CANADA -- The owner of a dog that attacked a poodle last week said Wednesday his dog is not a threat to the community.
Adam Morrison, who gave a statement to police Wednesday after The Star published a story about the attack, said he tried to find the owners of the injured dog but was unsuccessful.
"My dog is the sweetest dog you've ever met," Morrison said. "She's hyper and will lick you to death."
Coco, Morrison's five-year old boxer-terrier mix, has been mistaken for a pit bull in the past, but the Windsor/Essex County Humane Society gave him a certificate of her mixed breed when he adopted her three years ago, he said.
"They had a behaviour study on the dog," he said. "She's hyper and listens to commands but does not like small dogs."
The attack occurred after Spencer, a toy poodle, raced across the playing fields beside Sandwich West elementary school last Thursday to greet Morrison's dog.
Morrison said he took hold of Coco by the collar because she was not on a leash and she's been aggressive around small dogs. He yelled to Spencer's owner to pick up his dog, but Adam Hrytzak was more than 75 yards away and said he didn't hear the warning. When Spencer was within 10 feet, Morrison said he lost control of his 80-pound animal.
"They sniffed each other and then the poodle nipped my dog's face," Morrison said. Coco seized Spencer in its jaws.
"I pinned my dog down and was punching her in the head to release the dog," Morrison said. "My wife came toward us and was kicking the dog."
When the dogs were separated Morrison said he told Hrytzak to stay while he put Coco in the car. But when he returned, Hrytzak was gone. Morrison said he drove around looking for Hrytzak but couldn't find him.
Hrytzak said he only heard Morrison say how sorry he was. "When you see your dog's organs hanging out, you just go," Hrytzak said Wednesday.
Morrison called three animal clinics and left his name and contact information but heard nothing until he read the story in The Star.
"I'm an honest guy. I feel coming forward was the right thing," he said.
Morrison said he doesn't think he's liable for the $1,800 in veterinarian bills that Spencer has incurred because he told Hrytzak to pick up his dog.
"I was off minding my own business," Morrison said. "He had every ability to grab that dog. If you think it's a pit bull, wouldn't you pick up your dog?"
[NOTE: Classic 'blame the victim' defense. First he says it's not a pit bull then blames the victim saying if she thought his dog was a pit, she should've picked up her dog. What a moron.]
Hrytzak said he never saw Coco because the colouring of the dog blended in with the bricks from the school. It was only when the two dogs sniffed each other that Hrytzak said he saw Coco.
Spencer's co-owner, Andrea Esteves, told The Star she feared that the dog which attacked her pet would attack again.
(Windsor Star - Sept 8, 2011)
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