The incident under review took place on June 3 at the home of Deb Lantz (aka Debbie Lantz) in Grand Island.
According to the report, Lantz was trimming her yard, and her 5-year-old Great Dane, Cooper, was tied up and sitting under a tree. When Lantz’s neighbors, Mark and Lisa Manchester, and their 1-year-old son came across her yard to bring her a plate of desserts, Lantz said, Cooper was allegedly startled. The dog was tied to a van and was near Lantz when he broke the leash and bit Lisa on the arm.
Both Mark and Lisa Manchester provided a written statement at the time of the report. Lisa said the dog opened his mouth and bit her as she was trying to get away.
A pregnant Manchester said she had to get 20 stitches to close up two deep puncture wounds.
“Lisa has had difficulty sleeping, and has not had a night since the attack without that horrific event replaying in her mind,” said the statement.
Lantz said she wishes she could take back that day and feels for the Manchesters, but she doesn’t think her dog is dangerous.
"If they're out walking and a dog comes out of nowhere and attacks that is a different situation, but to have someone in your yard that your dog doesn't know and is unaware that they're there, they're going to protect their owners," said Lantz.
Oh, boo hoo. All she has to do is put locks on her fence and put up "beware of dogs" signs on her property. Big deal.
Animal control officer Melissa Poe visited the Lantz’s home to meet the dog and owner. During her visit, she said, the dog was calm and was given a 10-day home observation period because he was current on his rabies vaccination.
On June 10, Lantz filed to appeal the declaration of Cooper as a dangerous animal by the Central Nebraska Humane Society.
All nine members of the Animal Advisory Board were at the appeal hearing. Poe, who responded to the initial call, was also present and provided a statement based on her report.
After statements by Poe and Lantz and a discussion, the board announced a unanimous decision to uphold the declaration of Cooper as a dangerous dog.
Melissa Rae Girard-Lemons, who has been a veterinarian for Lantz’s pets for the past 15 years, abstained from the vote due to her relationship to Lantz.
Board members said the decision was based on the actions of the dog and definition of a dangerous animal. A dangerous animal is defined in city code as “an animal that has killed a human being, has inflicted injury on a human being that requires medical treatment or has killed a domestic animal without provocation with the following exceptions: An animal that is provoked; an animal that is serving as a guard for persons or property; or an animal that kills or injures a person who is trespassing.”
With the decision, Lantz will need to follow specific protocol when Cooper is outside or on a walk.
“I guess, in a way, that’s probably what I did expect,” Lantz said. “I have every intention of following through to make sure everyone is protected the way they should be and my dog’s also protected. I was prepared for it, but like I said, I’ve already tried anything I possibly can to rectify it.”
(Grand Island Independent - June 21, 2016)
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