Commission delays decision in dog bite case

Commission delays decision in dog bite case

By AMANDA HAMON
ahamon@jconline.com

A Lafayette man will receive additional time to consult an attorney before a city commission decides whether his two Rottweilers will be put down.

The two dogs, owned by Shaun Boyce, are being held at the Almost Home Humane Society following an incident in late June. That's when, city officials said, one of the dogs bit a 12-year-old boy who was riding a bicycle in the Boyces' neighborhood.

At a Wednesday hearing before the city's animal control commission, no action was taken.

"There's a due process procedure here, and he's requested (to consult with an attorney). I think it's his right," city attorney Ed Chosnek said.

The hearing was to decide the fate of Boyce's appeal of two tickets, issued June 23 because the dogs were running loose. The hearing also was to act on a recommendation that the dogs be euthanized.

Because Boyce asked to consult an attorney, and because he did not receive a formal notification of the euthanasia order, both decisions were postponed until July 22, Chosnek said.

The dogs in question are 4-year-olds named Nico and Dainjer. According to city code, any animals deemed dangerous by animal control officers or police can be impounded. If return of the animal to its owner would likely result in further code violations, the animal can be euthanized.

Orders to euthanize can be appealed to the animal control commission, which has final say.

Josh Klumpe, a Lafayette animal control officer, said the dogs have generated two bite reports in recent months. One was in May, when the dogs bit a neighbor's dog. The other followed the incident with the boy.

Boyce, who's owned the dogs since they were 6 months old, said the Rottweilers are treasured family pets. The incident with the neighbor's dog, Boyce said, occurred after his son's girlfriend accidentally let the dogs out of their backyard pen.

The incident with the boy occurred, he said, after Boyce's brother -- against whom they have a restraining order -- let the dogs out without their knowledge.

In an attempt to keep their dogs, the Boyces said they plan to move July 15 to a rental home where the animals will be allowed inside. Their current residence does not allow that.

Boyce and a family friend said the dogs are not dangerous.

"These are like my kids. It would be like killing my son, way I look at it," Boyce said.

The hearing was attended by several residents, including Amber Drerup, whose son, Davey, was bitten in the leg. Davey, who was not taken to the hospital, still has a bruise, his mother said.

Drerup said she thinks the dogs should be taken from the Boyces and, if not adoptable, euthanized.

Additional Facts

What's next

The city's animal control commission will decide the outcome of the Boyce case at a hearing scheduled for 7 p.m. July 22 in Lafayette City Hall, 20 N. Sixth St.
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It is unfortunate that the dogs were let out by someone that shouldn’t even be near the family. In the end, they were careless in allowing their dogs to get out regardless of who let them out of their pen. They should have taken the precautions to assure something like this wouldn’t happen after the first incident.