The attack occurred around 10 p.m. Monday. A homeowner in the 800 block of Hazel Street said he was walking his Dachshund / Maltese mix along Hazel when the larger dog bolted out of a backyard and attacked his pet.
The Greyhound mix did not have a leash on and the backyard was not completely fenced in. The dog’s owner was outside at the time of the attack, but was unable to stop it.
Birmingham Police Cmdr. Terry Kiernan said those factors prompted detectives to submit a report to the prosecutor’s office seeking charges against the owner.
“There’s a couple of charges the prosecutor’s office can consider,” Kiernan said Friday. “There’s owning a vicious dog, or not having the dog under control.”
In addition, Kiernan said the owner who lost his pet could sue for damages against the other dog owner.
For now, the Greyhound mix is still with the owner. Kiernan said it will be up to a judge to determine the dog’s fate. Had it attacked a person, police would have taken it from the home.
(Hometown Life - June 14, 2013)
