The animal, described in the police report as a "carmel (sic) colored pit bull," bit Carl Brent Cooper when he intervened in the dog's attack on 3-year-old Jasmine Farrar and her father, Tony.
The owner, Betty Stones of 536 Oak St., was cited and had to appear in court Monday.
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| There were two pit bulls chained to dog houses in Betty Stones' yard. One dog of hers bit a child in October and a Shelbyville Power employee on March 3. (T-G Photo by Mary Reeves) |
"The dog has to be kept on a chain and behind a fence," said Animal Control Supervisor Randy McCullough.
Only months before the March 3 attack, the same dog savaged a 6-year-old girl, resulting in 87 stitches.
Because the girl had entered the home where the dog was unattended, no charges were pressed at that time.
On March 3, the dog, off its chain, lunged at Farrar and his daughter. Farrar picked the child up and held her out of the way, but tripped over the dog as it continued to lunge for the girl. A neighbor pulled the girl out of danger even as Cooper intervened, said Farrar.
Representatives from Shelbyville Power were at court Monday, but the Farrar family was unable to attend due to illness and being out of town. Paul Farrar, the child's great-grandfather, said a neighbor was at the session and said the judge did not look at pictures from the previous attack.
"They didn't do anything about it," said the great-grandfather.
According to the city charter, Stones will have to pay the $90 court cost, and be required to keep the dog in the house or chained behind a fence, and she has to get $100,000 liability insurance. The charter also states, "It shall be unlawful for any person negligently, willfully, or knowingly to: (a) Permit an animal to run at large, attack people or other animals, bite or attempt to bite any person..."
One of the requirements in the charter is that there must be signs with reflective lettering warning of a dangerous dog, not only on the residence, but on the kennel where the dog is chained. Currently, there is a "Beware of Dog" sign on Stones' front porch.
The enclosure in which the dog should be kept should have secure sides and top, according to the charter, and if the sides are not connected to flooring, then they must be embedded no less than 2 feet in the ground.
If Stones does not comply with the requirements set forth by the court, as determined by animal control, the dog can be taken.
The charter also states: "If any dog which has previously been found to be 'dangerous' as is described herein shall be at large and shall attack or bite a human being, upon report to the animal control officer said dog shall be impounded and shall be confined the number of days as prescribed by the state health department and after said time shall be destroyed in a humane manner upon notice to the owner of said dog..."
"If it gets loose again, we can pick it up and take her back to court," said McCullough. "I hope it doesn't get loose again. Who knows what will happen?"
(Shelbyville Times-Gazette - March 24, 2011)
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