Criminal Charges Loom for Dog Owner

Susy Owen

Attorney

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After 7-year-old Ethan Westergard, was attacked by a pit bull mix, the owner told conflicting stories to authorities as to the dogs whereabouts. As a result, she now faces criminal charges. This case has also exposed shortcomings in the way animals are supposed to be quarantined for the purposes of rabies testing.

Initally the owner said the dog was dead and buried. However, when authorities asked her to produce the body she could not. Then she claimed that the dog escaped. The authorities want to make sure to apprehend this dog as this is the second attack by the pit bull mix in the past 6 months.

"The aggressive dog charge is a gross misdemeanor and is punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000. The interference charge is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a fine of $1,000." Hopefully, nobody else is victimized by this dog before it is apprehended.