NATCHEZ &8212; Animal attacks in Adams county are unfortunate, but legal.

An ordinance attorney Patricia Dunmore is currently putting together for the Adams County Board of Supervisors that could change county animals freedom rights, board President Darryl Grennell said.

As it stands now Adams County

does not have a leash ordinance, meaning dogs can roam as they please and without boundaries &8212; legally.

In the Natchez city limits, a leash law already exists and some feel it&8217;s time for the county to adopt an ordinance also.

&8220;I have two grandaughters that have been mauled by dogs,&8221; Fenwick resident Carolyn Saucier said. &8220;I know this is a very serious issue, but people need to decide whats more important &8212; their dogs or people.&8221;

The animal ordinance would also focus on horses and cattle, which are not currently required to be secured either, Sheriff Ronny Brown said.

&8220;Everyday we get calls about dogs, horses and cows,&8221; Brown said. &8220;I know there is a difference of opinion on this, but I also know we got a problem.&8221;

Over the last two years the sheriff&8217;s department has responded to over 200 animal complaint calls, and have already recieved over 100 calls this year, Brown said.

&8220;As it stands the garbage man can&8217;t pick up the trash and the mailman can&8217;t deliver the mail without being bothered by dogs,&8221; Brown said. &8220;When we go out there now and talk to people about their dogs they&8217;re kind of like, what are you going to do about it? We need some way to enforce this.&8221;

Brown said he wants to adopt something along the lines of a vicious dog ordinance that would give the authority to correct the consistently arising problem.

The hiring of a dog catcher for the county as well as someone to deal with the escaping horses and cattle were also part of Brown&8217;s proposal to the board.

&8220;The other day we had five horses run about six miles down Foster Mound before they were caught,&8221; Brown said. &8220;Not to long ago we had a black bull that caused a three car wreck that totalled all three cars.&8221;

The ordinance is supposed to be complete within the next week, Grennell said. The proposed ordinance will be advertised to the public and then voted on by the board of supervisors.