BILTMORE FOREST ó Animal issues dominated the Biltmore Forest Town Commission meeting Sept. 11, as commissioners put more teeth into an ordinance governing dangerous dogs, but tabled a proposal to prohibit residents form feeding wildlife in public.

Commissioners voted to grant town police the authority to impound dangerous dogs for 48 hous and then turn them over to the Buncombe County Animal Shelter.

A dog would be considered dangerous if it attacks a person or another animal without provocation.

The move was prompted by an incident in which a dog killed another dog crossing its property one night.

The proposed ordinance to ban wildlife feeding was tabled after Commissioner Glenn Kelly requested more study about it.
Police had complained that foxes and coyotes were feeding on ducks whose numbers were increased by people feeding them at the Biltmore Forest Country Club.

But Kelly objected to the wording of the ordinance, saying it could be used to penalize people who use birdfeeders.
Town Administrator Nelson Smith and Town Attorney O.E. Starnes said they would submit an updated version of the proposed ordinance at the commissionís meeting next month.