About 12:20 p.m. Saturday on the 900 block of Casserly Road in Watsonville, a deputy was investigating a neighbor's claim that a calf was killed by a neighbor, according to Todd Stosuy, field manager of the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter.
Red, a Golden Retriver / Australian Shepherd mix, bit the deputy, Stosuy said. The deputy received stitches and is on medical leave.
Red did not have a rabies vaccination and the owner did not have space to quarantine the dog, so Red was taken to the Animal Shelter to be monitored for 10 days for rabies symptoms, Stosuy said. If no symptoms show, Red will be released to its owner after fees are paid and it receives a rabies vaccine.
A new enclosure also must be built for the dog at its home because of its history, Stosuy said.
If an enclosure is not built, Red will not be released and could be euthanized.
In both bites with law enforcement officers, Red was protecting its owner or property, Stosuy said.
The shelter places higher investigation priorities on dogs that run loose and attack people.
"The dog isn't necessarily a vicious animal," Stosuy said.
Animal Shelter officers also seized five calves from the property that appeared to be neglected and not fed properly, Stosuy said. The owner was cited but not arrested, deputies said.
(Mercury News - July 5, 2011)
