AGENDA BLOUNT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ...

VICIOUS DOG HEARING
Thursday, June 14, 2012 - 10:00 a.m.
Room 430
Blount County Courthouse
MINUTES
Roy Crawford, Jr., Blount County Clerk, called the Vicious Dog Hearing to Order on Thursday,
June 14, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 430 at the Blount County Courthouse, Maryville,
Tennessee.
Those present were Roy Crawford, Jr., Blount County Clerk; Donald Walters and
Diane Walters, owners of dog and persons requesting the hearing; Jeffery K. Campbell, Blount
County Animal Control Officer; and Rhonda Pitts, Deputy County Clerk.
Mr. Crawford stated the purpose of the hearing was due to an appeal made by Donald and Diane
Walters concerning a vicious dog citation issued by Blount County Animal Control to Donald
Walters concerning a dog, a Bishon-Poodle mix, named Benson, owned by Donald Walters and
Diane Walters, 2222 Dublin Drive, Maryville, TN 37803. Mr. Crawford read out loud Section
5, subsections (1) and (2) from the Blount County Animal Control Resolution No. 99-03-001.
Mr. Crawford asked the owner of the dog, Diane Walters, 2222 Dublin Drive, Maryville, TN
37803, for her comments. Ms. Walters stated she understood there has to be rules and laws for
animals. She said their dog was a little Bichon-Frise and was not a Yorkie. She said their dog
was not mean and she said she did not know why he bit the lady. She said her husband was
getting their mail that day and she was close to their mailbox and he probably was protecting
Don. She said they have lots of company and they have grandchildren, and their dog does not
attack anybody. She said she did not want her dog to be on a wanted vicious beast list, because
he is not. She said that is why they were at the hearing was because they did not want him to be
destroyed or anything about it. She said they have a fenced in yard, which their dogs are always
in that, unless they go get their mail or the morning paper. She said we do not want Ben taken
away from us. Mr. Crawford asked her if she had any further comments and she said she didn’t
think so.
Mr. Crawford asked Officer Jeffery Campbell, Animal Control Officer, to give his comments.
Officer Campbell explained the bite report regarding the incident and it was reported on June 4,
2012, by Deputy Rhonda Price. He said the report stated on 6-4-12 0800, Vivian Selecman was
walking in Allenbrook Subdivision and a white Yorkie dog, which is a Bichon-Frise, came out of
a garage at 2222 Dublin and bit Mrs. Selecman on her left ankle. Mrs. Selecman treated her
injury when she returned home. Officer Campbell stated on 6-5-12, he did a check on the rabies.
He said the dog had a rabies vaccination at the Chilhowee Vet Clinic, and the dog looked
healthy. Officer Campbell stated he served the owner with a vicious dog citation.
Mr. Crawford asked if anyone had any further comments. There were no further comments.
Vicious Dog Hearing Minutes – June 14, 2012 1