City Proposes Stray Animal Bounty

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Off Poplar on Manassas where the tree of hope stands is where 71-year old William Parker was attacked by two pit bulls family and friends walk by remembering.

"That could have been his niece that could have been my baby it could have been anyone's child," said Brittany Boughton.

City CAO George Little issued a memo obtained by FOX13 News because of that attack. He said stray and vicious dogs across the city need to be dealt with.

"Clearly we think it's a problem," said Little.

The city is now putting a dog bounty on the table.

"The idea is that citizens would be able to collect a bounty for bringing in live animals," Little said.

Still in the developmental stage, Little said the city would pay citizens $25 or $50 dollars for each vicious or stray dog they pick up and deliver. Those who live near the recent pit bull attack say something needs to be done and vicious and stray dogs need to be taken off the street.

"Most of the time they'll chase you walk fast or run they need to get them off the street," Belinda Benson said.

But there's more.

The city is also looking at a program to surrender vicious dogs, ordnance to spay or neuter dogs, and the hiring of more animal control officers. There is also the possibility of a mandatory micro chip program.

"We don't want to get too focused on any one initiative because we still have to talk to council," Little said.

Little added they are being careful not to give any incentive to steal dogs to get quick cash.

"We won't want anybody to put themselves at risk in order to collect that bounty and we certainly wouldn't want to create a situation where there would be some initiative for in effect stealing someone's dog," said Little.

Residents on Manassas and Leath streets say it's about time the city is focusing on making streets like theirs safe.

"Coming down here, I look before I go because you never know....... You never know when dogs are going to come out," Benson said.