Owner of dog who bit Shoreline boy has been located
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Thanks to a tip from a citizen, Edmonds police have identified the owner of the dog who attacked a 6-year-old Shoreline boy in the “no dogs” area of Brackett’s Landing Park in Edmonds on Aug. 19. The owner did not identify himself and left the scene with the dog immediately after the incident.
Fortunately the boy’s mother was taking video on her cell phone at the time of the attack. Edmonds Police circulated screen shots from the video to My Edmonds News and others (See previous article) in an attempt to locate the dog and its owner.
“The child was taken to Swedish/Edmonds for treatment of puncture wounds around his mouth, chin and arm,” said Edmonds Police spokesperson Sgt. Shane Hawley. “He was taken home from the ER with no hospital stay, and is doing well.”
“We received several tips from the public. One of them panned out and led us to the suspect,” Hawley said.
According to Hawley, the owner is a 40-year-old man from Edmonds, and the dog, a female pit bull mix, is unlicensed. The incident occurred in the beach area north of the restrooms and below Sunset Avenue, which is posted “no dogs.” The owner has been charged with two animal control violations: 1) having a dog in a no dogs allowed area, and 2) no animal license.
Hawley explained that no criminal charges can be brought against the owner because a dog bite is not considered an assault under state law. This also means there is no criminal violation for leaving the scene of the incident.
However, Edmonds City Code calls for animals involved in bite incidents to be quarantined for 10 days, with the quarantine period starting at the time of the bite. Quarantine does not necessarily have to be at a kennel. The dog can be placed on quarantine at the owners home. But in this case, by the time the dog and owner were found, the 10-day period was already over.
“We checked with the animal’s vet and the dog was current on shots and in good health, posing no health risk to the boy,” Hawley said. “We also served the owner with a potentially dangerous dog declaration.”
Dangerous dog declarations are part of the Edmonds Quarantine Statute (EMC5.05.040), and require that the pet owner take extra measures including the purchase of extended liability coverage and building enhanced enclosures.
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6 comments:
"Hawley explained that no criminal charges can be brought against the owner because a dog bite is not considered an assault under state law. This also means there is no criminal violation for leaving the scene of the incident."
WHAT? Even as a dog lover and owner, this is ridiculous! How can allowing a child to be bit by your dog in a non off leash area with an off leash dog not be malicious?!?
I agree. There should be accountability when a dog attacks. Obviously we can't rely on moral accountability
He should be banned from the park. It's a public safety risk.
It's called intent, basic law 101. Did the dog intend to inflict damage to the boy? The only time there could be even a remote chance of a charge is if the owner purposely caused the dog to assault another which, based upon initial information, does not appear to be so.
That does not prevent the family, on behalf of the child, to sue for civil damages which I would expect they would do.
Maybe some attorney out there would like to represent the victim in a civil suit?
Perhaps Edmonds could modify their codes, and along with the issued citations, the owner could be sentenced to picking up dog poo around town? I'm extrapolating here, but if the gentleman doesn't get his pet licensed, he probably doesn't clean up after his pooch either.
"...posing no health risk to the boy." Who are they kidding? It should further elaborate that additional health risk to the boy since the dog already injured the boy by biting him in the face, which constitutes substantial risk of bacterial infection, paralysis, and scarring - all related to health risk to the boy.
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