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Owner: Dog to be put down
Council deems dog dangerous
Published Tuesday, July 22, 2008
A Fergus Falls dog owner says the high cost of pet insurance will force him to put down his animal, a cocker spaniel named Patch that bit both a postal carrier and a police officer in late June.
Members of the Fergus Falls city council declared Patch a dangerous dog following testimony from owner Kristian Kristiansen during a public hearing Monday. Council members also heard from Tom Thomas, a postman who said he was delivering mail along South Mabelle Avenue June 23 when Kristiansen’s dog ran across a neighboring yard, biting him on the upper calf and leaving a puncture wound that remains sensitive to this day. Officer Nathan Lien, who was also bitten by the dog also spoke.
At Monday’s hearing, Kristiansen had the opportunity to defend himself.
“That dog is not a dangerous dog,” he said, explaining he’d purchased the dog as a guard dog for Sandra Denbrook, the homeowner at 1130 South Mabelle where Kristiansen was present when Patch ran through an open door and bit the officer. Patch gets excited when he gets aggravated, he said, but he’s more a barker than a biter.
According to Kristiansen, Patch’s bite to Thomas wasn’t as bad as the postman claims. Kristiansen said he asked Thomas about his condition following the bite and offered to get first aid materials, but was told “No, no, it’s just a little nip.”
Kristiansen also claimed he’s been the victim of harassment by Fergus Falls police on multiple occasions,
and said Patch bit Lien because the officer stomped up the front steps of Denbrooks’s residence, pounded on the door and shouted inside. Kristiansen likened the delivery of a Notice of Dangerous Dog or Dangerous Animal and the seizure of Patch several days later to “a Gestapo raid,” involving at least nine police officers.
“Does that look like overkill?” Kristiansen asked the council. “It does to me.”
Yet council members found Patch dangerous on the basis that the dog had 1) caused bodily injury or disfigurement to any person on public or private property, and 2) bit one or more persons on two or more occasions. The council did not move to have the animal destroyed, but agreed that in order to have Patch released from the Otter Tail County Humane Society, Kristiansen must provide an enclosure for the animal, use a muzzle and leash on the animal when outside the enclosure, post warning signs on his property, and purchase a minimum of $300,000 liability insurance — the amount required by the city. The state currently requires a minimum of $50,000 liability insurance, said City Attorney Rolf Nycklemoe, but will raise that amount to $300,000 beginning in August.
While Kristiansen expressed willingness to comply with most of the city’s requirements, he said the insurance is simply beyond his means.
“I can’t afford what you guys are asking of me,” he said, explaining he is on Social Security and will take the dog to be put down outside the city. “I’ll take him up to Park Rapids and bury him there.”
Before that happens, Kristiansen said he would like to keep the dog alive long enough so that the judge in a September criminal case regarding the bites can see the animal for himself. Whether the judge will extend Patch’s stay at the humane society until that time remains undetermined.
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 timetotalk (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 12:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is it possible for someone, who does have the means to take care of the dog, to adopt it, or does it have to be put down since it is a "dangerous" dog?
I am sure there are plenty of people in the country who would take this dog.
I know looks can be deceiving, but for some reason this dog does not strike me as dangerous. I could be completely wrong since I have not met the dog in person, but I just don't see it.
Posted by Lori (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 12:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Did anyone see the postman's calf?
Posted by flyonthewall (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 1:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is a great example of poor ownership, not a dangerous dog. A cocker spaniel is not, nor should be used, as a "guard dog" and I suspect was poorly trained to be one. It would be a shame to the dog not to have the chance of decent training and find a decent home. Turn this dog over to a cocker spaniel rescue that can provide such training and rehabilitation.
Posted by talljerry (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I completely agree with 'timetotalk'... hopefully public opinion can sway the powers that be to extend the quarantine until other options can be explored.
Posted by JAnderson (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 1:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am glad we are spending time on this issue...no other issues that are more important? Who cares about a little bite...people whine about the dumbest things these days. Several years back people would brush it off. Now, someone/something has to be at fault for everything! It's pathetic.
Posted by mgdbottled (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 3 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why is the city council involved with allegations about a viscious dog complaint? This alleged complaint belongs in the court. Not some political body that has no experience in getting to the truth of the matter.
Why's that dog still in quarantine? Seems ten days after the last alleged bite should warrant release from any quarantine, if a quarantine was even necessary. From the looks of the dogs picture, he doesn't seem like anything other than a normal well cared for dog.
Postal workers are always complaining about dogs challenging them as they walk down the street delivering the mail and often don't know how to to react to a dog that's being a dog. Any policeman who makes a ruckus at the front door of a house should also expect the dog to react in a challenging manner. What's wrong with these people?
Schedule the matter for a court hearing if necessary where witnesses will testify to facts and not state opinions and conclusions and who'll be subject to cross-examination. Bring the dog so a Judge can see for himself just who the real agressor is. The dog or the postal worker or the policeman. If I owned the dog, I'd be a little pee'd off about the whole situation. Poor dog!!
Posted by justgettingby (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I feel terrible for all involved , a decision such as this can NEVER be easy...However our city does not have any one set law/rule. I know of a dog (pitbull) who has KILLED at least 2 others dogs and yet the city says keep a muzzel on him. GIVE ME A BREAK. This dog was NOT given a real chance with several coming into the house w/o warning. My dogs would've attacked as well! Shame on you.
Posted by FFforever (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 4:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/contact
Above is a link to a website where one can contact Cesar Millan. If the owner looks at this, go here, choose category The Dog Psychology Center/ Boarding with the Subject line "I know of a dog that will be put down unless somebody helps". Tell him about your case and ask him to come to make a last ditch effort to save Patch. I have read his books. He can cure any aggression, even "red-zone" aggression, the worst. He has only reported two failures out of well over 100. He not only helps the dog, he also helps the owner. I think it is wrong to put a dog down for the reason of aggression. If Cesar is contacted about this, it's not a matter of: If he'll go or not, If he'll get here on time, If he can "fix" Patch. It's only: If he'll go or not (I think if he gets it, he'll probably come), and if he'll get here on time. If those conditions are met, Patch will live. I hope it will end up like that.
Posted by yepUbetchya (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 4:41 p.m.
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Posted by Bev (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 4:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with FFforever..
If anything, like timetotalk mentioned. Give this dog to a rescue center.
Let him go to an area and to a family that can properly tend to the dogs needs. Like discipline and walks, and nurturing.
Unbelievable...
Posted by yepUbetchya (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 4:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hey Bev, why don't you take the dog? you and FFforever can hug it and love it and kiss it and call him george.
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 5:36 p.m.
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Posted by frankenstein (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 6:29 p.m.
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Posted by hamberger (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 7:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I lived in FF and had a dog on a leash and whenever the mailman came he would go nuts, barking and scratching to get at the mailman. This went on whether he was inside or out. I finally was wondering why he went so nuts and one day watched the mailman come down the street and my dog was outside on the leash off the sidewalk so he could not reach the mailman. Then I say the mailman come over to my dog and kick him and sent him flying into the air, as he was still tied up.I just wonder how often this does happen!! I guess I would bite too!!
Posted by mccain08 (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 8:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i believe that the death penalty should always be the first option.
Posted by Bev (anonymous) on July 23, 2008 at 6:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
To HeyUbetcha, I already have two dogs..
Posted by beckyweers (anonymous) on July 23, 2008 at 11:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How much does liability insurance cost for the dog? I would recommend that the owner contact Cesar Millan ASAP for help!
This whole affair is so sad!
Posted by beckyweers (anonymous) on July 23, 2008 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was wondering if anyone knows how much the liability insurance costs? Is there anyway outsiders can help?
Posted by alpha (anonymous) on July 23, 2008 at 11:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There's no need to try and contact Cesar Milan to get him to come up here to work with that dog. I am a certified dog trainer and I live in Fergus. This dog from what I've read seems to have a fear of the mailman or views him as a threat to him and his owner and this could easily be fixed with a little bit of effort/training on the owner's part. He just needs to change the way the dog views the mailman because this is a common problem. I am not the only trainer in town, I know there are others and I wish that the city council,polic dept or humane society would have consulted with an "expert" to see if he actually is a danger to society and if he could be rehabilitated before deeming him dangerous.
The reason so many mailmen are bit by dogs is because the dogs see this person come up to their house everyday and never come inside or make contact with the owner to know this person is not a threat. They get scared so the fight or flight response kicks in and most dogs will do the fight and start to bark since they can't get to the mailman, well then the mailman leaves so the dog thinks they've won and the behavior continues everytime the mailman comes to the house until one day the dog gets loose and bites.THIS CAN BE EASILY FIXED.
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on July 23, 2008 at 9:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"well then the mailman leaves so the dog thinks they've won"
alpha, you do have this figured out, so now the dog thinks he is the boss, and for some reason the mail man isn't running away. What to do next,, bite!
On the other hand, I don't think I've never known a spaniel I could trust completely.
Posted by ffguy (anonymous) on July 24, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have not met a Cocker Spaniel that did not bite people. They look nice, but are from from it!
As usual on here it is not the dog owners fault. It is the Postal worker and Police officer's fault!
Had it bit a child or another person you people would want the dog dead, but since it was a Police Officer you can justify it.
Posted by antiquesforsale (anonymous) on July 25, 2008 at 3:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you've never been bit by an animal, you don't know the terror of it. All animals should be leashed no matter where they are - even locked doors aren't enough of a barrier sometimes. Two girls were almost killed in Mpls when a dog rushed through a "locked" screen door - they jumped up on the hood of a car and the dog came right after them. One was hospitalized for weeks and traumatized for years. Mail persons cannot take the time to "befriend" every dog on their route. If you want your mail, your animals have to be securely leashed so the mail person can do their job. Otherwise - get your mail at a PO Box.
Posted by alpha (anonymous) on August 11, 2008 at 1:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You can never trust any dog completely,at the end of the day,no matter how well it was socialized,trained or how much it is loved, the dog is still an animal and animals are unpredictable.
"Had it bit a child or another person you people would want the dog dead, but since it was a Police Officer you can justify it."
I don't think anybody is really justifying it because it was a police officer and not a child.
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