Texas: Joshua Wheelock charged with felony for 2013 dog attack

TEXAS -- The owner of two dogs that attacked a man in 2013 is facing charges for not registering his dogs as "Dangerous Dogs" with the local Animal Control Authority and for not taking required precautions to keep dogs secured, according to an arrest affidavit.

On Dec. 26, 2013 a man was allegedly attacked by two dogs -- Peaches and Sampson -- owned by 35-year-old Joshua Lee Wheelock. The man was at a community mailbox in their Pleasant Valley neighborhood when Peaches and Sampson came up from behind him and started to attack him.

One of the dogs that attacked the man, Sampson, had previously been declared a "Dangerous Dog" in July 2013 after an unprovoked attack on a previous victim in April 2013. The victim was seriously injured. Wheelock attempted to have the decision reversed and it was denied.

Per the Dangerous Dog declaration, Wheelock was required to register Sampson with animal control, restrain him at all times and obtain liability insurance coverage with an amount of at least $100,000 to cover the cost of damages if Sampson were to attack someone else.

The man who was allegedly attacked told Austin police both dogs knocked him to the ground and bit and tore at his arms and legs. He said a Good Samaritan helped him get away from the dogs, into a car and to his home. When he got home, the man said his wife took him to the emergency room.

For the past two years, the man said he has been experiencing weakness and numbness to his lower legs and left upper thigh. He damaged his left inferior gluteal nerve, which causes weakness of his hip muscles and impacts his ability to walk and balance.

Wheelock was not in compliance of the Dangerous Dog order at the time of the alleged attack, according to the affidavit. Wheelock did not have liability coverage and Sampson was not restrained or in a secure enclosure. Wheelock said someone left his gate open, which is how Peaches and Sampson got out. Peaches was declared a Dangerous Dog in March 2014 after the man's attack.

Sampson was found dead in Wheelock's backyard three days after Boston's attack with a possible gunshot wound to the head. Peaches was euthanized in May 2014 after Wheelock failed to comply with the Dangerous Dog order.

In February 2015, the man filed a civil suit against Wheelock in county court.

A charge of attack by dog is a 3rd degree felony. Bond for Wheelock is set at $10,000.

(KVUE - Jan 13, 2016)