New law puts pets on a shorter leash
10:35 AM CDT on Monday, September 3, 2007
By Wendell Edwards / 11 News

Cheryl Carry can't remember a time when she didn't have a pet in her life.

"There were animals in the house the day I was born. I was raised spending summers on a farm,” said Carry.
For the last two years, she's been a foster parent for dogs including German Shepherds like Klouse.
But a new law that would affect dog owners like herself is giving her cause for concern.

"There's so much room for interpretation for that law that even if I do my absolute best I could get caught on the wrong side of it,” said Carry.

Lillian's Law, that took effect this weekend, makes it a felony if your dog wanders off your property and kills or injures a person.

The law is named after Lillian Stiles, a 76-year-old wife, mother and grandmother from Thorndale. In November 2005, she was working in her front yard, when a group of dogs attacked and killed her. The dogs were owned by one of her neighbors who lived up the street.

The law seeks to hold dog owners more responsible. But animal law attorney Amy Danna says it might not have that much bite.

"I think that this is nice and it is good to promote responsible ownership. But I think in the big scheme of things it's going to make absolutely no difference,” said Danna. Danna says most owners are already responsible. But to protect themselves, she says owners should make sure they’re in control when their dog is off property and at home that the dog is properly contained.

Carry said a law can only do so much.

"I don't think it's going to change people's behavior,” she said.

But she hopes pet owners take note and literally keep their dogs on a short leash.