NEBRASKA -- In 2008, Omaha adopted the dangerous dog ordinance which aimed at curbing the number of dog bites, but the tough rules of that law only stretche to the borders of Douglas County.
A woman who lives just two blocks south of Omaha City limits, near 156th and Harrison, now wants similar laws for Sarpy County. Last week, she says her dog was attacked by a pit bull.
Nichole says, “The police officer said that basically there is nothing they can do because we live in Sarpy County and they don't have the laws that Omaha does.”
Ten days ago -- Chloe, a Yorkie mix -- and Nichole were making their way through the neighborhood when they took a turn down a street they'll never forget. “
Kind of looked over at the dog and kept walking and then Chloe hurried up and scurried around me," said Nichole. "I turned and like I said I couldn't hear because I had my iPod pretty loud, then the dog was right behind me and jumped on to Chloe.”
Before Nichole knew it, she says, her dog was in the mouth of the pit bull.
“The way that the dog was acting it was not going to let us go, it wasn't going to let me run, it wasn't going to let me do anything to get away from it,” said Nichole.
The accused dog, Chula, is being held in the garage of David Monteon's parents' house. David’s girlfriend, Michelle, says that the dog actually belongs to David’s parents. David and Michelle say Chula is not the kind of dog that attacks other animals.
“Chloe has fairly extensive bruising over the top of her head and around her left ear,” Nichole said. Chloe's injuries racked up a $100 vet bill.
Mark Langan, the Vice President of Field Operations for the Nebraska Humane Society says, “If this would have been a situation where the dog injured the other dog severely or it bit somebody severely, obviously we would have confiscated that dog based on the state statutes and held the dog for court purposes.”
Langan says Monteon was cited for not restraining the dog properly.
Without the “3 Strike Rule” Omaha has, NHS and police can't take the dog into custody, unless it seriously attacks or kills another human or dog.
Langan tells Channel 6 News Gretna has a similar dangerous dog ordinance as Omaha. LaVista is currently taking a version of their own under consideration.
Part of David Monteon’s citation issued by Animal Control requires him to face a judge in Sarpy County later this month and it will be up to that judge to decide the fate of this case.
(WOWT - Nov 2, 2011)