Dutch bit a woman in Montrose last November. He faces possible euthanasia because of what authorities say took place, but his owner, veteran Jeremiah Aguilar is determined: He won't let that happen.
Aguilar says he isn't trying to make anyone look bad, but is pulling out all stops to save his companion, which since the incident has been trained as a service dog.
[We've all seen that to be called a 'service dog' doesn't really mean anything. Funny he didn't attempt to get the dog declared a 'service dog' until AFTER the attack. Exactly what service does it perform?]
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| Would you want to cross paths with this 'service dog'? |
"He's not a vicious dog," Aguilar said Friday. "That's what we're trying to fight. He's been ordered to be euthanized and I've been trying to prove the fact that he's not a vicious animal. ... He doesn't deserve to be euthanized. He was provoked."
Aguilar's case exploded Friday morning on social media. The Daily Press has been logging calls from as far away as Canada and Australia, and receiving Facebook messages about the matter. People have also begun sharing letter they are sending to city leadership.
An article posted on dogheirs.com website contains an allegation that Dutch had bitten the woman, a former owner, after she beat him.
[What they don't say in this story, that I read elsewhere is: "On November 14, 2012, Jeremy and Heather left Dutch with his former owner in Montrose, Colorado, while they drove a family member to the airport."]
The Montrose Police Department and Montrose Animal Control say, however, that the woman was breaking up a dogfight in which Dutch was the aggressor: After hitting him failed to faze the dog, she grabbed the pole from a tiki torch to force him off the other dog, then dragged him into her home. He bit the woman in her thigh as she was trying to clean blood from the fight off of him.
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| The bloody pole, most likely covered in human blood, that the woman used to protect herself |
The bite sank to the bone, and she had to put her hands in his mouth to pry him off.
When she retreated toward her bedroom, she tripped, and Dutch attacked again, biting her buttock, again penetrating to the bone, authorities said.
When she tried to pry his jaws off her, Dutch bit her finger so hard it caused a compound fracture and severed an artery.
Dutch kept slamming his body into her bedroom door after she made it inside the room, bit furniture, and later attacked the other dog yet again, according to the police.
The woman's medical bill is about $24,000, Montrose Police Chief Tom Chinn said.
"She is fortunate to have escaped that attack with her life," said Animal Services Supervisor Mike Duncan. "She loved the dog, but she is very concerned for anyone who is going to be around that dog from now on."
AKC CGC evaluator Sandie Wyman said, "I am the CGC evaluator that tested this sweet dog. He did pass with flying colors and even gave me a kiss afterwards. This means that he will receive a real title from AKC stating he can now visit elderly people at nursing homes."
Aguilar said he's dubious about some aspects of the woman's story, though he feels bad for her. He maintains his dog was provoked, and explained to the Daily Press steps he has taken to have the dog evaluated by professionals, none of whom view Dutch as vicious.
Dutch had a swollen snout and eye, Aguilar said. The pole the woman used "has blood caked all over it," he said. "All I know is I found a bloody pole in the yard."
Since the November incident, Aguilar has taken the dog to Oklahoma, where he resumed training him as a service dog. He has taken Dutch into public several times with no incidents.
"We're just trying to preserve his life and resume his training," Aguilar said.
Aguilar is due in Montrose Municipal Court on Feb. 14. He said animal control has recommended euthanization, and that he will appeal if that is ordered.
Duncan and Chinn said they could not comment on that detail because sentencing hasn't yet taken place.
(Montrose Press - Feb 8, 2013)
