Pit bull pups held under new Tekoa ban

In the month since the Tekoa city council passed regulations against pit bulls, the new enforcement officer has already responded to several complaints.

After pit bull attacks that bloodied a horse and a woman earlier this year, the Tekoa city council June 21 banned residents from bringing additional pit bulls into town. The council had originally set a deadline of July 31 for owners to comply with new city regulations, but at the last council meeting extended the deadline to Aug. 31.

The council at that same June 21 meeting also voted to create a code enforcement officer position that will enforce the pit bull along with other civil code ordinances. Whitman County Deputy Mike Bogenreif was hired as the ordinance officer.

Bogenreif said he has already confiscated a pair of pit bull puppies that were running loose in town. They were offspring of the pit bull who attacked a Tekoa woman several months ago. The puppies have since been returned to the owner.

Days before the puppies episode, Bogenreif responded to a domestic violence call at the home of the man who owned the puppies. Upon entering, Bogenreif said one of the dogs tried to bite his leg and he kicked it in the jaw.

“They were actually the puppies to the dog that mauled the sixty some year old woman,” he said, referencing the dog attack several months ago on a Tekoa woman as she was walking through town.

“I think that doesn’t belong in a community where you have kids riding around on bicycles and people out jogging,” said Tekoa Mayor John Jaeger.

The owner of the pit bull puppies, Joshua Fox, was arrested on charges of assault which were later dismissed because the prosecutor could not locate the alleged victim.

Bogenreif said he has already gone door-to-door through the town of roughly 800 informing citizens of city code on issues like junk cars, trash in the street, and lawn upkeep.

He said he has already seen improvements to the appearance of the town.

“Lawns are being mowed and cars are being moved,” he said, adding fewer dogs are running loose in town.

Jaeger said six residences in Tekoa are believed to have pit bulls. Within the next three weeks, those citizens will be handed paperwork informing them of the new law which goes into effect August 31.

“I know we’re profiling a breed of dog but we’re also profiling a breed of dog that has been bred to fight and be aggressive,” Jaeger said.

Among other regulations, the new law bans bringing pit bulls into town. For pit bulls already living in Tekoa, the ordinance outlines tight measures on keeping the dogs.

Owners will be required to obtain a lifetime license for $100 for the dog before Sept. 1. The license features a photo of the dog and current rabies vaccination information. The dog must be spayed or neutered and cannot be traded or sold to anyone else in Tekoa. Puppies must be removed from the town no later than eight weeks of age.

After Aug. 31, the dogs are banned from city parks or cannot be on the street without a leash. Residents must post “Beware of Dog.” signs.