Last May 18th, seven-year-old Tanner Joshua Monk left his home to go play with some neighbor children. He never got there. His body was found that afternoon in a ditch surrounded by four pit bulls. The dogs, owned by a neighbor, had killed the child.
When deputies arrived, two of the dogs attacked them and had to be killed. As they tried to take the other two dogs, the owners didn't want to give one of them up. They claimed it was a "house dog", even though it still had the child's blood on it.
I have to admit that I really don't understand dog owners like this. They have the right to own dangerous animals, but not if they're unwilling to control them. They don't seem to realize that everyone else has the right to not be terrorized by their animals. Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to these animals and are many times unable to protect themselves.
In the last session, the Texas Legislature passed a law to protect the public from dog owners who won't control their dangerous animals. That law holds these owners responsible if their animals kill or injure anyone. I supported the law when it was passed, and I'm glad to see it being enforced. Everyone should have the right to walk the streets without being menaced or attacked by the animals of irresponsible owners.
Last week the new law was used for the first time. Crystal Michelle Watson and Jack Wayne Smith, the owners of the dogs that killed young Tanner, were convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison. They were lucky. They could have been sentenced to as much as twenty years.
Frankly, I don't feel any sympathy for them. Those dogs couldn't have hurt anyone if they had not been allowed to run free. Watson and Smith must accept that they are responsible for a child's death.
