Print this story | E-mail story | This story has 34 comments Add your own | iPod friendly
Man tries to save dog
Animal slated to be put down after biting people
Published Saturday, July 12, 2008
Photo by Trisha Marczak
A sign on Patc’e kennel at the humane society states that the dog is a biter.
A Fergus Falls man is putting together a case to save his dog.
The dog currently sits at the Otter Tail Humane Society, where it will be held until a hearing determines whether it will be given the death sentence.
The dog, which Kristian Stanley Kristiansen has owned for nine years, was classified as dangerous after it bit a postal carrier and a police officer.
In cases involving dangerous dogs, the Public Works Department makes a decision as to what should happen to the dog. The dog’s owner then has two weeks to appeal the decision with the city. A hearing must take place in front of the city council within three weeks of the appeal.
There are a number of factors the council can consider before determining appropriate action. Under Minnesota state law, a dog must be proven to have attacked the person without being provoked in a place where the person is allowed to be by law. This, along with testimonies from those who can say they do not believe the dog to be a threat, are helpful in the council’s decision, said Rolf Nycklemoe, City Attorney.
If the council orders the dog to be put down, the animal will be taken to the Otter Tail Humane Society, where it would be put to sleep.
According to the Fergus Falls Police Department, officers responded to a call June 23 at 1130 Mabelle Street in response to a report that a dog had bitten a postal carrier. While discussing the situation inside the house with Kristiansen, the police officer was bitten by the same dog.
Kristiansen was issued a citation June 23 for a dangerous dog and on June 28 was issued papers from the city notifying Kristiansen that his dog had been classified as a dangerous dog — a classification that could mean the death penalty.
Kristiansen is challenging both the dangerous dog citation and classification.
Kristiansen is claiming that in the situation when the dog bit the police officer, the police entered the house in a forceful manner, which provoked the animal.
“They stomped on those steps, they didn’t knock, they just pounded on the door and said, ‘open up’,” Kristiansen said. “It was unbelievable the force they came in to pick up a dog that was already in the house.”
Kristiansen said that because his dog is a watch dog, he is likely to have acted out of protection for Kristiansen and the other person in the home at the time.
“He’s not a monster, he was just in a protective mode that day,” Kristiansen said.
It is standard state practice that in the first instance of a dog bite, the dog is classified as a potential dangerous dog. In the second instance, the dog is classified as dangerous, said officer Kile Bergren.
If the council advises that the dog remain alive, it may order certain conditions for the animal’s holding. Examples of this could include orders to keep the dog in enclosures, to purchase liability insurance for the animal or to use a muzzle. In some instances, the dog may even be ordered to be micro chipped so that it can be tracked, Nycklemoe said.
In many situations, the price to keep the dog alive, in cases where liability insurance is mandated, is too great for owners to take on, Nycklemoe said.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by ffrogg (anonymous) on July 12, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
there is more than one dog in that same death hall.
Posted by Bev (anonymous) on July 12, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How sad is this? It is unbelievable that anyone in thier right mind would want to put a dog to sleep because he was being protective of his property, and human caregiver. Most dogs are going to react to someone in uniform, and the fear and anger these people show when approaching a dog. It's ridiculas that the dog is still in a holding cell so to speak after all this time. I hope all works out, and this family pet will return to it's home.
Posted by Bev (anonymous) on July 12, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
One more comment...Anyone who walks onto the property of a dog with FEAR and ANGER will more than likely get barked at, possibly bit at. My suggestion, training in a possitive way for mailmen/woman, police, firemen, UPS AND dogs should be a must. The Dog Whisperer has a great episode on this problem..I'm sure someone can find the episode on you tube..
Posted by Brandon (anonymous) on July 12, 2008 at 11:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If the statement about the policeman stomping up the stairs is true, then I don't blame the dog for attacking. That's what dogs do.
Now, for the mail carrier issue... Put up a small fence around your house, and keep the dog inside. Put your mailbox outside of said fence. Everyone is safe.
Posted by chakk_zaos (anonymous) on July 12, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
he attacked someone!
if I were attack someone simply for delivering my mail what would happen to me?
Posted by chakk_zaos (anonymous) on July 12, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
this dog bit both a mailman and police?
lol
why should a dog be allowed to do what Humans aren't?
Posted by melindakay (anonymous) on July 12, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It sounds like the dog was acting out of fear and protection. I own a dog of the same breed, and she is an absolute sweetheart to people of all ages, but if someone barged into our house and acted in a gruff manner, I wouldn't be surprised if she acted on it. That's what dogs do - it is their nature.
I agree with Bev - put up a fence, keep the dog inside, put the mailbox outside.
Brittany dogs (the breed of the dog) are not by any means violent. They do, however, instinctively protect their owners.
Posted by 89Heritage (anonymous) on July 12, 2008 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)
chakk_zaos,? Do you believe dogs have the same understanding of things as people? There is nothing more loyal to man than a dog. My lab is 6. She is every body's buddy. You could probably rob my place & she would let you as long as you had a friendly attitude & gave her a milk bone. I have seen her get defensive only twice' were she growled at someone & her hair stood up on her back. Both were police officers here looking for my ex. They weren't smiling or here on friendly business. The dog See's & senses those things, even though these officers weren't here to harm me, the dog doesn't know that. I think alot of people feel somewhat threaten by a person in uniform. To most of us it is not a common everyday sight. Same for the dog. My dog is my baby & about the only family member who has been here for me for the last 6 years. She would die for me (What other animal on the planet would do that for you, Including a lot of humans) & I probably would for her.
You got bit by a little dog. Big deal. Understand the dog felt threatened & they don't know the laws.
Posted by Sumwun (anonymous) on July 12, 2008 at 5:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess every dog in town should just be able to go around biting anything and everyone out doing their jobs it wanted to with no consequences. Meanwhile we have a bunch of rabid FF residents running around. Maybe if it were you or your kid getting bit you'd think different...I like how they gotta put the picture of poor little puppy wuppy in a kennel to try play to all the bleeding hearts around here. Please.
Posted by gumball (anonymous) on July 12, 2008 at 5:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We have a protective liitle "runt" of a dog too. If there is an Alpha in the house, then they can tell the dog to stand down. Let the Postman & Cop bite it back and call it even.
Posted by andtongs (anonymous) on July 12, 2008 at 7:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Give him the juice!
Posted by werty (anonymous) on July 12, 2008 at 8:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just because it's a pretty dog doesn't mean it's not a danger. Maybe if he's let go he can go on to bite others or maybe someones child? Let's picture this same scenario only with a pitbull...everyone would be saying "put him down". This situation is no different...Bad dog with a bad tempermant. Time to put him down.
Posted by BaddaBing (anonymous) on July 12, 2008 at 9:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who was the cop he bit? Andy Olsen?
Posted by metasonics (anonymous) on July 13, 2008 at 12:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
most shooters are frightened and only trying to protect themselves and/or loved ones too.
ignorance of the law is no excuse!
Go shoot a mailman out just doing his job or a police officer just doing his job as well and see what you get!
89Heritage - You got bit by a little dog. Big deal
that's like saying "You got shot by a little gun, big deal"
this is a public safety issue and this dog has shown he is a danger to public safety.
sorry to say it but, sleep well crabby canine.
You should have been more tolerant of higher mammals or your owner should have kept you safely away from those you eventually harmed.
the owner should be accountable for this dogs actions I feel!
He allowed a dog who had already attacked a human to attack another.
You are correct to say the dog didn't know any better!
the owner was supposed to!
bummer all the way around!
I offer that this owner adopt one of those non biters they have at the humane society, because this ones not getting a pass!
Posted by 1125thmp (anonymous) on July 13, 2008 at 5:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I've had 4 animals in my life. I can say that each has only ever shown agression when agression was shown towards myself or a family member. It would be interesting to know with what force or action of intent the officers entered the home. You can tell them to stay out, so I'm wondering why they would be in your home and if they showed an aggressive posture. And so in there actions not only may you be penalized for with the destruction of your beloved family pet as if it was a broken machine, but I'm sure about 2 minutes after they hopefully pass a pardon, your home insurance agency will be calling to cancel or say your rates have doubled.
Posted by Bev (anonymous) on July 13, 2008 at 8:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
werty, if this had been a pit bull, then I would be saying, "That dog needs to go to a home that can handle a Pit Bull in a proper way" As these dogs the size they are need more than a five foot chain. However, it was not a pit bull..
And yes, owners need to be responsible for their dogs. I still don't think this dog should be put to sleep because of neglegence on all parties. Which means the owner also.
Posted by blacktiger (anonymous) on July 13, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
this happen to my daughters dog. She had to be put down after bitting one person. The dog was protactioning my daughter (only 7 yrs old) and her dads in a wheel chair.
Posted by 89Heritage (anonymous) on July 13, 2008 at 10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This compares with shooters in absolutely no way at all & there is a big difference between a dog bite & a gun shot wound. These people that got bit might have a scare but will be O.k. Public safety ? How come we are not putting down child molesters who scare people mentally for life? We just say bad person & let them go to do it again. Or half the people in F.F. for the way they drive? Running stop signs, no signals ect... What do they get when they kill someone? They will get about the same as child molester. This list could go on & on. If this dog is biting everyone it See's, yes put it down. But if it is this isolated incident, Then cut the dog some slack. They are not just pets to most people. They are members of the family.
Posted by demon1sleds (anonymous) on July 13, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
put a dog down because it bites two people!
but if a guy rapes a women or child he get 3 meals and clean clothes....
sorry I would rather have the dog stay alive
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on July 13, 2008 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I remember a story about a motor bike rider who rode into a farm place for a drink of water.
The farm dog bit and hung on to his boot. The farmer said wait just a bit, then went to the house for a gun and shot his own dog.
That was back when men were men and dogs were just,, well,, dogs.
Posted by Sumwun (anonymous) on July 13, 2008 at 2:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Seems like the issue is that the dog is being blamed for this too much. Maybe it is a pain in the butt, but thats the owners fault. What kind of penalties is he facing for allowing his little yapper to go and bite two people? Time to start training your dog if you consider yourself responsible enough to own one. Wonder what the cops are doing over at his house in the
Posted by metasonics (anonymous) on July 13, 2008 at 3:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
from what I could gather the police came because the dog bit the mailman?
Posted by Lilly (anonymous) on July 13, 2008 at 4:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
First I am a dog owner and love my dogs, but if my dog was bitting people I would diffently do something about it. I do not feel that the city should say that the dog should be put to death. I feel that they should tell the owner that you will need to follow these rules and if it happens again then we have no choice. This is to the owner, maybe if you could have a pet kennel in your house somewhere and when someone does come to the door or whatever put your dog in there, this would eliminate any possible bitting problems. Outside you should have a dog run or an outdoor kennel and put your dog there when he is unsupervised. If you take your dog for nightly walks etc then it would not be unfair to it to have it kenneled. Just a thought. Good luck to you and your beloved pet.
Posted by Bev (anonymous) on July 13, 2008 at 9:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Awesome suggestions Lilly!!!! I second that...All dogs should have proper boundries, and healthy walks..
Posted by ranger (anonymous) on July 13, 2008 at 9:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I read the first article and now this one. Seems the journal left out the fact that the reason the police were called was due to the fact that a mail carrier got bit outside the dog's home. The state law is pretty clear about aggressive dogs. Its usually an issue of provoked or unprovoked. And on who's property. The city ordinance says an animal must be on lead or under voice
control. Obviously not the case in the mail carrier. If you read the article about the police, it shows the dog bit outside the house. An officer cant just waltz into someones home. Obviously the man who loves his dog has an agenda. I feel for him truly, yet public safety must come first. Its unfortunate the dog owner is such a poor dog owner. Seems to me if he cared so much for his pet he would have socilaized it a little to human contact. If its a "watchdog" like he says then I would assume both the mail carrier and the officer would have legal recourse after being bitten by an aggressive "watchdog".
Seems like a lack of of training on the protective watchdog to me.
After all this isnt is farm dog this is a dog in our residential neighborhood.
Metasonic, I dont agree with all your comments but you nailed this one.
You might be interested to do a public search on this residence and see the multitudes of police responses. Take a look and as a taxpayer you might have a different view.
Posted by metasonics (anonymous) on July 13, 2008 at 9:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
my neighbors have two dogs that just sit in their kennel all day and night and have now for over a year
:(
I liked it when they used to sneak out and come visit
Even a walk a week or month would be better than that!
Posted by rubewaddell (anonymous) on July 13, 2008 at 9:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OK. Let us just imagine. What if the first initial bite was not a attack on a mailman but someone trying to break into the house. Then the dog would be praised, and rewarded for it's vigilante duty of protecting family, and home. But it wasn't was it. Instead it was a mailman and the dog should have known the difference between the two and amazingly shed it's natural behavior of territory. Then we have the dog biting a police officer. I can vouch for how the FFPD respond to dog complaints in Fergus Falls, because I had a dog, and i lived in Fergus Falls. they sometimes act as if they are in south Chicago, and preparing to arrest a gangster disciple. Now when the officer was bit did the dog lunge from the dark to attack his face, or did the officer not use common sense, and try and reach for the dog. Alot of variables might have happened, but that should not have mattered the dog should have been aware that it was about to bite an officer, and contained itself. Now I read posts comparing dogs with humans.I am all for equal treatment. I read a post or two comparing it to gunshots. I was not aware that anyone ended up in the trauma center for the bites so I will compare it to someone punching a police officer,drawing blood, and punching a mailman, and drawing blood. Why should not that person recieve the death penalty. I can shoot some one fatally, and be out in 20 years. But that is different because I am human, and for some reason my life is worth more then everything else on this planet. i do not see the logic for putting this dog to sleep. Some dogs yes because their owners were worthless and abused them or trained them. They would not even think twice in trying to fight fo that dogs life. Untl i hear any logical reason for putting this dog to sleep, I stand behind the owner and pray he gets his dog back.
Posted by ranger (anonymous) on July 13, 2008 at 10:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rubewadell
I agree with alot of what you say. I might be wrong here so dont take this as gospel but this is what I understand. There is a process where this man can keep his dog, it deals with fences and insurance and etc. I dont think this dog needs to die, just be contained and supervised. Under state statue there are rules he needs to comply with to insure this dog doesnt harm anyone else.
once again the journal doesnt post these facts---they just make it sound like he is on death row. After all they are selling a story
Posted by hsotcemployee (anonymous) on July 14, 2008 at 2 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i know from personal experience with this very same dog that he has never bite anyone before other than now. he has been a wonderful dog and listens real well. it is real sad that he has to sit at the humane society when he could be at home with his owner. this is actually one of the sweetest dogs that i have come in contact with. he should be able to go home with his owner.
Posted by The_Nick (anonymous) on July 14, 2008 at 8 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Werty is absolutly right! If the dog in question had been a pit bull or rottweiler all of your this poor dog comments would be very different.
Posted by just_peachy (anonymous) on July 14, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why are people posting and comparing this dogs actions to human actions---it's a flippin dog with ANIMAL instincts. So your saying that if a human were to bite the mailman vs a dog biting the mailman its the same?? I didnt know that animals had the ability to understand the concept of consequenses for their actions like humans do. Can they sit with their paw to their forehead & think "hmm I dont think that man sticking paper in that little box is going to harm us so I will just wave & say hi" NO--he thinks I dont like the uniform he's wearing---ATTACK!!! I realize that people get attached to their pets and you can use the "person in uniform" defense, which may be true, but then what are you going to do when a child, during halloween, comes dressed up as a police officer and the animal goes balistic? We are the humans--we need to know what your pets "triggers" are and then do something to either train them to deal with it or make sure they are not exposed to them.
Posted by classof76 (anonymous) on July 15, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I do feel sorry for the owner as I went throught this with my own dog a few years ago. He was a cocker spaniel and had "nipped" a little neighbor girl one day on the nose leaving small teeth marks. It shocked me as he had been so good with everyone including children. The next day he attatcked my daughter's face and ripped her lower lip and chin open. Thank Goodness we were living in a larger town where there was a plastic surgeon to "sew" her up and it does not hardly show today. If our dog had bitten anyone else to that degree I would have felt even worse than I did about my daughter. We promptly put the dog to sleep not wanting to risk harm to someone else. Afterwards, we heard from many, many people of the experiences with their own cocker spaniels suddenly biting people. Cocker Spaniels can have a "nervous breakdown" of sorts called "Cocker Rage". We also found out about the disease from our Vet. Whether the dog is a cocker spaniel or another breed these diseases exist in various breeds of dogs.
Posted by classof76 (anonymous) on July 15, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
P.S. Why would someone train a Brittany Spaniel which are usually used as a "hunting dog" to be a watch dog??? Either way, if the dog goes home again and the dog bites someone else and scars them for life---how will the owner feel then??? I like the point about the picure making the dog look so cute and pitifull and also the point about if it were a "Pit Bull"...... Another case of stereo typing, only in this case it is a dog instead of a human.
Posted by cakelady (anonymous) on July 16, 2008 at 4 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let the poor thing go home with its family. If there hasnt been any complaints or issues with this dog in the past it is obvious that it was just protecting its territory. Instinct, for whatever reason was brought out in the dog that it or its owner was being threatened. The 2 grown men that were bitten should have taken more precautions when approaching the animal. Common sense.
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)