Michael Hanes, 30, and Kimberly Sheppard, 28, were "shocked" their pit bull-mixes dug out from under a newly constructed kennel, their attorney said after the two appeared in court today.
"Their concern right now is with the welfare of that young boy," Michael Turner said. "They thought they had done everything they possibly could have to secure those dogs."
He said the common-law married couple were especially sensitive to what happened to the boy because they have an 18-month-old child.
"They think this could have been their child," Turner said. "And they're just worried sick about this young man."
Sheppard wiped her eyes as she was being arraigned by state District Judge Jim Wallace this morning.
Prosecutor Belinda Smith said the pair face two to 10 years in prison after being charged with negligent failure to secure a dog resulting in an attack.
"There were injuries to the face, arms and legs," Smith said. "There was muscle tearing and severe lacerations."
She said she is waiting on an update on the boy's condition.
The child was taken to the hospital by LifeFlight after being mauled while riding his bicycle in the 500 block of Elk about 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
Smith told the judge the dogs had been in a fight with another dog three days before the attack and had a history of getting out.
Turner confirmed the dog fight, but said it happened after another dog came in to the backyard with the dogs.
He also said the couple built a new kennel last month because the dogs, which are both about four years old, had escaped in the past. He said the couple adopted both dogs when they were puppies.
The dogs remain in a 10-day quarantine with Harris County Animal Control, but their future is uncertain.
"They believe their dogs to be the most loving, caring sweet dogs in existence, as most people do believe about their own dogs and this was just a shock to them," Turner said.
But, he continued, he does not expect the couple to ask for the dogs after the quarantine.
(Chronicle - July 5, 2011)
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