be using New Hanover County’s dangerous dog laws as an example.

Pender County commissioners are discussing stricter animal control ordinances after two pit bulls recently killed a small dog.

New Hanover County animal control services manager Jean McNeil says the county’s Dangerous Dog Law has been in place since 1990. It uses a set of criteria to deem a dog dangerous. “I feel like what we have in place is very effective if people are willing to do the follow up work we need for them to do.”

McNeil says Brunswick County is also looking to follow New Hanover County’s guidelines. She encourages people to take advantage of the dangerous dog law by contacting animal control when they first have a complaint with a dog, and not waiting until several incidents happen.