David Taylor, owner of Moose, met with neighbors and Hannibal Police Chief Lyndell Davis Tuesday to discuss the dog's future.
“They pretty much told me that I have to make some kind of decision by the end of the week,” Taylor said. “They want me to go ahead and get him out of the city limits. It's not a pretty picture for Moose's future right now.”
Hannibal police Lt. John Zerbonia would not confirm the meeting or the edict that Taylor and his wife need to removed the dog from the block. In an email statement asking to confirm the outcome of Tuesday's meeting, Zerbonia said that he would release a statement Wednesday morning.
Last week's mail suspension came after a recent incident involving the 120-pound dog and a mail carrier. Moose got loose from his leash and chased the mail carrier but no one was harmed, Taylor said.
There are no recorded incidents of the dog being violent or harming another person, Taylor said. Police would not confirm that fact.
The U.S. Postal Service stopped mail delivery to the 5000 block of College Street.
Complaints from neighbors and postal workers about Moose's aggressive behavior led to the mail suspension.
The incident spurred a series of letters to the Taylors asking them to keep Moose within the house from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. so that carriers could deliver mail. Taylor said he complied.
[In the video clip, the owner admits that he did not comply; that he was out 'playing' with the dog when it was supposed to be inside the house. Looking at these two owners, does it appear they could stop the dog if it suddenly attacked?]
“We were told today that if we don't get rid of him, then they'll deem him dangerous,” Taylor said. “Some people just don't like Moose because he's big.”
U.S. Postal Service spokeswoman Valarie Welsch said that she had no knowledge of her agency's involvement in Tuesday's neighborhood meeting.
Editor's Note: Owner, police and neighbors are referring to this dog as a pit bull.
(KHQA - May 7, 2013)
