Not brushing your dog can send you to court

I am so frustrated!!!! My little family schnauzer friendliest dog in the world loves to run. I have family who are constantly coming and going. In the process they may leave the door open longer than they should and forget about our escapee just waiting to meet the world. He's gotten out and with the help of my neighbor who loves to give him over to the animal control, I have gotten myself two tickets and a mandatory court appearance because his hair was not brushed and matted. Now I know he needed a haircut, but since he was a gift to my 15 yr old who was given the responsibility of his care even tho we as parents are ultimately responsible for our children, this stinks. I was waiting for my son to earn the money to pay for the haircut, I guess I waited too long.

I just think it's totally ridiculous that we take taxpaying money to pay these judges and they haul people into court for something like this. I had no idea this was a law. The fines for his running could have been paid online, but for his matted hair I had to go to court. I have never had to go to court in my life. I was humiliated. I was told they wanted to give me the maximum sentence of 10 days in jail and a 500.00 fine because I had gotten two other tickets because of his running before. After I heard the cities advice to the judge I couldn't understand what the judge was even trying to say. All I could keep asking the judge was am I going to jail? People in the court who had their license taken away and then got caught for driving again was given 5 days in jail and I was getting 10? My mind and my heart were racing. How was I going to tell my little girls and my 15 who had gotten me here in the first place that I was going to jail? I can't tell you enough how I was scared to death. Finally, after the judge adjusting her robe very frustratatingly over this brain dead mother, she told me she never wanted to see me in her court again and that she would fine me 50.00 and gave me a six month time period that if the dog was taken back in then I would go to jail and pay the other 450 dollars.

Now please animal lovers the world over,  I love dogs!!! But the threat of jail time because the dog has matted hair? Give me a break. I know we have to protect the world from biting dogs but sorry I think some of these laws have gone to the dogs.