House combats dog attacks

A House committee passed a bill that would hold dog owners responsible for dog attacks on their property that lead to serious injury or death. The law would apply only to persons carrying out duties required by law.\nThe bill, authored by Sen. Vi Simpson, D-Ellettsville, was prompted by the death of a Brown County woman last June. Dorothy Stewart, a U.S. Census worker, was attacked and killed by a pack of dogs on the property of the dogs' owners.\n"I am extremely pleased and look forward to the full House vote," Simpson said. "This is an issue that is extremely important to the people of Brown County and, indeed, to all Hoosiers. Dog owners must be held responsible for serious harm caused by their animals. This bill allows prosecutors to appropriately enforce personal responsibility."\nCurrent Indiana law does not allow dog owners to be held criminally liable for attacks that take place on their own property. Attacks resulting in death can be prosecuted as a Class C felony only if the attack occurs off of the owner's property. Simpson's bill would close this legal loophole.\nThe bill only applies to people required to be on a property by law or because of their job with a public utility. People such as postal workers, census takers, health inspectors, law enforcement and utility employees would be protected by the legislation. Those not required by law to be on the property, such as political canvassers, are not covered. \nThe committee amended a provision to restrict application of the bill to daylight hours.\nThe bill, which passed the Indiana Senate March 7 by a vote of 47-2, now goes before the full House of Representatives.