MICHIGAN -- After a pit bull charged across the street at their Summit Street home and attacked their golden retriever, Harbor Springs residences Bernard and Deanna Vanantwerp came to city council.
In the incident, two friends who were visiting the Vanantwerps helped the couple separate the two dogs, but not before the pit bull bit Bernard Vanantwerp's leg.
"They couldn't get that pit bull to release my dog," said Bernard Vanantwerp. "That was after three big guys were hammering that pit bull in the head. ... We were very unsettled about going out in the neighborhood or walking our dog. We all have grandchildren in the neighborhood, and we're worried about having the grandchildren on the porch or playing in the yard."
The Vanantwerps voiced concern about the pit bull at Monday night's city council meeting, and expressed hope that the city and police department would require the owner to kennel his dog until his court date.
After the incident in which the pit bull attacked the golden retriever, which the Vanantwerps said was sleeping, police gave the owner a citation, and required the owner to appear June 28 in Emmet County District Court to determine whether the dog should be removed from city limits, said Chief of Police Dan Branson.
But the Harbor residents want to see a resolution before then.
"Why wouldn't that dog be kennelized now?" said Fritz Mayhew, also a resident of Summit Street.
Branson explained that there is not a provision in city law that allows police to take a private property without a court order.
"I share your discomfort about having the dog there that now has this history, and having this gap between his release date and the court date," said Mayor Al Dika.
After a short discussion, city council asked city attorney James Ramer to look into the issue.
"With council's permission, I will look into this to see what authority we have, and go with that to
the fullest extent that we can to take care of the situation," said Ramer.
(Petoskey News - June 5, 2012)
