After nearly two months of confinement at the James City County Animal Control Shelter, Bud, a 6-year-old pit bull, may finally be headed home to 3649 Marlbrook Drive in Toano.
But a Williamsburg judge's ruling Friday that Bud is a dangerous dog means that his owner will have to jump through a few hoops to keep the pit bull that knocked down an 84-year-old woman and attacked her dog in August.
Christopher Redd, the Pit Bull's owner, didn't oppose the judge's ruling and now must comply with a state law regulating dangerous dogs.
Williamsburg-James City County District Judge Colleen Killilea told Redd that he must obtain a $50 dangerous-dog license within 10 days and add Bud to the state's dangerous-dog registry within 45 days.
Redd must also post signs on his property alerting neighbors to the presence of a dangerous dog.
Police said the pit bull attacked the woman Aug. 24 on Beechwood Drive in the Chickahominy Haven neighborhood in James City County.
According to an animal control report, the dog tackled and scratched the woman before grabbing and holding her 12-year-old miniature pinscher in its jaws.
The woman suffered injuries to her knee, elbow and left hand, while the pinscher lost two teeth in the attack.
Killilea said the declaration of the dog as dangerous was a civil matter but warned Redd that if there were future problems with the dog, he could face criminal penalties.
Sara Redd, his sister, was fined $200 Friday for allowing the dog to get loose the day of the attack.
SARA REDD = IN DENIAL
Sara Redd said after the hearing Friday that she understood the fine for Bud getting loose but was disappointed that her brother didn't fight the dangerous-dog designation. She regrets what happened but insists Bud was "playful", not vicious.
"At least he gets to come home," she said. "That's all that matters."
(Daily Press - October 14, 2006)
