Barking dogs beware, Mike Hall is back.
Kalispell reinstated the animal warden position through the police department in November. Police officers had previously been tasked with handling animal-related calls after the warden position was eliminated in 2008 following city budget cuts. In a four-month span between July 1 and Oct. 31 of last year, police officers responded to 93 barking dog complaints, 107 animal cruelty violations, 153 reports of lost animals and 28 reports of vicious dogs, according to city records.
The burden of answering an increasing number of calls weighed heavily on an already busy police department and led city staff to bring back the animal warden, also known as the animal control officer.
“We’re so thankful that the city manager allowed us to get this position back,” Roger Krauss, the city’s assistant police chief, said.
Hall was an obvious and fitting choice to step into the role. After all, he already knew the drill. The 57-year-old Flathead High School graduate served as the city’s animal control officer for 16 years off and on between 1986-2008. Hall, who was working in the public works department when the position was reinstated, was happy to return to his old post.
“It’s a good career,” he said. “It’s also an interesting career.”
The subject of animal control has been a sensitive topic recently after four American Bulldogs attacked a 7-year-old girl in Creston. The dogs, unrelated to pit bulls, were euthanized at the Flathead County Animal Shelter last week. The sheriff’s office turned over its investigation to County Attorney Ed Corrigan for possible charges against the dogs’ owners. The girl was last reported to be in stable condition at Kalispell Regional Medical Center following the Jan. 4 attack.
The story is a “horrifying” one, Hall said, but unfortunately similar to a number of others he has seen in the past. In fact, vicious dogs have become a growing problem within the city, he said, and complaints have been increasing. In just over two months since Hall’s been back on duty, there have already been three dog bites reported in city limits.
The city recently adopted a new vicious dog ordinance that imposes preventative safety measures when an animal is deemed dangerous, including muzzles or fencing requirements.
Owners of vicious dogs appear before a city judge and can face criminal charges as well as outside litigation resulting from an incident.
Hall referenced a case from a few years ago when a pit bull jumped a fence and attacked an elderly woman who survived but ended up needing plastic surgery. The woman sued the dog’s owners and the owners ended up paying her medical bills.
“That dog almost ripped her ear off and officers had to shoot and kill it,” he said. “It was a horrible thing for that woman. It was just a bad deal.”
Hall also referenced the increase in animal cruelty complaints stemming from people leaving their dogs inside cars during the summer heat.
“With the box stores up north, in the summertime, a lot of people are leaving dogs in the car,” he said. “It has become a big thing.”
Owners can be dealt a $50 citation if an animal is left inside a vehicle under unsafe conditions, namely high temperatures.
Noise complaints are another common call. A barking dog is not unlawful until it becomes a nuisance to someone else, and this issue comes up frequently during the warmer months when house windows are left open at night, Hall said.
A noise complaint can result in a $50 citation, although Hall normally tries to work with residents and offer a few warnings. Owning an unlicensed dog or letting a dog roam at large are both infractions that can also result in $50 citations.
But Hall said he isn’t out to write tickets.
“Dealing with people in a respectful manner is big to me,” he said. “I try to create enforcement but also public service. First thing I always try to do is listen. To go in and be argumentative, it doesn’t work.”
Those who know Hall point at that characteristic as the reason why he’s the right man for the job.
“He’s so good to work with the public,” Krauss, Hall’s supervisor, said. “He’s real level-headed and always has that calming effect, not only on animals but people. He’s just a valuable asset to our department.”
Hall grew up on a family farm in Michigan and was surrounded by animals, including a loving St. Bernard. Still, he never suspected one day he could be chasing a herd of goats running loose through Kalispell or walking a horse down Meridian Road. Being an animal control officer for almost 20 years has just been something that has worked out, and worked out well.
“The city’s been a great place to work,” he said. “And people in Kalispell are good to work with.”