WASHINGTON COUNTY, MD - A recent mauling of a tea-cup Chihuahua by another dog in Hagerstown has raised a few questions from concerned residents about whether the current animal control ordinance needs an upgrade in Washington County.

For the second time, Evelyn Moates is visiting the grave in her backyard where she buried her dog. "Shaky." The Chihuahua died last week after it was mauled by the neighbor's German Shepherd.

"I got a call from my husband and I could hear my son crying in the background as I was told that the neighbor's dog jumped over our five foot fence and instantly killed her," Moates remembers.

She says the owners of the German Shepherd did what they could. They rushed Shaky to the vet and paid the bill, and they also apologized for what happened. Moates says they're good people; her problem is with the law.

According to the current law in Washington County, even a dog that is deemed "vicious" can continue to live in a neighborhood so long as it is leashed and muzzled when it goes outside, but Evelyn feels this law leaves room for error.

The German Shepherd is now considered "vicious and dangerous" by the Animal Control Authority of Washington County. As a result, the owners now have to keep it inside and it has to wear a muzzle outside. They also have to pay a $25 fine. Moates says it doesn't go far enough.

"I think the animal needs removed from the neighborhood," she says.

Some "vicious" dogs can be seized. Some are even euthanized, but county officials say this case wasn't severe enough because no people were hurt and the owners agreed to the conditions.

"That does not comfort me, because who is over there 24/7 to make sure that is going to happen? To know that they are going to abide by that?" Moates says.

County officials are considering changing the animal control ordinance, but even they admit it probably wouldn't have prevented this situation.

The proposed changes are being discussed by county commissioners. They would then go in front of a public hearing before a decision is made.