Lindsay Oldham, 21, and her 24-year-old boyfriend, Daniel Briganti, both of the 2500 block of Southwest Fairgreen Road in Port St. Lucie, each were arrested early Thursday on a charge of recklessly allowing a dangerous dog to attack, according to affidavits and Master Sgt. Frank Sabol, Port St. Lucie police spokesman.
Oldham on Sept. 20 told an animal control official she wanted to get rid of Gino, saying she was concerned about a biting incident. Later in the day, however, Briganti called and said Oldham shouldn't have surrendered Gino. Gino was returned to the home.
On Sept. 24, a woman told animal control officials that Gino on Sept. 20 bit her 22-month-old son.
She said that at the time, Gino's owner said the boy fell from a couch and hit a coffee table. A mutual friend on Sept. 23 told the woman what really happened. She went to St. Lucie Medical Center that day to report the bite.
Further, she said she learned of another incident in which Gino bit her son. Her son got a fever and she thought he had chicken pox.
The woman confronted Oldham, who said she was "only protecting their dog," an affidavit states.
Gino was placed under quarantine until Oct. 1.
Oldham and Briganti were given a letter of intent to declare Gino "dangerous," a designation that puts special restrictions on the owners.
Days later, Gino "grabbed" a young girl by the face, requiring stitches. Briganti surrendered Gino to animal control officials.
(TCPalm - October 18, 2012)
