A Rottweiler involved in a dog attack that left an 11-year-old Amherstburg girl with minor injuries will remain subject to a muzzle order after a municipal appeal committee upheld the restriction Tuesday night.
Appeal Rejected by Committee
The Amherstburg Dangerous Dog Appeal Committee rejected an appeal from the dog's owner seeking to have the order rescinded or limited to a set period. The order was issued following a May 12 incident in which two Rottweilers, Cole and Diesel, escaped from their property and attacked a German Shepherd being walked by a young girl.
Incident Details
The attack, captured on a neighbor's security camera and widely shared on social media, prompted bylaw charges against the dogs' owners and muzzle orders for both animals. Charges under the town's bylaw policies include letting a dog run loose, for dogs attacking another animal, and for dogs attacking a person.
During Tuesday's hearing, owner Olivia Naklie argued Cole's behavior did not warrant a permanent muzzle order. "I think that Cole's behavior is consistent with a young, anxious, fearful dog trying to escape, and I do not think that an ongoing muzzle order is going to help him with that," she told the committee.
Video Evidence Reviewed
The attack took place before 10 a.m. on the front lawn of a property on Cowen Court. Home surveillance video shows the girl walking the German Shepherd on a leash along the road. A loose dog runs across the property towards the German Shepherd, and the two animals begin growling and fighting. The young girl is clearly upset, yelling at the dogs to stop. Soon, a second loose dog appears, leading to a chaotic scene with the three dogs growling, barking, and fighting.
The committee reviewed the video footage, which showed residents, including the young girl's mother, attempting to separate the dogs. Naklie pointed to parts of the video that she said showed Cole refraining from biting the other dog or nearby residents. She also noted moments when Cole was kicked and had objects thrown at him as neighbors intervened. "In my view, this behavior is consistent with a fearful and overwhelmed young dog attempting to avoid the situation than with a dog actively seeking to engage in aggression," Naklie said.
Steps Taken by Owner
Naklie told the committee steps have been taken since the incident to prevent a similar occurrence. A new fence has been installed at the property, and the dogs have been enrolled in obedience classes that involve interaction with other dogs.
Designation as Dangerous Dogs
A bylaw officer told the committee the girl and her mother suffered minor injuries during the attack. "After reviewing the evidence, reviewing statements, and confirming with the manager of licensing and enforcement, the decision was made that both Diesel and Cole, the two Rottweilers, would be designated dangerous dogs," said Nick Vespa, a bylaw officer for the Town of Amherstburg.
