Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH WEBSTER - Dan and Becky Tusing's family dog is under veterinary care following an attack by three part-wolf dogs Monday.
The Tusing's animal was in her own yard on Backwater Road at the time of the fight, Becky Tusing said at the town council meeting Wednesday.
The loose canines are part-wolf and belong to neighbors who maintain a kennel nearby.
"Our animal control ordinance is a bit vague," said council member Kay Andrews. "However, it does stipulate dogs be either restrained (in a fenced-in yard or cage) or on a leash."
"My dog was attacked," Tusing said. "I'm concerned about safety, for my dog, for my children, for myself in my own yard. I don't feel safe right now."
In February concerns about the dog-wolf mixes were voiced with West Eden Shores residents saying the animals make a lot of noise and disturb neighbors. Reports of them being on the loose also have been reported.
Deputy Marshal Candace Smythe said she investigated the recent incident and returned the dogs to their owners because there were three of them, a number too great for her to contain until the county animal control officer could arrive.
"I could have shot them on sight," the K-9 officer said. She told the Tusings to seek restitution through a misdemeanor charge against the attacking dogs' owners and to seek compensation for the veterinarian's bills resulting from the incident.
"You can include the vet bills in a judgment, if a judge grants it, for allowing the dogs to stray," Smythe said.
Town council members Andrews, Myron Clark and Ken Wagner expressed concern about the incident and said they will review the animal control ordinance and put some teeth into it.
Andrews said the current ordinance makes little reference to the number of animals that can be housed on a property and makes no reference at all to exotic animals.
Halloween trick-or-treat hours were set for Oct. 31 from 6 to 8 p.m.
The town will collect tagged bags of leaves on Oct. 26, Nov. 23 and Dec. 14. Leaf collection stickers, which cost 50 cents each, are available at the clerk's office.
Public works Superintendent Marshall Minnick said the town would not accept any leaves or other yard debris at the highway department.
A speed limit reduction on Backwater Road, between Ind. 13 and CR 825, from 45 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour, was approved. The new limit goes into effect in 60 days, following public notice and a 30-day waiting period.
Clerk-treasurer Peg Lawrance told the board a request of $5,000 from the North Webster Tippecanoe Township Library has to be denied because the township does not agree with the expenditure. The town's share would be $2,500. The town and the township equally support the library, which is organized as a Library Services Authority. It operates not by a direct library tax but by funds donated by the town of North Webster and Tippecanoe Township and various donations.
The board reviewed a four-duplex complex proposed for Bus Liken's property on Main Street off Ward Lane. Representing the project was Marti Likens. The project was approved as long as setback requirements were met.
A payment request of $6,000 by Phend & Brown was held pending completion of erosion control on the west side of Culver's Hill, a senior housing addition on the terraced hill northwest of the United Methodist Church at Epworth Forest. Erosion controls are in place on the east side of the housing development.
Street lights in Eden Shores, a recently annexed area, will be switched to the town for billing.
The next town council meeting is at 7 p.m. Nov. 11 in the town hall.
