A hearing has been set tonight to determine whether a county resident’s pit bull is safe to remain in the community, according to Thomas Williams, spokesman for the Surry County Health and Nutrition Center.

The hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m., in room number A33 of the Health and Nutrition Center.

Interested parties wishing to attend the hearing should come through the front door to be greeted and taken to the hearing room.

Williams said those wishing to confirm their attendance should call 401-8481 or email Carie Beck at beckc@co.surry.nc.us.

According to Williams, the hearing has been set by the Surry County Animal Control Committee to discuss a pit bull that has “shown over and over again aggressive behavior.”

“This hearing is the result of a homeowner, who, because of the behavior of their dog, turned the dog over to be housed with us to determine whether it’s dangerous,” he said.

The dog will be held until the hearing when a determination will be made as to the next course of action.

Williams said that to the best of his recollection, only one complaint has been made about the pit bull, but since the owner turned over the dog voluntarily the matter will have to be addressed by the committee.

According to the Surry County Animal Control and Animal Welfare ordinance, if the dog is determined to be potentially dangerous, the owner can keep the dog as long as it’s “under restraint at all times thereafter,” or the dog will be “impounded immediately at the Animal Shelter and shall be destroyed by the Animal Control Section.”

Williams said the ordinance is designed to protect the public from dangerous animals.

“With our mission of protecting and promoting the health of Surry County citizens, this committee is carrying out that mission as well to ensure that this animal is safe to be around people,” he said.

Reach Keith Strange at kstrange@heartlandpublications.com or 719-1929.