ohmidog!

Animal control officers in Fort Worth will be allowed to use tranquilizer darts to subdue dangerous dogs under a proposed rewrite of the city’s animal control rules.

That would mean a return to a practice ceased in 1995, after a dog nicknamed “Island Girl” was shot with a dart while trapped on a grassy island in a freeway interchange. The dart resulted in the dog becoming paralyzed.

The proposals aren’t final, and residents will be able to comment on them at meetings in May and June, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Fort Worth officials say the changes are needed because of a growing number of aggressive dogs found on Fort Worth’s streets — particularly pit bulls. Other proposed revisions include:

– Allowing the city to impose safety restriction on dogs before an attack happens — if a dog charges a fence, or is caught at large several times.

– Requiring higher and stronger fences, based on a dog’s size.

– Prohibiting dogs that are deemed dangerous in other cities from relocating to Fort Worth.

– Requiring all animals to be spayed or neutered, unless the owner pays an extra fee.

– Increasing the fee for loose dogs from $200 to $500 and the annual fee for a dangerous dog from $50 to $500.