Cyclist attacked by dogs urges JPs to take action

The Carroll County Quorum Court’s May agenda was mostly pedestrian — until a local cyclist addressed the panel about a dog attack she suffered while riding on Arkansas Highway 221 South.

Oak Grove resident Steffanie Gates told the court during its regular meeting Tuesday, May 19, that she was attacked and bitten multiple times by a group of dogs while riding her bicycle on April 16. Gates urged the county’s 11 justices of the peace to adopt legislation regarding vicious dogs.

Gates said she was attacked by three dogs belonging to a local resident. She told JPs that the dogs knocked her down twice and she fled on foot with the dogs chasing her for nearly 200 yards before she found shelter in an unlocked car.

Gates said she called 911 from inside the car and was transported to a hospital emergency room where she received 32 stitches.

“I truly believe that the unlocked car and the neighbors who helped me saved my life,” Gates said.

Gates said the dogs’ owner was ordered to quarantine them and monitor them for rabies. She said the dogs were seen running at large two days into their 10-day quarantine period and six days later attacked another local cyclist, Bobby Romano.

Because the dogs violated quarantine, Gates said, she had to undergo rabies treatment consisting of approximately 35 shots around her wounds and four in the arm.

Gates told the court that during her recovery, she researched animal ordinances across Northwest Arkansas and learned that Carroll County’s animal regulations “are significantly more relaxed than the surrounding counties.”

Gates asked JPs to consider enacting legislation that would make it illegal for dogs to run at large, establish a vicious-dog designation and requirements, require that dogs involved in a bite be quarantined at a regulated facility, make dumping or abandoning an animal a criminal offense and create a dedicated animal control fund supported by fines and fees to help offset enforcement and other related costs. Gates also asked JPs to require law enforcement personnel to learn the new ordinances.

“These measures are not extreme,” Gates said. “… I am here today because I survived. The next person may not.”

JPs thanked Gates for sharing her story and asked several questions about her suggestions.

District 6 JP Craig Hicks, a Berryville police officer, said there would be “hurdles that we might have to jump across,” including finding a facility to hold quarantined dogs as well as supporting an ordinance with fines. Hicks also said that law enforcement officers should have discretion in determining when a dog is “vicious.”

Other Business

Also at the May 19 meeting, JPs unanimously approved a resolution appointing deputy coroner Bobby Thurman to serve as coroner after the death of coroner David Slaton on May 10. Thurman will complete Slaton’s term, which expires on Dec. 31.

JPs also approved:

• an emergency ordinance authorizing Boyum’s Bike Resort LLC to apply for a private club permit from the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, which would allow the owners to serve mixed drinks;

• an appropriation ordinance earmarking $50,000 for fixtures and furnishings for the new Berryville Library that is nearing completion on Springfield Street;

• an appropriation ordinance transferring $5,000 to the juvenile probation grant fund;

• and a resolution confirming the appointment of Steve Ratcliff to the Mundell Heights Subordinate Service District Board of Commissioners.

The next regular meeting of the Carroll County Quorum Court will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, in the courtroom of the Eastern District Courthouse in Berryville.