Ten dogs sat chained in the backyard of a Broad Street address on Tuesday morning. They began barking and tugging at their chains as animal control officers approached the fence bordering the rear of the home. Members of the Central Alabama Animal Shelter took pictures of the dogs as Selma Police Department officers examined the fence’s gates and locks. The barking grew.

Bob Myers, president of the Central Alabama Animal Shelter, agreed. Myers, along with police officers, animal shelter employees and Selma City Councilwoman Rita Sims Franklin, visited the home Tuesday morning after viewing pictures of the dogs at Monday’s council meeting. According to Myers, neighbors have complained about the dogs. One individual, who declined to be named, noted that he had contacted police about the dogs at least once.

The property also lacks a proper fence, locks and signs, said Teresa Martin, operations manager of the animal shelter. Myers pointed to portions of the fence with large holes. He also attempted to lock the back gate, but couldn’t because the latch wasn’t long enough to secure the door.

Animal Control Officer Jenny Cunningham gave Teresa Prevo, one of the dogs’ owners, a cruelty notice before leaving the home. The notice lists the violations and gives Prevo 24 hours to correct the situation, though the owner disagreed with some of Martin’s points.

Prevo also demurred about the barking and pointed to a house across from hers with two dogs. &uot;My dogs bark. Those dogs bark. What’s the problem?&uot; she asked.

Prevo added, though, that she was planning on refurbishing her fence so her dogs couldn’t view the alleyway.

Myers said that if Prevo didn’t abide by the notice, the dogs could be taken from her. However, he added that the animal shelter currently doesn’t have the space to hold them.

Martin quoted from a copy of Selma’s vicious dog ordinance, which states that vicious dogs can’t be kept unless properly secured. &uot;The ordinance needs to say that no vicious dogs can be kept,&uot; Martin said.

Councilwoman Nancy Sewell agreed that the city’s vicious dog ordinance needed revisiting. &uot;Our citizens must be protected at all times,&uot; Sewell said. &uot;You don’t need vicious dogs. Our citizens must be secure at all times. If a dog is out of his pen without a leash, people should receive a stiff fine.&uot;