Maine: Pit bull in fatal Corinna attack belonged to homeowner's daughter

MAINE -- A dog that killed a 7-year-old boy in Corinna on Saturday had been in the care of property owner Gary Merchant Jr. for about two months, but belonged to his daughter, according to the town’s animal control officer.

Animal Control Officer Charles Gould said that he had never dealt with the dog, Dakota, before the attack. The dog was euthanized at Merchant’s request.

Photo: David Learning, Morning Sentinel

The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the attack, which took place around 5:15 p.m. Saturday at Merchant’s home on Moody’s Mills Road in Corinna. Hunter Bragg, 7, of Bangor, was killed by the dog while playing in the yard with two other children, Penobscot County Sheriff Troy Morton said.

Morton on Thursday would not comment on the dog’s history, including reports that Merchant had recently acquired the dog or that he had previously owned it and it had been returned to him. He said, however, the dog’s history is an important part of the investigation.

This allegedly is the pit bull which killed the little boy

“I think knowing where the dog lived and where it had been and its history, those are probably key factors,” he said. “We do have some of those answers, but we’re not prepared to release them.”

Morton estimated it will be several weeks before his office will release more information, and it depends on Hunter Bragg’s autopsy results from the Office of the Maine Medical Examiner and a veterinarian’s report on the dog.

According to Dogsbite.org, the family was regularly breeding pit
bulls and selling the puppies online. This photo is from April 2016.

A bite report by the animal control officer, standard when a dog attacks a person, has been completed, Gould said. It was not immediately available Thursday.

Dakota, about a year and a half old, had belonged to Merchant’s daughter, who lives in Vermont. The dog came to live with Merchant two months ago, according to Gould. Morton would not say Thursday whether the dog was neutered and Gould didn’t know.

Corinna Town Manager Serena Bemis-Goodall told the Morning Sentinel on Monday that the dog was not registered with the town.

Gary Merchant showing off his newest litter of pit bull
puppies for sale. According to Dogsbite.org, they were
regularly breeding and selling pit bulls on the property

According to town records, Merchant has seven other dogs on the property. Authorities are looking into whether there are concerns related to the other dogs Merchant owns, but Morton would not provide details.

“Those issues are being addressed,” he said. “This is a big investigation. It takes a long time. Those are pieces of it that will be reviewed to see if any or no action needs to be taken.”

Gould was called to the 207 Moody’s Mills Road property last year for a noise complaint related to the dogs. He also found that several of them were not registered, but Merchant addressed the problem shortly after it was brought up, Gould said Monday.

Gould said Thursday that he has never been called to the residence for a report of aggression or a behavior concern for any of the Merchant’s dogs, including the one involved in the attack.

He said he spoke to Merchant recently about one other dog that appeared too skinny, but other than that said he has had no cause for concern regarding the other dogs.

“Last time I was there everything was fine,” Gould said. “They’re all licensed, they’re up to date on rabies.”

He said Wednesday that the attack’s bite report is finished. It was not immediately available from the Town Office on Thursday.

The report, which is standard whenever a dog attacks a person, includes the name, age and breed of the dog; the name of the victim; and a summary of the attack, along with other information such as whether the dog was up to date on shots and who its veterinarian was, Gould said.

A woman enters the home at 207 Moody's Mills Road in Corinna
on Monday where police are investigating the circumstances
of a dog attack that left a 7-year-old dead at the home.
Staff photo by David Leaming

He is meeting with the Penobscot County sheriff on Thursday, but wasn’t sure what the meeting will be about.

“I’m not sure if we’re going to be discussing what, if any charges, might be brought up,” Gould said.

(Press Herald - June 9, 2016)