The bowling alley employee advised a Safford Police officer that he had seen the dogs at the bowling alley several times and he was concerned because they looked like they were starving. Additionally, the dogs appeared aggressive, and the employee was worried that they might injure a customer.
The officer soon located the dogs in the back yard of a nearby residence but could not get near due to their aggressive manner. While Great Danes are the tallest dog breed in the world, with females having an average weight between 100 and 130 pounds and males from 120 to 200 pounds, they are also normally one of the more gentle breeds.
The officer followed a male Great Dane as he wandered down an alley and met up with two female Great Danes. The officer then observed as the dogs ran into various properties, barking at other dogs and generally causing a disturbance in the neighborhood, according to a police report.
After a while, the dogs returned to their residence in the 100 block of E. 3rd Street. The officer was unable to contact the owner, however, and noticed the dogs running in and out of the yard through open gates in the front and back.
At one point, a dog charged at the officer, who had to kick it to stop it from biting. The dog backed away and then lunged back at the officer, who had unholstered his handgun and prepared to fire if necessary.
By then, Animal Control officers with Graham County had arrived on scene and soon had their hands full as well. Two of the dogs appeared to go after one of the Animal Control officers, and he ended up spraying them with pepper spray. The Animal Control officers then retrieved snatch poles and began to attempt to collar the dogs for removal.
The officer knocked on the front door but did not receive an answer. As he went to the back yard to assist the Animal Control officers, a resident, identified as Joshua Colvin, came to the back yard and yelled at the officers to leave.
Upon being told the dogs were going to be taken, Colvin allegedly shut the gate, blocking an escape route for the officers, and said, "Good luck getting the dogs."
The officer then placed Colvin under arrest for having vicious dogs at large, and Colvin made a deal that he would help catch the dogs if it would avoid his going to jail.
A Safford Animal Control officer also arrived at the scene, and the dogs were eventually corralled and taken to the Graham County Animal Shelter. The Safford Animal Control officer recommended they be euthanized due to their aggressive behavior and the owner’s inability to keep them on his property.
A litter of puppies was also seen at the residence, and Colvin told an officer that they didn’t need to go with the mother because they were no longer nursing.
The Safford Animal Control officer wrote Colvin nine citations, including a leash law violation, no proof of vaccinations and vicious dogs for each dog and said he would put a hold on euthanizing the dogs until Colvin appeared in court to answer for his citations.
"bad cop" tag for them not charging him with animal cruelty
(EACourier - Dec 29, 2015)
"bad cop" tag for them not charging him with animal cruelty
(EACourier - Dec 29, 2015)
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