John awakened on a Sunday morning to find an animal control officer in his side yard.

“Is this dog yours?” The animal control officer asked.

“No,” John replied, before explaining to the officer that the stray had visited his property before, and previous attempts to catch the dog had been unsuccessful. John and the animal control officer teamed up to capture the dog, then load it into the truck, where it would be taken to the Corine T. Smith Animal Center.

John then surveyed his privacy fence. In an effort to break through the fence to get to his Labrador retriever, the stray had damaged the wood at the base of the gate. The repair would be a simple fix, but would require another trip to Home Depot, and about an hour’s work on what otherwise would have been a leisurely Sunday afternoon.

John’s case was fairly benign. A new plank ordered for a fence, a couple of nails, and things are as good as new. Other families don’t fare so well.

Across Brownwood, residents complain that loose dogs are pillaging trash cans, biting neighbors and running amok. Such frustration prompted a meeting between the Brownwood Police Department and residents back in April, who discussed Brownwood’s animal control ordinances, and the enforcement which falls under the umbrella of the Brownwood Police Department.

During the meeting, Residents complained that their neighbors routinely allowed their dogs to run free through the neighborhood, and that animal control often had to be called multiple times to address repeat occurrences.

After the meeting, Brownwood Police Chief Terry Nichols conceded that the department could do a few things better regarding animal control, and announced that the city would begin writing citations for loose dogs. Regarding the improvements, Chief Nichols said the department would do a better job of tracking offenses and holding repeat offenders accountable. He cited the deficiency to an internal communications issue.

While many residents applaud the increased enforcement of Brownwood’s animal control ordinance, some worry accidental violations could result in civil penalties.

Lee owns two large-breed dogs in Brownwood. During the day, when Lee is at work, the dogs stay in a fenced-in back yard. On one occasion, Lee came home to find that one of the dogs had escaped. He found the breach in the fence, repaired the fence, then returned his dog to the back yard.

“In that case, would I have been fined?” Lee asks.

The Brownwood Police Department will write a warning for a first offense. However, repeat offenses will result in violations.

Some residents say their dogs are escape artists. Animal experts say that when a dog repeatedly escapes an enclosure, it’s usually an indication that the dog is bored. The dog may need a companion, or may need more time socializing with his owner.

Meanwhile, Brownwood steps up animal control enforcement, and mail carriers rejoice.